03 September 2008

To: Chief Reporter

From: CCC Communication Team

CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL MEDIA RELEASE

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Christchurch to Scott Base, come in Scott Base

Curious about what they do and how they live at Scott Base on Antarctica? The Antarctic Festival 2008 is offering Christchurch residents a chance this month to get to know how they do it on the coldest continent in the world.

You can get to eye ball - in more ways than one - the intrepid researchers and technicians who overwinter on Antarctica. A brand bubble that looks like a giant floating eyeball will be used as the screen with which to video conference with Scott Base.

An ISDN video link, courtesy of Telecom, will allow the public to communicate in real time to scientists, engineers and other personnel through the video unit at Our City O Tautahi on Friday 26 September. Three separate sessions are billed from 11.30 am, concluding at 1.30 pm

At four and half metres high, the rear-projected Brand Bubble video unit will allow for a face-to- face encounter with the multi-talented techies at the Base. The overwintering Kiwis handle several roles at the Base, using their know-how to carry out other tasks.

For instance, the science technician is also the fire chief, IT technician and deputy manager; the medic is also the shop and bar manager, domestic, and a member of the search and rescue (SAR) team, as is the carpenter; and the field support coordinator also looks after cargo and is the head of the Joint Antarctic Search and Rescue Team (JASART) which is a combined NZ and US team. Grant Hill, Winter Manager for Scott Base, is also the mechanic and critical incident manager.

Laura Taylor of the Christchurch City Council's Events team is setting in place a three-session programme, including sessions involving tertiary students who can ask Scott Base about technical matters.

Ms Taylor anticipates that most of the questions will be around why people keep going back to Antarctica, what is like working on the ice and what research they were doing at the moment.

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