no life aquatic

In case you wondered what a polar ecologist/sea ice biologist is actually doing most of the time, well, you are not alone. I wonder about the same thing every single day ;-)

And since I am in bed with the flu today and the same questions have been haunting me all morning:

"...what have I been doing since the last expedition?" ..."what am I supposed to do next when I get back to work?" ... "is there any future in this?" ... "should I get a REAL job?"... and so on

(okay, maybe it is not all that dramatic, but still, you get the point)

I have finally decided to blog those demons away, and post my 'accumulated wisdom' about polar research, or at least my little part of it, on this site.

There are a number of things most people will agree on about Polar research:


• it is expensive (think icebreakers, helicopters, snow mobiles, lots of cold weather gear, hauling tons of equipment to the ends of the world...)

• it is at the same time about very remote places but also about the the global perspective (think ozone hole, deglaciation, sea level rise, thawing permafrost)

• it is Prestige Science (think National Polar Research Programs, National sector claims in the Antarctic, the Race to the Poles, Amundsen, Nansen, Scott, Nobile, Wegener, Andree, and all the other national icons and polar heroes)

• it is more often than not perceived as interesting but exotic, challenging but not (economically) rewarding, and in toto not all that relevant for most people's lives.


So from these statements you can derive some secondary points that define the life of a polar researcher to a great extend:


• it is a very competitive business

• there is a very narrow job market and a lot of turnover, especially among those "early-stage researchers" (...like me ;-)

• it is personally demanding and sometimes exhausting (think months of expedition time, uncertain future perspectives, a constant struggle for renewal of financing)

• it is often presented as more glamorous and heroic than it actually is, while at the same time people ask "so what is coming out of all this?"


So why bother? There are many reasons, probably as many as there are people actually doing this. It is certainly not about getting as much adventure and fun as you would expect from watching the Cousteau movies.

(after all, I am writing mostly about the German research programs here, where the biggest adventure is getting all the right permits and forms in time for your next trip)

Science, escpecially basic science, is probably not a career choice where a higher income and bonuses, possible advances in the hierarchy, or earning a personal spot in the parking lot, are the standard factors that people will typically discuss over lunch with their co-workers.

On the other hand, the office part of your work time is probably not that different from so many jobs outside of science.
You have your deadlines to meet, you have to wrestle with the printer when it is jammed, you argue whose turn it is to get the coffee and milk on the table for your breaks, there are forms and applications for everything, and sometimes the data network just breaks down and everybody is terrified.

So let's line up the cool part of this business for a change:

• an academic position (usually) comes with a great level of independence

• your position (especially in polar research) covers a great deal of different tasks and environments: there is of course the fieldwork and expedition time, there is lab work, office work/desk time, conferences and travels

• you get to see places and do things that other people pay a fortune for (which you could never afford on an academic salary;-) and you get paid for it (sometimes you even get a 2,39€ bonus, per day!)
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(working in tourism has finally killed the idea that there are still places on this earth that are virtually untouched or unreachable for humans, except maybe scientists. Forget it.
If there ever has been a single human being before, then there will be tourists shortly after. The more exclusive, the better.

"Tea and cake in the Dry Valleys? Just sign here, and fill in your credit card number. A souvenir from the South Pole? Stand right there, sir, next to the Ceremonial Pole marker, and please don't take your sunglasses off. A hike around the North Pole? As soon as the helicopter has touched down, ma'am. Northwest Passage? Would you like to book a starboard or port side suite for the trip? Skiing across Greenland? Certainly, sir, twice a season, would you rather go east-west or west-east?"

You get the idea...)
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I think after having written this, I should finally get in gear and compose that page about my PhD project that had been announced on my webspace for years now. So watch out, next time I get sick it might be there, on this spot!