15 July, 2001

New Wave on the NG Channel / Women in Antarctica / NSIDC Sea Ice Data / BASC Web Site

Hi All -

Please note that these mailings are now accessible in an archive on the TEA News Page!

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Advisory Board Member Sean Topkok received this message and sent it along FYI:

Next Wave is an exciting and innovative science adventure documentary television series for National Geographic Channel.

It features the work of young scientists( 24-40 years of age) who work/study in remote/ exotic and sometimes dangerous locations. Many of our scientists are PHD students.

The first series of 13 episodes commences screening this July. Each episode features the work of one scientist.

Both presenters on Next Wave are scientists themselves: Dr Jo Rush and Matt Tomaszewski.

The first series was filmed in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and Myanmar. It features young scientists working in the fields of marine biology, primatology, anthropology, archaeology, vulcanologyÖ the list goes on. Our scientists have been from Germany, The Netherlands, USA, UK, Papua New Guinea, Egypt, and Australia.

National Geographic Channel is broadcast to nearly 100 million houselholds in one hundred and twenty eight countries and in eighteen languages.

Produced by Southern Star Television Australia, each episode combines the thrills of exploration, the rewards of discovery, and the hardships that go along with it. We aim to get to know the person and their science and combine this with the colours of remote and exotic locations, cultures and histories.

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From Gordon Bain, "Just Tell Them I Survived: Women in Antarctica" by Dr Robin

Burns. Published 2001 Allen and Unwin, Australia. ISBN 1 86508 382 8. Now on sale in Australia for AUD$24.95. There is a US publishing target of November.

Robin tells me that a US publishing and release is expected in November this year - she is going to let me have publishing details.

This is likely to become one of those MUST READ books for anyone heading to Antarctica - whether male or female. The jacket blurb says: " .... story of the women who have worked and lived in that most hostile, wild and beautiful of places ... the story of the good times and the bad, the struggles with isolation and loneliness, the friendships and the fun, and the tactics women have developed to survive the physical and social challenged of the 'last frontier'......... celebrates the vitality and tenacity of an extraordinary community of people."

The author has worked in psychology, anthropology, education, pubic health and women's studies. She had a summer with an ANARE glaciological team in the mid 90s. The book is based on interviews with 130 women, mainly from the ANARE program, but also some who parcticipated in BAS, the USAP and institutional or private expeditions including Liv Arnesen after her 94/95 pole trip.

Some 400 women have parcticipated in the Australian Antarctic Program including about 80 who have winterered over. The first group of 4 went to Macquarie Island in the sub-antarctic in 1959/60, the first to winter over was 1976 (Macquarie Island), the first to winter on the antarctic continent was 1981 (Davis). Women have been employed in every occupation - with the singular exception of Diesel Fitter/Mechanic.

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The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) has released a new Web site that summarizes the characteristics of over two dozen sea ice data sets. The site offers a complete summary and intercomparison of sea ice data derived from passive microwave sensors and other sources, including ice charts, surface observations, and drifting buoys. Where possible, the site includes links to browse images and tools to assist users in understanding and working with NSIDC's diverse sea ice data holdings, and in finding the data set that best fits their application. Links to various other external sea ice data sources are also provided.

The sea ice site is available from: http://nsidc.org/seaice/index.html

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The Barrow Arctic Science Consortium (BASC), a science support organization located on Alaska's Arctic Coast, announces the opening of a web site at: http://www.arcticscience.org/

A National Science Foundation/BASC Cooperative Agreement tasks BASC with providing logistical assistance to NSF-supported research projects. In the U.S., BASC maintains facilities in Barrow and also in Atqasuk, an inland village 60 miles south of Barrow. In Russia, working with the Chukotka Science Support Group (CSSG), BASC maintains facilities in the villages of Provideniya and Lavrentiya, both in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug (state). In all of these locations BASC works with local Native organizations to support science and help residents understand and parcticipate in scientific initiatives.

The Barrow Environmental Observatory (BEO) lies adjacent to Elson Lagoon, just south of the Point Barrow spit. The BEO consists of 7,466 acres of land managed by BASC and set aside by the owners for scientific research. The owners are the Native Iñupiat Eskimos of Barrow operating through their village corporation, the Ukpeagvik Iñupiat Corporation (UIC).

As part of its outreach program, BASC sponsors community presentations and school visits by researchers, and encourages researchers to include local students and residents in fieldwork.

Contact BASC toll free at 888/NARL-SCI or directly at 907/852-4881, fax 907/852-4882 or email basc@nuvuk.net