“On the Ice”: What it’s like to live and work at Antarctica’s McMurdo Station

Deviate with Rolf Potts

“One thing we like to say [in Antarctica] is that nothing on the continent can kill you, except for the entire continent.” –Karen Pszonka

In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Karen talk about how Karen first got a job in Antarctica (1:40); what weather is like during the Antarctic winter, the research being done at McMurdo, and a penguin named “Buddy” (8:00); what the landscape working conditions, and living conditions are like in Antartica (24:00); what community life is like among the people who live and work in Antarctica (42:15); and the best and worst aspects of working in Antarctica, and how one might go about applying for a job there (1:02:00).

Karen Pszonka (@zonks) works as support staff for the United States Antarctic Program‘s science research at McMurdo Station.

Notable Links:

• Ice Bound, by Dr. Jerri Nielsen (book)
• Terra Incognita: Travels in Antarctica, by Sara Wheeler (book)
• Doomsday Glacier (Antarctic glacier)
• Europa (moon of the planet Jupiter)
• IceCube (neutrino observatory at the South Pole)
• Sea spider (marine arthropod)
• Ob tube (research instrument)
• Sea angel (type of sea slug)
• Royal Society Range (mountain range in Antarctica)
• Hut Point (peninsula in Antarctica)
• Medevac (medical evacuation)
• Manhauling (human-powered sledges)
• The Nutcracker (ballet)
• Skua (type of bird)
• U.S. Antarctic Program job opportunities

The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber.

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