Newbie looking for advice

[Alteron]

Hello everyone, I'm 17 years old, I was born in Slovakia and currently live ine Belgium, where I attend the European Shool of Brussels 3. I speak English like a native, and I'm also quite fluent in French and German. Becoming a researcher in Antarctica is my dream. Since i only have a year and a half before I go to university, I'm very glad I found this site. I carefully considered the possible courses I'd pick at university, and I'd appreciate if you could look at the list and tell me which of the following have a chance of getting a job in the arctic. Some of the following include areas of interest that won't do any good on their own, but can come useful if studied in the periphery. This is the list of subjects I am interested in:

astrophysics
cosmology
geology
applied geology
earth science
environmental geology
exploration geology
exploration geophysics
geological oceanography
geophysics
geotechnics
resource geology
nanotechnology
nanoscience
oceanography
physics
applied physics
atmosphere physics
environmental physics
laser physics
mathematical physics
molecular physics
particle physics
radiation physics
space physics
space science
theoretical physics
quantum science
radiation physics

[Alan]

I can't say too much about which of those subjects is your best bet. Most of them would offer a chance at work in Antarctica, but the odds change a good deal by subject, as would the places that you could go.

However, I can tell you what sort of science is being done in Antarctica, broadly speaking:

Maritime biology (around the coast), geology (mostly in the few locations where rock is exposed, though there have also been aerial surveys using radar), climate and weather, seismology, and astronomy.

There are several observatories at the South Pole, including a neutrino detector (IceCube) where many of the workers are from European universities and your knowledge of French and German may be of use (as well as your English, of course). I have also seen suggestions that other places may be opened up for astronomy.

Biological research in Antarctica is primarily along the coast, because that is where things are living, though some research is also done in the dry valleys (not FAR from the coast, but inland nevertheless), and microbes have even been found living in the ice of the polar plateau.

Climate science is done all over the continent, and seismological stations are at a number of sites but don't require too much presence on the ground.

Or, you could do like many others do and go down as a carpenter, cook, or general flunkie.

Best of luck.

[Paul Ward]

Hi,

I meant to reply to this when you first posted, Alan just highlighted it again )

Generally your chances are probably higher with a less specific degree with appropriate specialisms in the latter year/s. So from your list:

geology
earth science
physics

One of these would allow you apply for more than one job should they come up as you are not too specialized. However.... it depends on the jobs that arise and it may be that you do one of the more specific degrees and a job in exactly that discipline comes up.

It's a balance between how many appropriate jobs could come up and how many people are going for them.

I can't see much call in Antarctica for these at all though:

nanotechnology
nanoscience
laser physics
mathematical physics
molecular physics
particle physics
radiation physics
space science
theoretical physics
quantum science
radiation physics

I may be wrong of course. A good way would be to see what jobs are advertised for the 2010/11 season which are being released about now. Also ask the relevant Antarctic institutions as to their requirements.