Iceworld

British Antarctic Survey
  • 5.0 (12)
  • PLACES & TRAVEL
  • MONTHLY

Welcome to Antarctica. What's it like living and working in one of the most extreme environments in the world? From polar scientists to plumbers, ICEWORLD is a series of interviews with ordinary people who are doing extraordinary jobs in Antarctica. The team talk climate science, extreme living, expeditions and becoming a community.  A podcast from British Antarctic Survey, hosted and recorded by marine biologist Nadia Frontier. Produced in partnership with Boffin Media.

  1. S5 Ep11: Can you be vegan in Antarctica?

    1 DAY AGO

    S5 Ep11: Can you be vegan in Antarctica?

    Can you be plant-based in Antarctica? Can you go South if you have food allergies, or other dietary restrictions? What's on the menu when you're 1,000 miles from the nearest supermarket? In this episode of Iceworld, Nadia is joined by three members of the team at King Edward Point - boating officer AJ, station leader Cameron, and doctor Tom - all of whom are vegan. Together, they discuss what it's really like to maintain a plant-based diet at one of the most remote research stations on Earth, from dairy-free milk deliveries to improvised fish pie (not everyone's favourite, it turns out). After that, Nadia speaks with Olivier Hubert, BAS catering manager and experienced chef. Olivier reveals the sheer scale of feeding five Antarctic research stations - some of which receive fresh food just once a year, how the kitchen manages everything from severe allergies to religious dietary requirements, and why a well-timed dessert buffet might just be the most important morale tool on station. Tune in to discover how food becomes far more than fuel at the bottom of the world, and why, when the weather closes in and the workload piles up, a good meal can make all the difference. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to Antarctica. What's it like living and working in one of the most extreme environments in the world? From polar scientists to plumbers, ICEWORLD is a series of interviews with ordinary people who are doing extraordinary jobs in Antarctica. The team talk climate science, extreme living, expeditions and becoming a community. A podcast from British Antarctic Survey, hosted and recorded by marine biologist Nadia Frontier. Produced in partnership with Boffin Media.

    33 min
  2. S5 Ep10: Living and working in the polar desert

    2 MAR

    S5 Ep10: Living and working in the polar desert

    When you hear the word 'desert,' you might picture the sun beating down on an endless expanse of sand. But, in reality, the largest desert on Earth isn't hot and sandy at all… it's Antarctica.  Now imagine being dropped into that desert of snow and calling it home for two and a half months. In this episode of Iceworld, Nadia is joined by Zelna Weich and Charlotte Phillips, two early-career researchers who have just returned from the Antarctic deep field. They discuss what life is like when -9°C counts as a ‘balmy’ day, showers simply aren't an option, and suddenly you’re spending every day with 12 colleagues. From dancing through night shifts to stay warm to digging three metres into the snow just to uncover buried equipment, it’s a life stripped back to the bare essentials - worlds away from the lives they have now returned to. --- Welcome to Antarctica. What's it like living and working in one of the most extreme environments in the world? From polar scientists to plumbers, ICEWORLD is a series of interviews with ordinary people who are doing extraordinary jobs in Antarctica. The team talk climate science, extreme living, expeditions and becoming a community. A podcast from British Antarctic Survey, hosted and recorded by marine biologist Nadia Frontier. Produced in partnership with Boffin Media.

    31 min
  3. S5 Ep9: Fixing aircraft in Antarctica

    16 FEB

    S5 Ep9: Fixing aircraft in Antarctica

    What does it take to keep aircraft flying at the bottom of the world? In this episode of Iceworld, Nadia is joined by Eli Arseneault and Jeremie Amurao, two aircraft engineers from Rocky Mountain Aircraft who are based at the British Antarctic Survey's Rothera Research Station. Together, they discuss the unique challenges of maintaining Twin Otter aircraft in one of the most demanding environments on Earth - from ski landings on sastrugi to troubleshooting snags in freezing temperatures. This is Eli's third Antarctic season, and Jeremie's first. They share what it's like to ferry a Twin Otter all the way from Calgary to Antarctica, why there's no such thing as a typical day in the Rothera hangar and how witnessing glacial retreat first-hand has changed their perspective on climate change. Tune in to hear about the camaraderie, the challenges, and why they believe the BAS Twin Otters are the finest in the world.

    29 min
  4. S5 Ep8: Christmas in Antarctica

    22/12/2025

    S5 Ep8: Christmas in Antarctica

    What could be more festive than a white Christmas at the bottom of the world?   In this special Christmas episode of ICEWORLD, Nadia is joined by two guests from Halley, Station Doctor Dani Hawarden and Station Leader Dan McKenzie. Together, they discuss what makes an Antarctic Christmas unique, from the elaborate homemade Secret Santa gifts, to the 7km Christmas morning run (that particular tradition can definitely stay in Antarctica!).   For Dan, this marks his fifth Christmas in Antarctica, spent across three different research stations whereas for Dani, it’s her first Antarctic Christmas! Tune in to discover how the team at Halley create their own festive traditions at the bottom of the world.   --- Welcome to Antarctica. What's it like living and working in one of the most extreme environments in the world? From polar scientists to plumbers, ICEWORLD is a series of interviews with ordinary people who are doing extraordinary jobs in Antarctica. The team talk climate science, extreme living, expeditions and becoming a community. A podcast from British Antarctic Survey, hosted and recorded by marine biologist Nadia Frontier. Produced in partnership with Boffin Media; cover photo by Maciej Pietowski.

