Ben Patrick finds his feet again on the frozen continent – Australian Antarctic Program (News 2023)

This yr’s chief for Casey analysis station is Ben Patrick.

Ben is again on the frozen continent after first touring south twenty years in the past as a glaciologist.

For the subsequent 12 months he’ll be chargeable for main Australia’s largest Antarctic analysis station.

“I am very excited to have the chance to go south once more. Casey goes to be an absolute hive of exercise this summer time season,” he stated.

“We have now plenty of tasks, together with the beginning of the traverse for the million yr ice core program.”

On the top of the season, greater than 100 and thirty expeditioners will dwell at Casey, overlaying trades, science, assist and infrastructure.

Winter will see the quantity will scale back to round thirty, together with the workforce chargeable for managing Wilkins Aerodrome 70 kilometres away.

After his first summer time at Davis analysis station in 2000, Ben served with the Australian Defence Drive, working in East Timor and Afghanistan.

“I’ve all the time been fascinated by the world round me and one of many superb issues my profession has offered is the chance to go to all these superb locations.”

Sitting nonetheless is problem, even on his downtime.

“Once I’m not working, I like to get out on my mountain bike. I additionally love crusing and for the previous couple of years I’ve had a beautiful crusing crew on Sydney Harbour.”

“There will not be any crusing in Casey, though there’s a fantastic expanse of water out the entrance and so I will be taking no matter photographs I can of no matter wildlife I get to see.”

As for his slushy (kitchen obligation) playlist?

“It’ll have a good bit of indie rock on it, some Spiderbait and a few Pixies, however you have to preserve it new so you will additionally discover a bit little bit of Okay-Pop and a few BLACKPINK undoubtedly.”