Icy runway gets face-lift

Video transcript

Steve Wall: We'll be taking about 300,000 cubic metres of ice out of the northern runway edge to lower the height of the runway. 

We will probably be doing roughly 10 flights over the season, five at the beginning and five towards the end, to keep the capacity to open up the stations and get people in at the beginning of the season, and we will still of course have our shipping program, so that will give us access throughout the season. 

[end transcript]

LEGO model of new icebreaker to tour Australia

Video transcript

When one of our exhibitions was down in Hobart a couple of years back I was down by the docks there and there was this big red ship – really unusual looking – and you know they were loading supplies and containers and all sorts of bits and pieces on it – basically the Australian supply ship for Antarctica.

So how we take all of our scientific gear and food and supplies to all of the team that are down in Antarctica.

It’s basically been the lifeblood to Antarctica forever.

And of course it’s gotten older and it’s had a really tough life and all that kind of stuff so it’s time to replace it so years ago they knew about the replacement of this ship and they started a tender process.

So I contacted the Australian Antarctic Division and a fantastic team of wonderful dedicated people down there gave me lots of information – photos, pictures, plans – all sorts of really cool stuff about this amazing purpose-built ship designed for Australian Antarctic operations.

We’ve recreated that in Lego and brought it to life by cutting it in half so you can see everything that's happening with it.

All the scientists are in there doing crazy stuff. You know they’ve hacked away an alien in an ice cube that they’re found down in Antarctica and we've got lots and lots of jokes and fun stuff as well as obviously the serious scientific side to it.

It’s an icebreaker and this thing can travel through metres of compacted ice and ice floe.

It’s the weight that comes down on the ice that causes it to break.

So we’ve wanted to show that off and to do that we've basically got the ship cresting on a wave with its bow out of the water, some huge Antarctic seas, which allows us to show the front of the ship.

So that’s kind of how we’ve tried to bring it to life.

[end transcript]

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.

[end transcript]

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.

[end transcript]