How are you going? I hear this all the time, well more like "How're you going?". It is the phrase over here of "how is it going", or "what is going on". My name for today's post is really only because it is day 13 on my adventure over here. It also coincides to the fact that the frog doesn't have a 13th room. I guess they are a superstitious as we are back in the States.
Today was one of the most productive days on the island yet. Nathan and I attended the first day of the 3rd Annual International Forum on the Sub-Antarctic (http://www.sub-antarctic.org/). This conference has all of the Sub-Antarctic scientist from all over the world come to Hobart to discuss issues like climate change and species invasion on the islands that surround the Antarctic continent.
CCAMLR Headquarters, where the conference was
The ecological diversity on these islands are amazing. The conference hosted everyone from Phillippa's adviser Dr. Dana Bergstrom to a French climate scientist, who I do not have a name for. The conference had chances for me to meet these scientist as well as potential employers. Most people enjoyed the fact that I was from the United States. At the same time, they also enjoy the fact that we aren't the poster child for something for once (i.e. the U.S. typically hogs the spotlight).
Nathan and me at conference (tea time)
The day consisted of this until 4:30pm where we split and headed over to the Tasmanian Royal Botanical Gardens with Phillippa. She wanted to show us a green house where the house is actually cold and humid (to match the Sub-Antarctic temperatures).
You can read!
Thought this was so cool.
The temperature is held at a constant 8-9 degrees Celsius by gigantic fans which I have a video of but thought this video was more important. Listen to them in the background. This is Phillippa describing what she does on Macca Island (shortened for ease).
Standing in the green house (COLD)
We also toured the gardens until closing at 6pm. At this point, Nathan and I split from Phillippa, as she had the conference dinner to go to and we didn't pay for it. We grabbed a bite to eat and wondered around the city some more.
Great great great day. Really excited for tomorrow. Back in class and planning time. Also will be talking to Arko about my research soon. Pumped.
Cheers!
Shane
Wow! You guys are really doing some great work over there. Wish you two all the best and hope you both have a safe trip home. P.S. John's Shadow was looking mighty lonely out in front of his house as I passed by there yesterday!!
ReplyDelete