T
he ARG has pleasure in confirming that it will be combining forces with Professor Andrew J Hodson of Sheffield University England for its latest expedition to Svalbard. Andy is no stranger to the Group, having previously worked with Ian Frearson as part of an international research project in Van-Keulenfjord during the Summer of 1994 and with the ARG 1996 Expedition to Bellsund. Andy is a Glacial Hydrologist and an Associate with UNIS, the University of Svalbard, based in Longyearbyen.
He has led many research trips into areas of Svalbard and is a well known and respected scientist. Andy will be co-ordinating with us on our work with the warm springs as well as looking into the hydrology of two pingos. It is hoped that some of Andy’s students and staff will join and work alongside ARG members on site during 2017. The Recce, due to take place during August 2016 is well planned with more on site collaboration also programmed to take place. Photographic and Video referencing is to be undertaken along with preliminary sampling from various sites to allow a better start to be made on the science during the main Expedition in 2017.
Much of the credit for this goes to Prof Hodson for his foresight and desire to be practical as well as well prepared, traits for which he is well known.