A professor at the University of Northern British Columbia and his student will head south over the holidays—really south. Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management (ORTM) professor Patrick Maher and fourth-year ORTM student Jody Phibbs are participating in Students on Ice Antarctic Expedition 2013 and leave Dec. 26 for the expedition’s embarkation port in Ushuaia, Argentina.

Media Download: UNBC Prof. Pat Maher and his new book on Antarctica, Antarctic Futures.

The ship-based journey will explore Patagonia, the Antarctic Peninsula, and surrounding Southern Ocean. It will involve 70 university and high school students from around the world, as well as an international team of staff, consisting of 20 scientists, historians, artists, explorers, authors, and educators.

In 2009, UNBC participated in the first-ever university courses offered in Antarctica with Students on Ice. This time however, there will be a greater concentration on research.

“The last university trip was related more to teaching, where as we will be trying to incorporate more research this time around. We’ll be examining Antarctic tourism in terms of its positive and negative impacts across economic, social, and environmental realms,” says Dr. Maher, a recently elected Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. “This will be expanded upon with an evaluation of the management of tourism today as well as critiquing the options that might be best for the future.”

While on the expedition, participants will encounter wildlife, visit scientific research stations, learn about the history of the region and the effects of climate change on Antarctic and global ecosystems Students will consider scientific and other knowledge system perspectives, and participate in interdisciplinary and hands-on educational activities throughout their university credit courses and a wider educational program.

Media Download: UNBC Student Jody Phibbs of Boston Bar, BC, is heading to Antarctica with Students on Ice.

“I’m minoring in Northern Studies and greatly interested in northern and polar regions, particularly in isolated communities, living as I do in Boston Bar, BC,” says student Jody Phibbs.  “This trip has already been a fantastic learning experience just in terms of the preparation I have had to do. Do you know how much preparation you have to do for a trip to Antarctica?”

The trip to the icy continent is also a timely one for Dr. Maher with the recent release of Antarctic Futures, a book he co-authored and co-edited. The book explores the views of leading researchers on the needs and challenges of Antarctic environmental management, both now and in 50 years’ time.

"My co-authors and I investigate the impacts of human activities on Antarctic ecosystems and species, and examine existing and alternative environmental management and monitoring practices," says Dr. Maher. “So I’m looking forward to returning to Antarctica with my book in hand. I will definitely be using it to enhance the students’ experience.”

The Students on Ice expedition to Antarctica sets sail Dec. 27, 2013 and returns to port Jan. 10, 2014.