Women in science down south

Video transcript

Dr Louise Emmerson – Seabird ecologist Australian Antarctic Division

Today I’m lucky enough to be down in Antarctica at Magnetic Island near the Adélie penguin breeding colony down in East Antarctica near Australia’s Davis research station. In many ways I’ve got the best of both worlds because I can come into the field and study the seabirds and then I can go and represent the Australian Government at meetings and make a difference for conservation for the birds.

To start with I studied seaweed then I started studying desert ecosystems and now I study Antarctic seabirds. My recommendation is that you follow your passion, you find the things that you’re interested in and you work on those. It’s going to be hard, it’s going to be challenging, but that’s also the benefit of life. I love being in the field, I love working with the penguins and the other seabirds.

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Australian Citizenship Ceremony in Antarctica

Video transcript

Terry Barrell: From this time forward, I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people.

Robb Clifton: It's only the second time in history that someone has become an Australian citizen in Antarctica and also it's unique in that the Antarctic weather has turned it on for us and it's an absolutely beautiful day.

On Australia Day we come together as a nation to celebrate the cultures and traditions that migrants bring to Australia and the contributions that they make. Terry, we all warmly congratulate you today for taking the final step in your journey to become an Australian citizen and the contribution you will make to Australia.

Terry Barrell: I suppose personally I feel like I'm a full member of the team now. Becoming an Australian citizen in Antarctica is a great honour to be linked to this place in some way is quite special.

Robb Clifton: This is an amazing small and remote Australian community and so to welcome one of our community into Australian citizenship is really an honour.

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An Antarctic adventure

Video transcript

Child 1: It was crazy stepping on ice knowing that I’m the first kid to step on Antarctica. It was just awesome.

Dr Nick Gales: Welcome to Antarctica! And today is all about you guys. It’s all about congratulating you for coming up with a brilliant new name for our icebreaker – Nuyina. And it’s also about teaching you about Antarctica and showing you what an amazing place it is and all of the wonderful work that goes on down here.

Child 2: We’ve taken an ice core, survival tent, looked at people’s houses - where they live. It’s pretty cool.

Josh Frydenberg MP: You are the lucky ones and today you are making history for Australia. For you are the first Australian students to fly and set foot on, Antarctica. You are continuing a more than 100 year proud Australian tradition of adventure and heroism.

Child 3: It’s just been incredible, amazing. A once in a lifetime trip. 

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Antarctic road trip

Video transcript

EDDIE: I'm Eddie and this is Leon and this is what going on an Antarctic road trip looks like. We've got the trailer packed full of tents, and all our survival gear and all our cooking gear is in the back of the hagg. We're off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of oz!

So we're nearly at our destination - Mt Hordern. And, Alex, how you going, mate?

ALEX: Ah yeah, swell.

EDDIE: Alex gets a little bit car sick! So, we've nearly finished putting up our tents here and once you've pegged it down to the ground then you have to bury the aprons, which is what Alex is doing right now. You shovel snow or rocks on there to keep the tent from blowing away if the wind picks up.

HEIDI: It's not a glass of wine, but a cup of tea is just as good!

ALEX: So we're inside the polar pyramid and we're building our sleeping quarters. So we're running four layers on the ground. We've got these - that I'm sure everyone is familiar with and loves very dearly, a self-inflating air mattress, two layers of sheepskin and then over here we run a double bag sleeping system with extension liners. There is one in here, an extension liner, outer, extension liner and you hop in there and you have a good sleep. How do I turn this off?

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