The goal of the Australian Antarctic Program's Million Year Ice Core (MYIC) project is to recover and analyse a continuous ice core record of Earth’s climate and atmospheric history spanning well over a million years. Our work is aimed at improving understanding of glacial cycling and long-term climate, ice sheet, and carbon cycle stability (see IPICS Oldest Ice Challenge).

Drilling started in January 2025, shut down for winter and resumed in November. The 10-person Traverse team arrived at Dome C North on 18 November, 2025, after 17 days and 1168km of travel inland from Casey research station. They were joined by the first five members of the MYIC science team on 21 November.

Follow the team's progress in their field diary (links to each week below).

Four scientists setting up ice-drilling equipment, surrounded by snow and ice
Setting up the shallow coring Eclipse drill. Photo: Joel Pedro

Personnel at Dome C North, 2025/26: Damien Beloin (traverse leader), Derryn Harvie (deputy traverse leader & drill engineer), David Holley (carpenter), Dave Burdon (diesel mechanic), Ed Maguire (diesel mechanic), Kris Keen (diesel mechanic), Aaron Doherty (diesel mechanic), Andy Lewis (electrician), Meg O’Connell (medical doctor), Dane Eden (mechanic).

Personnel at Concordia 2025/26: Lenneke Jong (glaciologist), Julius Rix (driller), Joel Pedro (science lead), Chris Richards (drill technician), Chris Young (drill technician), Thom Whyte (electrician).

2024-25 science team: Daniel Baggenstos, Mark Cook, Etienne Gros, Derryn Harvie, Chelsea Long, Joel Pedro, Chris Plummer.

2024-25 traverse team: Damien Beloin, Chris Gallagher, Liv Grover-Johnson, Tim Harris, David Holley, Ryan Kunst, Jack McLeod, Nate Payne, Rob Tisdale, Chris Wilkinson

on