Highlights from a vintage Explore Conference #rgs_explore

Just coming down from a vintage year at the annual expedition planning conference that is Explore at the Royal Geographical Society. Lots of great expeditions, speakers and two standing ovations in the main lecture theatre. Fantastic.

Here are some personal highlights in no particular order (I missed lots, I know, so please feel free to add comments on what I should have seen, who I should have spoke to, etc.)

1. Janapar film screening

Much praise to Tom Allen for having the courage to put his emotions and journey on the big screen for all to see. Delighted that this private screening was a part of Explore. Do sign up to hear more about the next part of this adventure – bringing the film to festivals and the public.

2. Atlantic Rising

A wonderful, humorous and thought-provoking talk from the Atlantic Rising crew, recipients of the Land Rover Go Beyond Bursary. Great that they had the platform they deserve and fantastic to see a continuing educational legacy on their new website.

3. foldedsheet

It’s simple, elegant and packs a huge communications punch. I hope you had the chance to meet Luce and see the examples of her work. Here’s an example of Al Humphreys’ latest book using foldedsheet…

4. Pangaea Expedition

I was sorry to miss Emily’s talk but managed to catch up afterwards to hear more about this fantastic oceans expedition project. They are looking at oceans plastic at the moment and hope to be able to work with them in the future.

5. The fact that this happens at all

Massive thanks to Shane, Amy and all the team at Geography Outdoors at the RGS. It’s an annual highlight, meeting with old friends, making new ones and finding out that exploration in the UK and beyond is in rude health. A huge achievement!!

Oh and I’ll never think about hippos in the same way…

North Pole renamed

Following some recent confusion surrounding whether various expeditions had reached a / the pole, an international tribunal was established to revise the naming conventions of the various poles. Digital Explorer has this sneak preview at some of their initial findings.

The tribunal has decided to focus on four points in the Arctic often called poles in Phase 1 of the Polar Taxonomy Initiative (PTI), namely: the Geographic North Pole, the Magnetic North Pole (current and 1996) and the North Pole of Inaccessibility. A wide consultation programme with both experts and members of the public has shaped the following proposals.

The Geographic North Pole (the point at the top of the globe) should be renamed the Pole of Public Speaking. We feel that this new name properly enforces the importance of this pole in the careers of many of our great adventurers.

The 1996 Magnetic North Pole (the point of focus of the magnetic field in the northern hemisphere in 1996) should be renamed the Pole of Convenience. We feel that this pole has been of great help to adventure racers, ‘ocean’ rowers and Top Gear presenters, and should be recognized as such.

The North Pole of Inaccessibility (the furthest point from land in the Arctic Ocean) should be renamed the Pole of Inconvenience. This new moniker reflects that this point lies a long way from anywhere with a warm bed and hot shower.

The Magnetic North Pole (the point of focus of the magnetic field in the northern hemisphere now) should be renamed the Pole of Perpetual Motion. Members of the panel are still searching for the pole, last seen somewhere near Ellesmere Island in the Canadian Arctic, and heading for Siberia at about 55-60 kilometres a year.

The Tribunal hopes that this new naming convention will help to save confusion in the future. All feedback is gratefully received.

Explore the Oceans with Sylvia Earle

Have fun exploring the oceans in 3D with Google Earth, narrated by the ever amazing Sylvia Earle.

Looking for an inspirational schools speaker?

Just weeks before Mark was due to set off on the next leg of his amazing 7 rivers, 7 continents project, he was forced to delay his departure having had a metal screw inserted into his clavicle. He is a great speaker and available to come to schools across the UK. See below for more information or get in touch with Mark directly.

Mark Kalch is a motivational and school speaker, explorer, adventurer and sponsored athlete. I undertake difficult, demanding and culturally significant expeditions across the globe. Most recently I walked solo across the entire Islamic Republic of Iran and have previously made a source to sea paddling descent of the entire Amazon River (please view a short clip here). I am currently pursuing the 7 rivers, 7 continents project – source to sea paddling descents of the longest river on each continent. A combined total of more than 22 000 miles of paddling. My journeys are developed, planned and executed alone or in small teams with no external assistance.

All presentations are tailored to suit a school’s requirements. If you require further information or clarification do not hesitate in your approach.

Past school quote:

Mark

I have talked to most of the sixth, first form and teachers, who attended yesterday. The response was entirely enthusiastic & positive (which is not always the case, even with our better speakers). Comments ranged from ‘absolutely brilliant’, all the way down(!) to ‘very interesting’. Thanks for what was clearly an exceptionally well delivered and fascinating talk which has made a great impression on all who attended.

Dr Anthony Langdon Kingston Grammar School

Inspiring youth in the Alps

Very excited to be a part of the New Leaders in Sustainability expeditions this year. The expeditions aim to inspire primary school pupils to engage in sustainability and what it means for them on a personal, team and global basis.

