Bangor University, School of Ocean Sciences. 8th December 2012.
Seventy polar enthusiasts gathered in Bangor University’s School of Ocean Sciences to learn about the most recent advances in polar research and to network with those that share their interest in polar science.
A wide range of scientific presentations were presented, with topics ranging from glaciers and plants to past and future climate change. Talks and posters were presented from scientists at different stages of their careers (undergraduate to junior lecturers) demonstrating the wide range of polar research which scientists are involved in.
This one-day scientific conference offered students a great opportunity to experience how scientific conferences function, which will certainly be a positive asset in their future careers. Furthermore, participants were provided with an opportunity to ask any questions they had during a mentor panel on “How to get yourself into polar science and general research”. In a climate where we still see the effects of a recession and the job market becoming ever more competitive, we hope that this event helps not only to promote Bangor and the UKPN as student supportive organisations, but more importantly supports students in their preparation for their future careers and hopefully gives them a more competitive edge.
The keynote speakers provided excellent talks on their fields of expertise as well describing how they ended up in polar science. Stephanie Wilson, a Lecturer at Bangor University’s School of Ocean Sciences, opened up the event with an interesting talk on Antarctic food webs. Nick Hughes from the Norwegian Met Office came all the way from Norway to talk about how he has achieved a high profile career (without a PhD so far!) looking at sea ice. His science has taken him onto Ministry of Defence nuclear submarines in order to collect his data from underneath the Arctic sea ice. Finally Chris Alger of Calesurvey gave the day a commercial spin by talking the participants through how geophysicists carry out their work under big contracts, largely associated with the oil industry. Such work has taken their graduate employees to a range of locations including the Arctic circle.
Congratulations to Ben Butler (Bangor University) on winning the best oral presentation. Also congratulations to joint winners for best poster presentation, PhD students Philip Blaen (Birmingham University) and Rebekah Newstead (Bangor University).
Thank you to all those who attended and those presenting their exciting science and to our mentor panelists Stephanie Wilson, Anna Pienkowski, Coleen Suckling (Bangor University), Nick Hughes (Norwegian Met Office) and Chris Alger (Calesurvey). A huge thank you to the organising committee (Coleen Suckling, Ben Strachan, Matt Biber, Rebekah Newstead, Anna Glüder and Ilka Johanna Illers, Bangor University), our funders Calesurvey, the UK Polar Network and the Endeavour Society and the School of Ocean Sciences for hosting this exciting event.
Recent Comments