Category: Project Objectives
Are you planning a trip to Antarctica in January 2022?
The Kent Scouts ReQuest2021 Antarctic Research Project team are really keen to hear from any member of Scouting worldwide who may already potentially be planning to be in South Georgia (perhaps as part of an Antarctic Cruise?) on the 5th January 2022.
One of our secondary project objectives is to have a Scout in uniform at Shackleton’s grave to represent all Scouts and pay our respects on that day.
If you or any Scouting friend you know will be there on that date then please contact project leader Alan Noake on: alan.noake@kentscouts.org.uk
The Caithness Stone has stone has just arrived from Scotland!
A visit today to lettering artist Mark Brooks from Canterbury. The Caithness Stone has just arrived from Scotland for the two plaques we are commissioning as part of the ReQuest2021 project commemorating James Marr and Norman Mooney, the two scouts who took part in Shackleton’s Quest Expedition to the Antarctic in 1921. It is a beautiful stone, ideal for inscriptional work and has outstanding weathering capabilities.
Both stones will have the same design but will be different in size. The larger one will be sited in an appropriate place at Scout HQ Gilwell Park, and the smaller one will accompany the ReQuest2021 team on the expedition to Antarctica in the Winter of 2021/22.
The plaques will be a celebration of the two scouts’ participation in the expedition. We did not feel the need for solemnity, so Mark has designed them with bold energetic letter forms. Lively ligatures and playful nesting of letters are used in order that the letters fit neatly into a rectangular block and with an even pattern. We want the stones to be as visually engaging as possible. The letters are tightly and efficiently packed into the stones’ dimensions in order to reduce the footprint. The larger stone will be an echo of its smaller cousin.
Research Projects
The ReQuest Team Members will each undertake an Antarctic Research Project and present their results in different formats on their return.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Lucy Morgan’s: Writing a blog about climate change, based around questions people have. Also running Guide/Scout meetings on the topic. Plus she will be running a fundraising event related to climate change.
PHYSIOLOGICAL EXPERIMENT
Genevieve Scullion’s: The physical effects of different temperatures on body functions. With the help of the members of the expedition, she will be able to measure the effect of varying temperatures on lung function, heart rate/ blood pressure and reactions.
3D ICEBERG SIMULATION
George Stonor’s: A study into the movement of icebergs after they have detached from the ice shelf. This would involve understanding the different forces acting on the ice -such as sea currents, winds and gravity – and their resultant effects.
PHOTOGRAPHY & ART
Darcey Holmes’s: Capturing, using photography, a historical journey in contrast with 100 years ago. Using art to convey the overwhelming effects of human activity and climate change on Antarctica’s landscape and wildlife.
THE SOUNDS OF ANTARCTICA
Alan Noake’s: Recording an entire “soundscape” podcast of Antarctica – the various sounds of the ship, icebergs, wildlife and weather. As well as one-to-one interviews with participants, crew, scientists and tourists. The project aim is to produce a complete audio record of the project.
MOTION SICKNESS STUDY
Cathy Mummery’s: The physiological causes of motion sickness and then whilst on Bark Europa look into the various treatments and how effective they are on individuals – shop bought medications, natural remedies and common sense remedies (watching the horizon, fresh air etc.)
PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORD
Laura Bernard’s: Document, through pictures, the physical and psychological effects of fellow explorers throughout the journey to and from Antarctica. Capturing the highs and lows of the entire experience.
ELECTRICITY GENERATION
Matt Wood’s: Carry out first hand research on how electricity is generated and stored in the research bases on Antarctica. We all know that global warming is happening, and one of the key issues contributing to this is the way we (humans) generate and use electricity.