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.