Mastering the cold: a workshop for polar researchers going into the field - beta version

Imagine. You've been propelled above latitude 66, the temperature is dropping, the wind picks up and suddenly everything around you is nothing but white, isolation and desolation. Or maybe it's the sea rising, the waves forming, and while everything seemed so calm ten minutes ago, your stomach is now nauseated and your brain can't make sense of it all. Or maybe it's a polar bear coming your way. If this is not your nightmare, then perhaps it's the suffocating atmosphere of the team you've been living with in isolation for the last month or the distance to your family and friends back home. Or maybe you just didn't take the right socks and now your toes start to freeze.

You've been dreaming of this your entire life, and now you finally have your chance to set foot into polar territory. But are you ready?

All too often, young researchers are sent out into the field without any preparation or even supervision, and while this first experience is surely magical, it can also be frightening to prepare it on your own. How do you know that you packed everything you should? Are you leaving with the right mindset? Do you know how to handle isolation or promiscuity? A bad preparation can lead to an experience that could make you turn away from polar science. But there are no clear manuals or instructions; and this kind of preparation can often seem like a long, tortuous, solitary road.

To address this gap, we have partnered with the amazing IMAQA to offer you a half-day training course that will help you prepare mentally, physically and logistically for your upcoming polar expedition (and if that expedition is not yet on your calendar, it's ok, you can still come and start storing up knowledge for when the polar cold finally brings you out of hibernation).

This intensive workshop will cover essential skills needed to thrive in the coldest and most hostile regions on the planet, offering practical advice drawn from years of field experience. Designed and led by polar experts, this workshop will present concrete solutions to optimise safety and efficiency in these environments. It will allow participants to acquire essential skills for better managing extreme weather conditions, understanding body protection mechanisms, and optimising their gear. They will also learn to identify and anticipate risks, thus ensuring increased safety for themselves and their teams during polar missions.

Take advantage of this first ‘beta’ edition to benefit from this workshop at reduced prices, in a relaxed but outdoorsy atmosphere, by joining us Thursday 7th of November in the bouldering gym Camp de Base in Brussels from 2-5 pm. This test edition will provide you with valuable training delivered by a team of passionate explorers with plenty of experience in polar scientific expeditions, and your feedback will serve to improve future editions.

The afternoon will then extend into some climbing time (shoes provided) and two drinks, included in your ticket, to connect some more with the community in a relaxed and fun setting!

Seats are limited to 30 participants, be sure to book yours now!

Registration fees are reduced thanks to the generous support of BNCAR and the dedication of IMAQA.