You can follow their progress on their expedition website. Digital Explorer is working with the teams to see how we can develop their ability to communicate their experiences and become role models for the wider school community.

The expeditions will be using Digital Explorer’s [de] blogs platform.

Ed Stafford book launch

Great to see Ed Stafford enjoying the success he deserves at his book launch in London on Tuesday. Any teachers looking to engage students in the rainforest, would be advised to get hold of a copy for their pupils.

Ed’s book is available on Amazon and he is currently undertaking a national speaking tour.

Ed was kind enough to be part of the launch for the Digital Explorer Academy with a live chat from the Amazon to students at the London Zoo rainforest exhibit.

Arctic Expedition on BBC

One of my roles on the Catlin Arctic Survey was to film for this documentary coming out on the BBC and Open University this week. It was quite nerve-wracking shooting my first film, with the added pressures of the Arctic environment and the fact that it is to be broadcast on the BBC. I haven’t seen it yet, and look forward to reliving the expedition through Victoria’s eyes.

Broadcast details
This weekend Dr Victoria Hill presents a BBC Earth Reporters documentary about the Catlin Arctic Survey. The programme screens on BBC World (02:30 & 09:30 28/5 or 15:30 & 21:30 29/5). If you’re unable to watch BBC World TV, you can view the programme from the Open University website from this Friday.

On Cold (Arctic blog)

‘How cold is cold?’ I asked. I felt a bit stupid. Simon, the Ice Base Manager was giving me a briefing in the sitting room of his house in late February. I had never been to the Arctic before and had no idea what to expect.

We went for a walk after lunch. The air was damp and heavy. It crawled in between my jacket and fleece, the heavy, clinging, damp cold of England. It must have been 5°C.

Simon was a polar veteran. I tried not to shiver in the relative mild.

The temperature at the Ice Base was likely to be between about -35°C, rising to about -20°C towards the end of April. I had no idea what these figures meant. Is -35°C twice as cold, three times as cold, ten times as cold? These numbers were abstract and extreme in equal measure. They accompanied me on shopping trips to buy thermal leggings and fleece jackets and entertained friends in pubs at weekends.

I am now in Resolute, one of the coldest inhabited places in the world, waiting for a flight to the Ice Base. The cold here is a sharp and dry cold that is, at first, a comfortable contrast to the stuffy and claustrophobic warmth of the hotel.

As I stretch outside, the first sensation is a stiffening brittleness in my nose as the damp exhalation freezes. Then my beard starts to feel waxy. Nose and cheeks are pinched and sting. It is -40°C, yet I do not feel cold. Ears if uncovered give off a sharp ache. The fabric on my gloves hardens. Each layer of clothing is like a piece of armour, a defence.

It is a battle to see how far the cold can penetrate from the outside and how well my body can warm from the inside. I feel cocksure wandering around town, confident that the extra chips and chocolate cake will fuel me in this fight. To battle the cold, you need energy.

If I were in London, I would be eating 2,000 calories a day to lead a normal working life. Here, I need to eat 5,000 calories a day. 3,000 calories just to fuel my body to stay warm, like feeding an extra me. On an expedition, pulling a sled, polar explorers will be consuming three times as many calories as recommended by your doctor and losing weight.

Even with the food and thermals, I feel like an invisible sprite has a frozen set of tongs and presses them to any patch of exposed flesh.
It is not colder in the Arctic. It is a different cold. Not malicious but lethal for the unwary. Do not think in terms of degrees. Imagine that the cold here is not a temperature but an animal or ice spirit, a polar djinn if you will, trying to find a way in, trying to find a weakness, biting, clawing, burning.

The team at the Ice Base put their idea of cold into words. This is what they came up with.

On Copepods (Arctic Blog)

Ceri thinks copepods are cool. I didn’t know what a copepod was. I hadn’t even heard of them before I met Ceri.

We met at Heathrow airport on the way to join the Catlin Arctic Survey and compared choices of bad films on the flight to Ottawa.

Dr Ceri Lewis of the University of Exeter drew a picture of a copepod for me on the paper table cloth of Montana’s in pink crayon. It looked like an elongated marine wood louse. (more…)

On Wonder (Arctic blog)

I like hotel rooms filled with kit. They speak of independence.

I spread out in a spacious room on the fifth floor of the Southway Inn in Ottawa. Strip malls and apartment blocks spread through scrubby woods, five minutes drive from the airport. Tanning salons, hardware stores, petrol pumps and fast food. Tucsons, the local bar across the street offers drinks and dancing with live music on Saturdays and Wednesdays. It was Thursday.

Somewhere between the anonymity and dullness of the ringroad hotel, there is a freedom. I look down at the three kit bags lying on the patterned carpet. Down jackets, rugged weather proof computers, adaptors, tape, kit, thermals, bandages, medicine, back-ups, independence. This is the thrill: knowing that I have everything I need and nothing more. (more…)