Reckon you have what it takes to venture into the darkest most isolated parts of the Antarctic? Well, this could be your chance to prove your salt as an explorer as Airbnb and Ocean Conservancy are looking for five volunteers to join scientist Kirstie Jones-Williams on a research mission to Earth’s most remote continent.
The scientific research mission, the first of its kind, is set to take place in December and will see five volunteer citizen scientists join Kirstie on a trek into the unknown. Together, they will study the extent to which microplastics have made their way to the interior of Antarctica and then report their findings to the Airbnb community.
The lucky five will be given the opportunity to examine humans’ environmental impact on planet earth while also exploring the frozen frontier. The goal of the mission is to highlight the damage that can result from plastic pollution.
According to Kirstie, “most people think of Antarctica as a pristine and isolated continent, but recent evidence shows that even the most remote locations are affected by plastic pollution. This expedition will help us understand the pathways of microplastics to remote regions such as Antarctica and comes at a critical time to highlight our responsibility to protect our natural world.”
Obviously the expedition will be quite rigorous, given the harsh wintery conditions but no formal qualifications are needed. Merely an adventurous spirit and a passion for the environment.
Participants will first attend an immersion training in Chile to prepare for the journey to one of the world’s least understood ecosystems. From there they will travel to Antarctica where they will collect snow samples that will help to determine how far waste and pollution has travelled across the world.
The Antarctic Sabbatical is part of a larger Airbnb Sabbatical programme which aims to encourage people to take time out of their careers to travel and give back to the people and places around them. The research findings from the sabbatical will be used to help us reduce our global footprint and continue the fight against ocean plastic.If you’re up for partaking in this once in a lifetime opportunity then head to the website for more information on how to apply.
And may the odds be ever in your favour.
