ANTARCTICA NEW ZEALAND SCIENCE UPDATE NO. 42

24.04.2009

The latest Science update is now available. It includes information on the next bidding round, with invitations to comment on the draft process and timeline (by 13 May). It also has information about a proposed Beardmore camp in the 2010/11 season, and links to various newsletters and information of interest to the Antarctic community. Download the 2009 updates here.

EMPLOYMENT AT SCOTT BASE

20.04.2009

Applications are now open for positions at Scott Base, for the summer season (October - February), as well as some that will extend through the winter 2010. For more information go to Employment Opportunities.

BY DEGREES: DENISE COPLAND

06.04.2009

Antarctic Arts Fellow Denise Copland is holding an exhibition at the SOFA Gallery at the Christchurch Arts Centre from 8 April until 10 May. By Degrees is an exhibition of her work over the decades, but more than just a simple survey of Copland's work to date, two curatorial threads have shaped the exhibition: nature in the hands of man and man in the face of nature. Through this lens, the exhibition addresses understandings of survival and includes a range of her works, from earlier tree-based works of the late 1980s and early 1990s through to her Antarctic works and those of more recent times. More information can be found on the SOFA website.

ANTARCTICA NEW ZEALAND ANNUAL CONFERENCE: SUSTAINING THE GAINS OF THE INTERNATIONAL POLAR YEAR

01.04.2009

Antarctica New Zealand's Annual Antarctic Conference will be hosted by the University of Auckland from 1 - 3 July 2009.  It will include oral and poster presentations as well as workshops on special topics.

SCOTT BASE STAFF JOIN EARTH HOUR

27.03.2009

On 28 March between 8.30 and 9.30pm Scott Base will shut down all non-essential energy sources in recognition of Earth Hour. While plenty of New Zealand businesses and individuals are signing up to Earth Hour it will present unique challenges to the 26 member winter team at Scott Base. For more information read the Press release .

ANTARCTICA NEW ZEALAND SCIENCE UPDATE NO. 41

23.03.2009

The latest Science update is now available. It includes information on the draft Science Strategy (submissions close tomorrow), the 2009 bidding round and a Proposal Writing Workshop to be held at the Antarctica NZ Conference. It also reports on discussions Lou held recently with the new Director and Chief Scientist at the Australian Antarctic Division. Download the 2009 Science updates here.

ANTARCTICA NZ AND MERIDIAN SIGN MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

19.03.2009

Antarctica New Zealand and Meridian Energy have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) setting out how the two organisations will work together to achieve their mutual aims of long-term environmental viability in Antarctica. For more information read the Press release.

ANDRILL IN THE NEWS

19.03.2009

New evidence has recently been published indicating that even a slight rise in atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, one of the gases that drives global warming, affects the stability of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS). The massive WAIS covers the continent on the Pacific side of the Transantarctic Mountains. Any substantial melting of the ice sheet would cause a rise in global sea levels.

The research, which was published in the March 19 issue of the journal Nature, is based on investigations by a 56-member team of scientists on a 1,280-metre-long sedimentary rock core taken from beneath the sea floor under Antarctica's Ross Ice Shelf during the the McMurdo Ice Shelf (MIS) Project of the ANDRILL research programme (2006/07).  Read the press release here.

INTERNATIONAL POLAR YEAR SEA ICE PROJECT

17.03.2009

During the southern winter, from February to October, the sea ice project team will be carrying out an extensive programme of sea ice and ocean measurements in McMurdo Sound.  This is a collaborative project between the University of Otago, NIWA, IRL and Victoria University of Wellington.  The research is aimed at understanding the interaction between the Ross Ice Shelf and the ocean and the effect this interaction has on the growth of the sea ice. The team is based at Scott Base but will also establish a research camp on the sea ice from where most of the fieldwork will be carried out.  They are keeping a blog on the IPY website.

POLAR CLOTHING CONTRACT GOES TO NEW ZEALAND COMPANY

27.02.2009

Earth Sea Sky have used the contract for Antarctica New Zealand clothing to undertake extensive research and development of their extreme cold weather clothing range.  Redundant clothing will go to the Sherpa people in Nepal through the Himalayan Trust and also to Canadian Arctic Inuit communities via the Canadian Embassy.  For more information read the Press release here.

ANTARCTICA NEW ZEALAND SCIENCE UPDATE NO. 40

24.02.2009

The Draft Antarctic Science Strategy is now being circulated and feedback is welcomed.  There is also information in the latest Science Update about other Antarctic-related events, including the celebrations to mark the end of the International Polar Year.  Download the 2009 Science updates here.

ICE TERRANE: ANTARCTIC JEWELLERY

18.02.2009

Ice Terrane is an exhibition of Antarctic-inspired jewellery by Kirsten Haydon, Arts Fellow 2004/05, being shown as part of the Auckland Festival.  The exhibition runs from 28 February - 9 April at Objectspace.  Her inspirations were both the landscape and history of the continent, and the work reflects something of the climatic conditions as well as the elusive detail of that environment.  She will give a talk about her work on Saturday 28 February 11am at Objectspace gallery.

EXTRAORDINARY KIWIS - ANTARCTICA

30.01.2009

Prime TV's extraordinary Kiwi this week (Sunday 1 February, 8.35pm) is Antarctic researcher, Dr Victoria Metcalf. Victoria is studying how fish manage to survive in water so cold it should freeze their blood. Swimming under the Antarctic ice shelf, they live in water as cold as -1.8º.  The documentary brings into sharp focus the challenges of living in such an extreme climate, for animals and humans alike, and the effect global warming is having on the planet.

ANTARCTICA NEW ZEALAND SCIENCE UPDATE NO. 39

26.01.2009

The January Science Update has information on the collection of data on scientific publications and metadata from New Zealand-supported Antarctic research work.  There is also a note on the closing date for scholarship applications and there are also reminders for various forthcoming events. Download the 2009 Science updates here.

ROSS ISLAND WIND ENERGY PROJECT

16.01.2009

Work on the wind energy project that will reduce dependence on fossil fuels at Scott Base and McMurdo Station has progressed over the summer season.  This morning the Scott Base generators were switched off and Scott Base was powered through the new frequency converter from an American test generator located at the Crater Hill wind farm site.  This is a major step in the testing and the proving of the integrated electricity network between McMurdo, Scott Base and the wind farm.

SCAR BIOLOGY TRAVEL AWARDS

13.01.2009

An outcome of the VII Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) Biology Symposium held in Christchurch in 1998 was the establishment of the SCAR Biology Student Travel Award Scheme, set up specifically to help NZ-registered postgraduate students to attend SCAR symposia.  The award is administered by a group of executors set up under the auspices of the Royal Society of NZ's Committee on Antarctic Science.

The travel awards will enable three currently registered postgraduate students to attend the X SCAR International Biology Symposium to be held in Sapporo, Japan during 26-31 July 2009. The successful recipients are Dana Clark (University of Otago), Crystal Lenky (Gateway Antarctica, University of Canterbury), Angela McGaughran (Massey University).