Antarctica beckons a special group of Hong Kong students who are excitedly preparing for an adventure of a lifetime. Having shown an aptitude for environmental protection and team work, 17 “Polar Care Ambassadors” will set off on an 18-day polar expedition on November 25.
Renowned polar explorer Dr Rebecca Lee helped arrange for the team to spend time at China’s first polar scientific research station, the Great Wall Station on King George Island. This unprecedented access will give the students first-hand knowledge of scientists’ life and work -- and shed new light on this remote region.
"I did not know much about Antarctica until I started to prepare for this trip. I had no idea there were so many animals and beautiful glaciers there,” said 17-year-old Camilla Poon, one of the ambassadors. She hopes this journey will broaden her horizons, enabling her to get an up-close look at how global warming affects the Antarctic ecosystem, as glaciers melt and animals’ food supplies are disrupted.
Camilla is particularly intrigued with penguins. "I will take a lot of penguin photos and when I return home, I will use the photos to make Christmas cards for my relatives and friends to send my greetings -- as well as promote environmental protection.”
Close encounters
The students will be able to take photos of penguins, seals, whales and other Antarctic residents, but they may not touch the animals and must stay at least three meters away from them.
Bill Wu, another ambassador, is an environmental-protection activist at his school. He is keen to meet the polar scientists in person. "Although I may not be able to thoroughly understand their research, I think if we dare to learn more and ask more, what we can get out of this trip is surely more than we imagined," he said.
The group will fly from Hong Kong to Paris, then on to Ushuaia in southern Argentina, known as the “end of the world”. They will then cross the notoriously rough Drake Passage by ship, a 56-hour journey, to arrive at the Antarctica Peninsula.
Coveted sponsorship
The ambassadors are all secondary students from forms four to six who went through a rigorous selection process. Co-organisers Yan Oi Tong and Hong Kong Discovery asked them to submit a proposal detailing an environmental protection scheme they could launch at their school, then implement it and present the results in a written report and video.
From more than 300 initial applicants, they selected 107 to undergo Outward Bound adventure training, to boost their self esteem and team spirit. They also visited recycling centres and attended seminars about energy saving and waste reduction, all the while imbuing them with a greater awareness of the need for global environmental protection.
At the end of the process, 17 finalists qualified to receive a full sponsorship of about $130,000 each to cover all the costs of this journey, including transportation, accommodation and survival gear.
Planting green seeds
Prof Chan Lung Sang from the University of Hong Kong’s Department of Earth Sciences will join this expedition. He will lead the students to collect water, soil and climate data while in Antarctica for analysis. If they complete the reports and pass an assessment, it will be the equivalent of having studied a three-credit bachelor degree course, recognised by the university.
Expedition leader Jan Chan said bringing secondary school students to Antarctic will help raise awareness of the need for global environmental protection among the younger generation.
"We are planting new seeds and hope they can grow up to spread the message of conservation. One day they may become policy makers, and if they do, this effort will greatly help protect our Earth,” he said.
Overcoming adversity
Camilla is a bit anxious as she prepares for the longest and farthest journey she has ever taken. She wears a hearing aid, but does not see this as a handicap.
"As long as I pay attention to the safety precautions and listen carefully to what the professors say, my hearing problem will not be an obstacle for me," she said confidently.
The lengthy travel time and extreme Antarctic weather will test the students, physically and psychologically. Common illnesses in this remote region include hypothermia, snow blindness and sunburn, and seasickness. Students will also need to live without the convenience of mobile phones and 24/7 Internet access. Experienced staff, including a team doctor, will accompany them to ensure their safety.
Patrick Lam is one of the staff members. A geography teacher for 19 years, he recently left his career to join this expedition, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity he cannot pass up. He has led student study tours in the past, but admits this trek will pose some unique challenges.
"It's my honour to witness this group of young people, the first group of Asian secondary school students to visit this remote place, so it is my pleasure," he said.
After the trip, Patrick plans to have team members visits other schools to share their experience. They have not yet left Hong Kong, but he already has appointments booked upon their return.
