Episodes

  • S3 Ep10: Engineers of Antarctica, with Jonathan Witherstone & Jaskiran Nagi

    S3 Ep10: Engineers of Antarctica, with Jonathan Witherstone & Jaskiran Nagi
    May 23 2024
    From living beside a growing ice chasm, to signing up to live in Antarctica through dark Antarctic Winter - Jaskiran Nagi and Jonathan Witherstone are electronics engineers with a shared love of knowing how things work and being outdoors.

    Jas chats about his work at Halley Research Station and maintaining the seismic instruments on the ice shelf there, and Jonathan reveals the surprisingly low-tech secrets behind maintaining comms in the snow at Rothera Research Station.

    Iceworld is presented by marine biologist Nadia Frontier, produced in partnership with Boffin Media; cover photo by Dani Stewart.
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    25 mins
  • S3: Fossil hunting and managing Antarctic mud, with the Seymour Island expedition team

    S3: Fossil hunting and managing Antarctic mud, with the Seymour Island expedition team
    May 8 2024
    Featuring ammonites shaped like giant paperclips, curry cooking in the field, and emergency mud liquidation techniques - this team of fossil hunters are fresh off their expedition to Antarctica's Seymour Island. Led by Dr Rowan Whittle from British Antarctic Survey (BAS), they want to understand how life on the Antarctic sea floor evolved over the last 100 million years.

    Host Nadia Frontier chats to Rowan about leading her first major Antarctic expedition, along with team members Dr James Witts from the Natural History Museum, BAS paleobiologist Dr Saurav Dutta, and Field Guide Sam Hunt.

    Iceworld is presented by marine biologist Nadia Frontier, produced in partnership with Boffin Media.
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    33 mins
  • S3 Ep9: Watching wild weather in Antarctica, with Jo Cole

    S3 Ep9: Watching wild weather in Antarctica, with Jo Cole
    Apr 24 2024
    Meteorologist Jo Cole chats to Nadia Frontier about fixing weather stations in remote locations, and seeing the sun return after Winter from the top of a mountain.
    Being a meteorologist in Antarctica is a busy job! From launching weather balloons, to making hourly observations to support flights on the frozen continent, the information captured is important for safe operations *and* science.
    Produced in partnership with Boffin Media.
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    19 mins
  • S3 Ep8: From Arran to Antarctica with Niall Macleod

    S3 Ep8: From Arran to Antarctica with Niall Macleod
    Apr 4 2024
    In a conversation ranging from ice climbing to the trials of wearing a kilt in Antarctica, Nadia chats to Niall Macleod, the Plant Operator at Rothera Research Station through Antarctic Winter.

    Niall's route to Antarctica was through agriculture, quarrying and civil engineering - before deciding that he wanted to do something for the environment. His job is to look after the research station's unusual machinery, and to keep the snow at bay as it blows through in the darkest period of the year. In his own words: he likes helping people.

    This episode's Antarctic glossary:
    • 'Snowcat' - a big truck on caterpillar tracks that can be used to clear snow or tow heavy loads.
    • 'Scheds' - the high frequency radio communication set up at field camps so that the station can communicate with field parties.
    • 'Smooth Operator' - the name of Niall's claimed climbing route... and tongue-in-cheek nickname for himself.
    Iceworld is presented and recorded by Nadia Frontier, and produced in partnership with Boffin Media.
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    19 mins
  • S3 Ep7: Leading polar expeditions, with Ed Luke and Matthew Shepherd

    S3 Ep7: Leading polar expeditions, with Ed Luke and Matthew Shepherd
    Mar 20 2024
    A field guide is one of the most highly skilled and varied jobs in Antarctica. From accompanying scientists on expeditions, training their colleagues to survive on the ice and fixing sledges, there's never a dull day.

    Polar field guides Ed Luke and Matthew Shepherd talk to Nadia about life on the ice and extreme camping.

    Produced in partnership with Boffin Media; cover photo by Ed Luke.
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    35 mins
  • S3: Leadership and a life on the ice, with Professor Dame Jane Francis

    S3: Leadership and a life on the ice, with Professor Dame Jane Francis
    Mar 8 2024
    How many people can say they've lost count of their visits to Antarctica? In this special International Women's Day episode, Professor Dame Jane Francis (Director of British Antarctic Survey) chats to Nadia about her journey into science, fossil hunting in Antarctic mud, launching the RRS Sir David Attenborough with Sir David Attenborough, and leading change.

    Iceworld is presented by marine biologist Nadia Frontier, produced in partnership with Boffin Media.
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    32 mins
  • S3 Ep6: Chefs of Antarctica, with Sadhbh Moore and Katy Rumm

    S3 Ep6: Chefs of Antarctica, with Sadhbh Moore and Katy Rumm
    Feb 28 2024
    Imagine cooking for 160 with only frozen, tinned and dried food... for a whole season. We all know the stomach is the route to the heart, so the meals need to feel fresh, nourishing and varied. Chefs might have the most important job at Rothera Research Station!

    In this episode, Summer chef Sadhbh Moore chats to host Nadia Frontier about food sustainability, pickling and preserving, and channelling Hemsley + Hemsley. Winter Chef Katy talks about cooking with staff as the solo chef on station, her love of skiing, and the instinctive recipe adaptations that are part of being a chef in Antarctica.

    Produced in partnership with Boffin Media.
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    33 mins
  • S3 Ep5: Ryan Mathews on diving and exploring in Antarctic Winter

    S3 Ep5: Ryan Mathews on diving and exploring in Antarctic Winter
    Feb 14 2024
    Ryan talks to host Nadia Frontier about the extraordinary experience of living in Antarctica through the dark winter - the adventures, the challenges, and preparing for the arrival of the summer community.

    Ryan Mathews was the Marine Assistant at Rothera Research Station, where he works on scientific diving in Antarctica's icy waters, and in the on-site laboratory (The Bonner Lab).

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    Produced in partnership with Boffin Media; cover photograph of Ryan Mathews by Marek Figielski.
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    23 mins