    29 min
  5. S5 Ep7: What to wear in Antarctica

    24/11/2025

    S5 Ep7: What to wear in Antarctica

    Emma Pearce is a geophysicist… or a glaciologist - depending on who you speak to. What remains constant, however, is her dedication to understanding ice in Antarctica - and you can't do that without the right clothing! So, what do you wear to work when your office is on an Antarctic ice shelf? Emma discovered the answer involves far more than a trip to Primark. From base layers to extreme cold weather boots, preparing for Antarctic deployment means learning an entirely new approach to staying warm. Host Nadia Frontier speaks with Emma about the thorough preparation that goes into simply getting dressed when working in Antarctica. Emma also discusses her work on the RIFT-TIP project, where she spent six weeks living in a camp to study the Halloween Crack - a major fracture on the Brunt Ice Shelf - to understand how ice shelves break apart and what that means for our changing climate. When she's not studying ice cracks? She's crocheting pigeons of course! This episode explores what it takes to dress for Antarctica, Emma’s journey to working at British Antarctic Survey, and what it's like to study the constantly evolving cracks on the Brunt Ice Shelf. ---Welcome to Antarctica. What's it like living and working in one of the most extreme environments in the world? From polar scientists to plumbers, ICEWORLD is a series of interviews with ordinary people who are doing extraordinary jobs in Antarctica. The team talk climate science, extreme living, expeditions and becoming a community.A podcast from British Antarctic Survey, hosted and recorded by marine biologist Nadia Frontier.Produced in partnership with Boffin Media.

    36 min
  6. S5 Ep6: Packing for Antarctica - packing tips from an experienced Antarctican, with Tom Davis-Merry and Ed Luke

    27/10/2025

    S5 Ep6: Packing for Antarctica - packing tips from an experienced Antarctican, with Tom Davis-Merry and Ed Luke

    A bath mat, dark chocolate, photos and less books than you think. Tom Davis-Merry is about to head to Rothera Research Station in Antarctica to be a wintering Field Guide. We take a peek inside his suitcase as he prepares for the adventure ahead.Ed Luke was a previous wintering Field Guide at Rothera. He joins Tom and Nadia to share his tips for how to pack for life on the ice. He talks practical items, but also the the little luxuries and personal touches that make Antarctica feel like a home.Produced in partnership with Boffin Media; cover photo by Ed Luke.

    30 min
  7. S5 Ep5: Training for Antarctica - secrets of the pre-deployment programme, with Michaela Boak

    22/09/2025

    S5 Ep5: Training for Antarctica - secrets of the pre-deployment programme, with Michaela Boak

    So, you're going to Antarctica. But what skills and training do you need to live and work there? That's the question that faces every person who is offered a job with British Antarctic Survey to work South - and there's a long to-do list, including two weeks of Pre-Deployment Training (PDT) at BAS HQ in Cambridge. During PDT, future-Antarcticans learn everything from polar hygiene to chemical safety and firefighting, as well as meeting the people they’ll be living with on station. Think "first day of school" nerves!  In this episode, host Nadia Frontier meets Michaela Boak, Deployment Support Coordinator. They discuss how to prepare for deployment to Antarctica (including the importance of the ceilidh social), the support available during deployment, and how Michaela’s own experience South shaped her perspective on training the UK's Antarctic team. What are the challenges of preparing to work in such an extreme environment? How do the experts plan training that will keep everyone safe? And what training does it take to become an Antarctican? ---Welcome to Antarctica. What's it like living and working in one of the most extreme environments in the world? From polar scientists to plumbers, ICEWORLD is a series of interviews with ordinary people who are doing extraordinary jobs in Antarctica. The team talk climate science, extreme living, expeditions and becoming a community. A podcast from British Antarctic Survey, hosted and recorded by marine biologist Nadia Frontier. Produced in partnership with Boffin Media.

    27 min
  8. S5 Ep4: Land of the rising sun - life at a Svalbard research station, with Iain Rudkin and Henry Burgess

    25/08/2025

    S5 Ep4: Land of the rising sun - life at a Svalbard research station, with Iain Rudkin and Henry Burgess

    Journey to the top of the world as Iceworld ventures into the Arctic for the first time, exploring the UK's only Arctic research station at Ny-Ålesund in Svalbard. Located at 78° north, this unique international research village brings together ten countries in one of the world's most rapidly changing environments. From retreating glaciers to beluga whales passing by the station dock, Ny-Ålesund offers a front-row seat to climate change in action.Host Nadia Frontier speaks with Iain Rudkin, Arctic Operations Manager currently stationed in Svalbard, and Henry Burgess, Head of NERC's Arctic Office, calling in from Cambridge. They discuss the dramatic seasonal contrasts from temperate summers to -30°C winters, the challenges of managing a small but impactful research station, and the powerful storytelling opportunities when politicians witness first-hand the open waters where solid ice once stretched across the fjord. This episode reveals how Svalbard serves as both a window into our changing planet and a testament to international scientific cooperation at the cutting edge of climate research.---Welcome to Antarctica. What's it like living and working in one of the most extreme environments in the world? From polar scientists to plumbers, ICEWORLD is a series of interviews with ordinary people who are doing extraordinary jobs in Antarctica. The team talk climate science, extreme living, expeditions and becoming a community. A podcast from British Antarctic Survey, hosted and recorded by marine biologist Nadia Frontier. Produced in partnership with Boffin Media.

    31 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Welcome to Antarctica. What's it like living and working in one of the most extreme environments in the world? From polar scientists to plumbers, ICEWORLD is a series of interviews with ordinary people who are doing extraordinary jobs in Antarctica. The team talk climate science, extreme living, expeditions and becoming a community.  A podcast from British Antarctic Survey, hosted and recorded by marine biologist Nadia Frontier. Produced in partnership with Boffin Media.

Information

  • Creator
    British Antarctic Survey
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    53
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © British Antarctic Survey
  • Show Website
    Iceworld

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