Cristina Prados-Roman, PhD

What’s the work that you do?

As an atmospheric scientist, I mainly use remote sensing techniques to study the distribution of atmospheric gases and the link to their environment, including the polar environment. As a PhD student (Heidelberg University, Germany), I participated in aircraft campaigns based in the Arctic region (2007-2010). Since 2016, I work at the Spanish Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA) and, in collaboration with the Argentinian Antarctic Institute and Meteorological Service, I have worked in several projects focused on Antarctica. Currently I’m co-PI of the GARDENIA project, funded by the Spanish Research Agency, that aims at studying gases and aerosols in the Antarctic atmosphere.

What keeps you going?

My very first research flight over the immensity of the Arctic sea ice gave me an unforgettable perspective of how unique, complex and fragile the pristine environments are. Since then, I have had the privilege of participating in airborne, ship and ground-based campaigns from the tropics to both poles addressing scientific questions such as natural and anthropogenic feedbacks in pristine environments. The exciting topics and the amazing people from around the world with whom I have the pleasure of collaborating drive my desire to keep on learning and sharing that knowledge.

What’s your message to the world?

Science is a never-ending learning process in which collaboration is essential. Research in polar regions takes this a step further not only because of how inaccessible these places often are (which greatly complicates the logistics of research). Polar research can benefit greatly from multi- and interdisciplinary approaches. Studying atmospheric chemistry in the poles without taking into account, for example, the unique characteristics of the sea ice, ocean or snow on which that atmosphere sits, or without considering the physical processes that govern the vertical distribution of the atmospheric composition can only provide a partial view of a much more complex scenario. Partial views can only tackle partial issues.