Who are we? Cam and Jenna: Part 2

Previously we wrote about publishing weekly biographies on new and veteran team members. In Part 1 of this week we wrote about Cam and here in Part 2 we introduce Jenna. Jenna will be going to the Antarctic for the very first time this year as part of her Masters work.

If you have missed any of our previous posts you can read about them following the links below:

• During Week 1 we chatted to Dave and Nicola.

Biography # 2 of the ‘Newbie’ Participants: Jenna Knox

1. What is your name?

Jenna Knox.

2. Where are you from?

Durban.

3. What drew you to Rhodes University?

To make new friends and new experiences in a place I did not grow up in.

4. Why are you going to Antarctica?

For my research.

5. What is the name of your Masters dissertation?

An investigation into chemical rock weathering in western Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica.

6. What is your research focus there?

I focus on weathering, chemical changes within rocks and geochemistry. I also look at snow and water around the rocks.

7. Are you looking forward to going South with your current team members?

Very much! It’s going to be a very exciting trip. We are a nice group of girls.

8. Have you been on the S.A. Agulhas II before?

Yes. I went on the recent SEAmester. (More on the SEAmester can be found here or here. )

9. Have you been to Antarctica before?

No.

10. Have you ever had a white Christmas before?

No.

11. Do you have special plans for Christmas?

I’m going to wear my traditional reindeer antlers.

12. What are you looking forward to or are most excited about?

Exploring, seeing ice bergs and seals and just the pure beauty of the place.

13. Are you worried about anything or does something about the trip scare you?

Falling into a crevasse. (The team is trained in hazardous terrain traversal, as well as climbing so the likelihood of something like this happening is very slim. Furthermore, routes are known and evaluated using satellite images before the team goes into the field.)

14. How have you prepared for the trip? 

As a team the main way we’ve prepared was when we went to the SANAP PI and Student Symposium in Pretoria recently. We were  all there together and got to properly know each other. We’ve also chatted about what we need to take, made lists, sorted out our equipment that is currently stored in cupboards in the Geography Department at Rhodes University. Personally I’ve been chatting to my parents and my family and have been looking at pictures and documentaries in order to prepare myself for the trip.

15. Are you taking a luxury item with you, like something you won’t have access to once you’ve left?

I have a little stuffed seal called Pebbles who goes everywhere with me. She’s going to see her fellow seal friends!

16. What do you think you will miss the most during the trip?

The Internet.  

17. Do you have anything specific you want to do while you are there? Something you can only do on a trip like this?

I want to try to ice skate on lake-ice blisters. (There won’t be ice-skating but the boots the team members wear have thick rubber soles so you can slide across icy surfaces quite easily when wearing them.)

18. Are you leaving family behind? Have you prepared them for your being away for three months?

I’ve told my family that I probably won’t be able to speak to them often so ‘no news is good news’. My mom has also been reading books about SANAE IV and Antarctica so she can prepare herself.

19. Are you doing anything nice before you go, e.g. a weekend away or a holiday?

I’m going home for two weeks to visit the family.

20. Is anyone seeing you off?

My mom and maybe my sister.

#2016fieldpreparations #Antarctica #landscapeprocessesinantarcticecosystems #LPiAE