Research expedition to Antarctica
Donation protected
As part of my Master of Science in Marine Mammal Science at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, I have the opportunity to go on a two-and-a-half week long research trip to Antarctica in March 2019! This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to visit the end of the earth, one of the last ‘pristine’ environments on our planet. It’s part of one of my selected modules called "Predator Ecology in Polar Ecosystems.” This module offers me the unique opportunity to gain theoretical and practical experience in polar ecology. We will be collecting data on marine mammal sightings (such as humpback whales, minke whales, many seal species, and perhaps even killer whales), seabird sightings (like albatross), and oceanographic data (like temperature and salinity). Our data will be added to a long-term dataset that will be used by us and other scientists to look at wildlife distributions and the effects of climate change. We will become ambassadors of the Antarctic and our experience will be shared on a blog for you all to read.
The expedition starts from Ushuaia in Argentina, where we join the ice-strengthened passenger vessel Plancius. It takes two-days crossing the Drake Passage, known for being the stormiest seas, before we will sight Antarctica! We’ll be spending almost a week on the Western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula collecting our marine mammal and seabird observations, with daily opportunities for excursions onto land to visit penguin colonies, walk or go for a freezing swim! Our data collection is done by us, the students, in all hours of daylight so there will be some early mornings! Flight permitting, we’ll also have the opportunity to visit another bucket-list destination – the Tierra del Fuego National Park! Upon our return to Scotland, Brexit-permitting, we have a scientific report to write up on the data we, and previous expeditions, have collected.
I don't often ask for help but I’m asking for any donations, big or small, to help me on my way to explore the Antarctic and pursue this marine scientist dream. The cost of this field course is £7000. Whilst this costs includes all the logistical costs of transport and accommodation, it is the students who are expected to cover the cost of this expedition fee. I have funded the first £3500 myself from my own savings but I’d deeply appreciated anything you can give to help me fund the other half! Any contribution is a step in the right direction, and it will be very gratefully received. Thank you so much for your support!
Best wishes,
Lucy
(Scroll down for photos from the last two expeditions which give an example of what I could experience!)
Some of the rough seas I may have to face!
This was the view from the bridge on the first morning in Antarctica of last year's expedition!
Mum and calf humpback whale pair.
Last year they managed to see Killer Whales!
They got up close to many penguins...
(Photos from https://synergy.st-andrews.ac.uk/antarctic/ where you can find my blog in three months time).
The expedition starts from Ushuaia in Argentina, where we join the ice-strengthened passenger vessel Plancius. It takes two-days crossing the Drake Passage, known for being the stormiest seas, before we will sight Antarctica! We’ll be spending almost a week on the Western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula collecting our marine mammal and seabird observations, with daily opportunities for excursions onto land to visit penguin colonies, walk or go for a freezing swim! Our data collection is done by us, the students, in all hours of daylight so there will be some early mornings! Flight permitting, we’ll also have the opportunity to visit another bucket-list destination – the Tierra del Fuego National Park! Upon our return to Scotland, Brexit-permitting, we have a scientific report to write up on the data we, and previous expeditions, have collected.
I don't often ask for help but I’m asking for any donations, big or small, to help me on my way to explore the Antarctic and pursue this marine scientist dream. The cost of this field course is £7000. Whilst this costs includes all the logistical costs of transport and accommodation, it is the students who are expected to cover the cost of this expedition fee. I have funded the first £3500 myself from my own savings but I’d deeply appreciated anything you can give to help me fund the other half! Any contribution is a step in the right direction, and it will be very gratefully received. Thank you so much for your support!
Best wishes,
Lucy
(Scroll down for photos from the last two expeditions which give an example of what I could experience!)
Some of the rough seas I may have to face! This was the view from the bridge on the first morning in Antarctica of last year's expedition! Mum and calf humpback whale pair. Last year they managed to see Killer Whales!They got up close to many penguins... (Photos from https://synergy.st-andrews.ac.uk/antarctic/ where you can find my blog in three months time).
Organizer
Lucy Houghton
Organizer
