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Palmer Station, Antarctica. Photo: Stacie Murray.
Lockheed Martin is advertising an opening for an editor with a science background — and you get to travel — but before rushing to get your application in, read the fine print. The job is to edit the online Antarctic Sun newspaper, manage a photo library and carry out assorted marketing and public relations duties. The work location at least part-time is in Antarctica, which is not the easy duty you may think it is. From the job description:
Deployment to Antarctica is required for this position. The individual in the position must successfully complete the physical and dental examinations as required by the NSF for deploying to Antarctica. Failure to meet these requirements may result in withdrawal of employment offer or other employment action. Applicant must be willing to deploy to Antarctica for 1-6 months annually based on business/program needs.
Apparently the biggest thing that newcomers don't always understand is that Antarctica is not just cold and windswept, it's an extremely dry desert — with a lot of elevation gain. Also, if you have a medical emergency the fickle and extreme weather may not allow anyone to come get you. From the National Science Foundation travel and deployment guide:
You must pass rigorous medical and dental examinations before going to the Antarctic. Antarctica is an extreme, remote environment, and medical facilities are limited. U.S. Antarctic Program facilities are equipped and staffed to provide routine ambulatory care that would be expected in a U.S. clinic, and have the capability to stabilize and manage a range of emergency medical and dental conditions before transporting patients off the continent. However, medical evacuations take a lot of time and effort and place others at risk, even when the weather allows travel. Remote field camps and research vessels pose additional difficulties. Therefore, the physical qualification (PQ) process administered by ASC seeks to screen out people with conditions that cannot effectively be managed on the Ice or aboard ship.
OK, if they capitalize Ice they mean business. By the way, you can bring your smartphone, just don't expect it to be very smart:
An all-in-one device is useful as it can serve as an alarm clock, provide music, be a camera, etc. You will NOT have cell phone service in Antarctica, but you can use the device to listen to music and take pictures.
Also: Must know Facebook and Twitter! Hat tip: Brett Levy on Facebook.
