Cape Farewell Youth Expedition 2007

I’m trying to keep up with all the fascinating, challenging and often at-odds things I’ve heard about climate change over the last few days since joining the Cape Farewell Youth Expedition. Not that I’ve heard anyone deny the reality of climate change or man’s responsibility; just that the numbers, facts, predictions and consequences rarely seem to agree. One thing all have agreed on, whether it be Prof Mark Maslin from UCL and Director of The Institute of the Environment, Charlie Kronick the long-time activist and senior policy advisor on climate-change for Greenpeace, comedian Marcus Brigstocke, Dr Simon Boxall the eminent oceanographer from Institute of Oceanography in Southampton or the author Vikram Seth is that to tackle climate change mankind will need to use all it’s creativity, not just in science, but also in art, in it’s governance, through comedy, through commerce and through our individual stories.

Mark Maslin, who authored the acclaimed ‘Global Warming – A Brief Introduction.’ put the challenge into perspective by starting his talk on the science of climate change with ‘We cannot address the issue of future world climate change without also addressing the issue of current world poverty.’ Though rich in science content, Mark repeatedly challenged the notation of simply looking at climate change as solely a scientific issue, by pointing out the often devastating socio-economic or political impact of purely scientific responses to climate change…
Click to read the full post >

Hello all,

 We’re nearly on our way, it’s been an intense four days so far, we’v had lots of workshops about working as a scientist, thinking like an artist, using media and interview techniques and team building exercises. We’ve taken part in the launch event on Sunday, and there are many photos on the site of that, a great event where all the stduents did a performance and then went down to the pier and got into inflatable ribs (big dinghies) and rode up and down the river, including going under Tower Bridge – awesome!! I have met some really inspirational people, most of whom are the students going on the voyage, they are a really intelligent, creative and lively bunch of students who are already working really well together as a team, I am proud to be working with them.

We leave for the Arctic tomorrow and I am sooooo excited!! Probably won’t get much sleep tonight. Will miss everyone I know in the UK, thanks to everyone who has suppoerted me on this wonderful adventure and I will see you all soon!!

 Love,

Jessica x

Hear from artists Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey as they carve a “Snow Cam” and create their glacial “Ice Lens” during the 2005 expedition. (Duration: 1:54 mins)

Hear from Suba, on a mooring mast for the airship used by Amundsen in 1926, as she traces the rich history of polar explorations in Ny-Alesund. (Duration: 32secs)

[photopress:Baird_with_kids_1_2_3.jpg,full,pp_image]

Doriana, Shona and Amélie set off on their Cape Farewell journey by meeting the Canadian Minister for Environment, The Honourable John Baird with Rebecca Zalatan and Martin Rose from the British Council, Canada.

The 3 Students were also wished bon voyage by all their felllow students at a special launch for the team.

[photopress:dan_harvey.jpg,full,pp_image]

Dan Harvey (Artist and Art Mentor)
Dan Harvey is an artist who has been on all the voyages to date with his partner Heather Ackroyd. Together they have created many memorable pieces of art as a result of their experiences in Svalbard. Dan will help the 12 pupils with their individual art projects and create a collective piece of art.

[photopress:colin_izod.jpg,full,pp_image]

Colin Izod (Project Director)
An ex English Teacher, Colin’s current day job is making broadcast TV and online media for education with his own company Big Heart Media.  On the first voyage in 2003 he helped to create Cape Farewell’s first educational resource – the GCSE Geography package  North To Svalbard and on the 2004 voyage the GCSE science resource Life in The Water. Taking a group of teenagers to Svalbard on the Noorderlicht has been an ambition ever since the first Cape Farewell voyage.

[photopress:keith_brindle.jpg,full,pp_image]

Keith Brindle (Science Teacher)
Keith, Science Teacher at Frome Community College in Somerset, will work with mark to provide help to the pupils with their science projects.

[photopress:rebecca_zalatan.jpg,full,pp_image]

Rebecca Zalatan (Project Manager, British Council Canada)
Rebecca is a biogeographer with experience studying caribou in the Canadian Arctic. This 2007 voyage is just the beginning of Rebecca’s plans for Cape Farewell in Canada. In addition to accompanying Colin and Suba on their visits to the three Canadian schools, Rebecca is planning for another youth and climate change project in 2008 which will see a continuation of the British Council Canada’s involvement with Cape Farewell taken to another level. Watch this space!

[photopress:jessica_burdett.jpg,full,pp_image]

Jessica Burdett (Art Teacher)
Jessica Burdett is the Head of Art at Kidbrooke High School in South London. She will work with artist Dan Harvey to provide inspiration and practical help to the pupils with their art projects.