2008 Woodie Awards
Professor prepares for Antarctica
SCSU's Kate Pound will travel to Antarctica for three months, leaving behind family, friends and students
Bety Rostandy
Issue date: 9/27/07 Section: News
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She has been preparing many things beforehand, and of course, the list keeps growing.
"I have a checklist. In the beginning it was a general check, and now it's more and more specific," she said.
Pound will spend three months, from October to January, in Antarctica. She will be one of 50 research scientists who will be on the ice.
ANDRILL is a multinational collaboration of scientists from Germany, New Zealand, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Some scientists work on the ice, and others work in a research lab. Those who work on the ice drill through it and collect the sediment that tells the history of climate change in Antarctica. The scientists who stay in the lab will process the sample and handle the results for further research.
By doing this, people can compare the climate change in Antarctica and in other places on the Earth, and it helps people understand and make better predictions about the consequences of climate change, Pound said.
Pound is the only person from Minnesota in this research group. with five others from the United States. Pound, who is used to Minnesota weather, said she hopes she is well prepared.
"I am sure that there will be a shock when they open the plane door," Pound said.
Pound said she has done many outdoor activities in the cold climate, so she is sure she will manage.
In the next few days, Pound is continuing with her preparation.
In her list, she has several things to do, like canceling her newspaper subscription, putting on storm windows, mowing the grass and spending time with her family.
Travelers usually bring something meaningful with them while they are away from home, and for Pound, who will also be bringing her daily tools and clothes, that is no different.
"I will have my computer and pictures with me," she said.
She will also bring along a clip board, paper file and day pack.
Another potential item, Pound said, was her first stuffed animal - a penguin.