Posts
Notes, comments, explainers, articles; most recent first.
You might also be interested in a series of letters I sent home during my first research expedition to Antarctica — I’ve collated them here.
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10 tips for new PhD students
All the things I wish I'd done from the start
Advice from the other end of a PhD - 10 things I wish I'd done (or done differently) from the start of my PhD.
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Palaeo jargon
A glossary of confusing terms
What do palaeo researchers mean when they refer to ‘the JR’? What’s ‘Stage 5’?
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Southern lights, magic sparkledust, and Capt. Hand-towel
Polar post: part 8
The transit home after our two-month Antarctic expedition: storms, parties, cleaning, writing.
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On an empty Soviet Antarctic base
Polar post: part 7
I leave the ship to collect rock samples from near a disused Russian station.
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Surviving a Southern Ocean storm
Polar post: part 6
We weather storm force 10 winds and escape bruised and battered.
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A heli day and ships in the night
Polar post: part 5
We arrive at Molodezhnaya station and drop off the land team by helicopter. Later, we see someone unexpected.
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A day in the life of an Antarctic marine geologist
Polar post: part 4
Leaving our first working area, and a day in the life of a marine geologist on Polarstern.
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Arrival: sea ice, seals, and penguins
Polar post: part 3
We arrive at our first working area of expedition PS128, and spot our first penguins and seals.
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Going south: icebergs, whales and albatrosses
Polar post: part 2
Steaming south towards Antarctica, we spot our first icebergs and plenty of whales.
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Embarking on an Antarctic expedition
Polar post: part 1
The first instalment of regular emails home from Polarstern Expedition 128, my first research cruise.
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Seabed sand grains reveal ancient ice sheets
My PhD topic kept simple
I try to answer the question "What's your PhD about" once and for all (and try to keep it short).