Field course for Antarctic expedition 2023/24
Snowmobile driving on Torneträsk. Photo: Håkan Grudd
Creating team spirit and preparing participants for the environment in Antarctica are important aspects of the field courses organized by the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat. In March 2023, the participants had the opportunity to practice outdoor living in a cold environment by collectively setting up a field camp and spending the night outdoors in tents and arks.
An expedition to Antarctica consists of one or more research groups and several individuals tasked with supporting the researchers in the field. This year's field course involved 12 participants with different roles: expedition leader, station manager, technicians, chef, doctor, and researchers. The field course aims to provide participants with insight into the planning and working methods of the different groups. Still, the most important aspect is practising various tasks and skills required for an expedition.
In this year's DML 2023/24 expedition, three researchers from Stockholm University will perform fieldwork in Antarctica. During the course, the researchers had the opportunity to practice handling snowmobiles and transporting the arks used for overnight stays. Therefore, it is also crucial to have knowledge about travelling on glaciers, being able to rescue a colleague from a crevasse, and possessing basic medical skills.
