Body Preparation for the Antarctic
As the Nation basked in Mediterranean style sunny weather, four science and geography teachers have been thinking cold. Up to -90 deg C cold. They are preparing their bodies for the most exacting experience of their lives. They are taking part in an expedition to the Antarctic to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Trans Antarctic Expedition successfully completed by Sir Vivian Fuchs, a notable man of science.
At the Human and Allied Physiology Laboratories of Portsmouth University under the guidance of Professor Mike Tipton, Phil Avery, of Oxted School will be putting his fellow teachers through some serious tests to see how the body deals with extremes of temperatures.
Through chattering teeth the teachers will immerse themselves in freezing cold water and time how long it will take to start shivering. Anthropometric profiling is euphemistic terminology to describe another test which will also be carried out before departure in November. This will be measuring fat and lean tissue and identifying where it is on the body. Should you be fat or fit, lunching on lard or weetabix? Not only will Phil be testing the physiology of the body but also how humans cope psychologically with extreme cold and the stresses of expeditions.
Once on Antarctica the tests will continue. They will have their hands and faces regularly plunged into iced water to see if it really does cause the heart rate to slow. Phil is convinced that the air will be as blue as the ice they will be standing on.
These and other experiments will be part of the massive preparations to carry out scientific research by the Fuchs Foundation’s Antarctic Expedition. The teachers will be sending information back through video links during their stay on the ice and on their return their experiences and findings will be turned into teaching materials which will be accessed on www.fuchsfoundation.org.
Photos available
Phil Avery, email: mravery@btinternet.com
Page last modified: 25th Feb 2008 - 14:35:43