It takes a village to get through a period of isolation, especially at a remote base in Antarctica. From medical staff to mechanics, researchers to cooks, the 12-person winter-over crew spending nine months at Concordia research station are keeping the station running, the research going, and each other company.
Who’s who at Concordia
Name: Alberto Salvati (4th Antarctic expedition)
Nationality: Italian
Role: Station leader and project manager of research in atmospheric physics and meteorology
Hobbies: travelling, films, running, writing, hiking
Name: Andrea Ceinini (7th Antarctic expedition – 6 of them ‘traverses’)
Nationality: Italian
Role: Auto mechanic. Maintains and operates station mechanics, including the water flow and waste management systems.
Hobbies: mountains and open-air sports, alpine guide
Name: Bastien Prat (5th Antarctic expedition, previous 4 at French base Dumond d’Urville)
Nationality: French
Role: Electrician. Installs and manages electrical systems, alarm systems and automatic control systems
Hobbies: running, volleyball and paintball
Name: Camille Breant (2nd Antarctic expedition, first at French base Dumond d’Urville)
Nationality: French
Role: Glaciologist. Studies air impurities and water cycles to better understand human impact on the environment
Hobbies: yoga, Pilates, gardening, knitting, cinema
Name: Elisa Calmon (1st Antarctic expedition)
Nationality: French
Role: Cook. Manages the kitchen and warehouse.
Hobbies: music, reading, theatre, photography, and writing
Name: Ines Ollivier (2nd Antarctic expedition)
Nationality: French
Role: Glaciologist. Works on projects relating to snow, atmosphere and meteorology.
Hobbies: skiing, hiking, swimming, playing rugby, taking pictures
Name: Loredana Faraldi (1st Antarctic expedition)
Nationality: Italian
Role: Station MD. Takes care of crew members and manages the base’s hospital. Responsible for internal medical emergency procedures.
Hobbies: Travelling, diving, cycling, drawing, painting and cooking
Name: Luca Ianniello (1st Antarctic expedition)
Nationality: Italian
Role: ICT. Manages and maintains networks and systems, radio room control and satellite communications.
Hobbies: snowboarding, flying drones, playing computer science, swimming and kite surfing
Name: Stijn Thoolen (1st Antarctic expedition)
Nationality: Dutch
Role: ESA research MD. Facilitates studies on the effects of extreme environments on the physical and mental health of the participants in the winter expedition
Hobbies: running, music, travelling and reading
Name: Sylvain Guesnier (1st Antarctic expedition)
Nationality: French
Role: Central mechanic. Manages systems for generating electricity, fresh water and heating.
Hobbies: hiking, running and kite surfing
Name: Vivien Koutcheroff (3rd Antarctic expedition)
Nationality: French
Role: Technical leader and plumber. Coordinates the technical team, manages and maintains the water, heating and recycling plants
Hobbies: doing downhill, skiing and travelling
Name: Wenceslas Marie-Sainte (1st Antarctic expedition)
Nationality: French
Role: Electronics engineer working on atmospheric physics, seismology, geomagnetism and astronomy
Hobbies: going to the gym, painting, drawing, listening to music, reading science fiction books, hiking
Discussion: 2 comments
Wow what a team, I am always in awe at teams of people that live and work in extreme conditions for science. I often wonder what it must feel like to stand on the ice watching the last flight out of base, become a smaller and smaller spec in the sky and then vanish completely. Knowing that’s it, for the next 9 months must be a pivotal moment psychologically.
Then my gaze turns skywards and I wonder how it must likely feel to launch into space, do several checkout orbits, then fire engines to leave the earth and head to Mars? Watching our beautiful planet recede into the darkness of space will be a real challenge to all who do so.
Take care all of you. I await your reports with great anticipation and interest.
Nice team.. Much Success and good times to all of you.. Bon courage à vous .. Forza tutti