So I got on a ship and sailed away for a 40-day cruise through the Siberian Arctic. But where exactly are we going, and what are we doing? Basically, we're "connecting the dots" - stopping at pre-…
Since we left on Friday, we have spent the last 4.5 days in transit - sailing to the first of our test stations. Once we reach that point, science operations will happen 24 hours a day. People will…
After the last year and a half, remote learning has consumed students and teachers alike. Today's class will be extra special remote, since I'm not teaching live and I'm in the Arctic while…
Due to the remote location of the field work for this expedition, there will often be limited or no communication between the ship and the rest of the world. In such a case, PolarTREC staff will…
Nobody told me that there was going to be "hazing" on the ship - weather hazing that is. We sailed for about 4 hours, and then the ship started pitching and rolling a bit, then a bit more, then a lot…
I was testing WhatsApp with Janet Warburton, program coordinator of PolarTREC, at about 7:20 pm on 9-10-21, when I noticed a change in the engine sounds. All of a sudden we were moving away from the…
Well, it’s 10:00 am ship time on Friday morning - the ship is set to Moscow standard time, which is an hour ahead of the dock 15 feet away - and we are still in port. There was an issue with the…
After arriving in Kirkenes and getting settled, I finally got to meet members of the team and go over to the warehouse where the equipment for the expedition is being staged. I am glad that someone…
Well, to quote one of my favorite series, Game of Thrones, "Winter is Coming." While I'm not so worried about the approach of the White Walkers from across the Wall, I noticed a distinct change in…
Thanks to one of the community workers in Lillestrom, I was able to arrange for a COVID test and be released from quarantine on Friday. Otherwise, I would have had to wait until today (Monday). So…
I need to start off by clarifying one of the quarantine restrictions. We are allowed out of the hotel for 2 hours at a time - not a maximum of 2 hours a day. Many days I have left the hotel after…
Lots of people have been asking about the food in quarantine. The hotel staff delivers 3 meals (and 1 snack) a day. And while the overall variety and quality are not what you would find in a high-…
