Iceworld

British Antarctic Survey
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Places & Travel
  • Updated Bimonthly

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 Ep13: Can I work in Antarctica with a medical condition?

    2d ago

    S5 Ep13: Can I work in Antarctica with a medical condition?

    If you’re thinking of applying for a job in Antarctica, the medical assessment process might feel daunting – especially if you have an existing condition. But as Dr Matt Warner, Director of the British Antarctic Survey Medical Unit, explains in this episode – its to help you get south, not to stop you. Nadia Frontier sits down with Matt to find out exactly what the assessment involves, how conditions ranging from physical to mental health are evaluated, and what happens when things go wrong in one of the most remote places on Earth. Along the way, they cover everything from how BAS kept its stations Covid-free before a vaccine existed, and why it can take longer to evacuate someone from Antarctica than from the International Space Station. Whether you have a medical condition you’re worried about, questions about confidentiality, or you simply want to understand what it takes to be cleared for deployment – this episode is the place to start.  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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
  2. S5 Ep12: Meet the carpenters of Antarctica

    May 5

    S5 Ep12: Meet the carpenters of Antarctica

    What does it take to be a carpenter in Antarctica – when the nearest hardware store is thousands of miles away, and the weather can turn a sheet of plywood into a sail? In this episode of Iceworld, Nadia speaks to Phill and Henry, two carpenters keeping British Antarctic Survey stations in tip-top shape in some of the most extreme conditions on Earth. They discuss the unique challenges of their jobs – from rebuilding a jetty knee-deep in icy water, to dealing with unexpected building requests from scientists. With deliveries of supplies coming only once every two years, careful planning, creativity, and teamwork are as essential as screws and timber... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.

    30 min
  3. S5 Ep11: Can you be vegan in Antarctica?

    Apr 7

    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
  4. S5 Ep10: Living and working in the polar desert

    Mar 2

    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
  5. S5 Ep9: Fixing aircraft in Antarctica

    Feb 16

    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
  6. S5 Ep8: Christmas in Antarctica

    12/22/2025

    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
  7. S5 Ep7: What to wear in Antarctica

    11/24/2025

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

    10/27/2025

    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
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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
    55
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © British Antarctic Survey
  • Show Website
    Iceworld

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