About REBECCA PRIESTLEY
I’m a science historian and writer. I write about all sorts of things, but I’m mostly interested in New Zealand’s science history, about which I’ve curated two exhibitions, The Art of Science and Butterflies, Boffins & Black Smokers. I write a regular science column for The Listener, which you can read here, and I’ve completed four books, which you can read more about here. I’m now working on an anthology of Antarctic science, which should be finished ... soon and trying to decide between two new book projects: a worthy history of science biography and a fun contemporary science story. Perhaps I'll do both. I mostly blog when I'm adventuring - most of these posts are from recent trips to Antarctica and the Kermadec Islands.-
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Category Archives: Antarctic
Antarctic playlist update
Before I went to Antarctica I asked people for recommendations on music to listen to while there, and I put together an Antarctic playlist. Turned out I didn’t listen to much music while I was in Antarctica. It was too … Continue reading
Posted in Antarctic, Personal, Travel
Tagged Antarctica, bon iver, monster trucks, music, playlist, pressure ridges, sigur ros, weakerthans
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Alice’s Antarctic diaries
On my recent trip to Antarctica, my fellow writer and near-constant companion was Wellington poet and all-round writer person Alice Miller. We shared a bunk room together, made each other many coffees, bought each other many drinks, and went on … Continue reading
Posted in Antarctic, Personal, Science, Uncategorized
Tagged Alice Miller, Antarctica, diary, RAdio New Zealand, Rebecca Priestley
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Scott Base, Scott Base, this is Rebecca
When I first arrived in Antarctica I felt like the world had just got smaller. This place that had lived in my imagination for so long was suddenly real and underfoot. I’d now been to the Arctic and the Antarctic, … Continue reading
Posted in Antarctic, Personal, Travel
Tagged Antarctica, antarctica new zealand, C-17, Pegasus field, Rebecca Priestley, Scott Base
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Be careful what you wish for
When I arrived here, I didn’t want to leave. But now our stay has been extended. By a day. By another day. By two more days. On Thursday we did “bag drag,” where our bags were weighed and driven over … Continue reading
Posted in Antarctic, Personal, Travel
Tagged Antarctica, Rebecca Priestley, Scott Base, travel
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A met observation and a visit to Scott’s hut
I woke up this morning to a happy birthday to Alice announcement over the PA, followed by some very loud Christmas music – Santa Claus is Coming to Town. When I got up there were Christmas decorations and trees everywhere. … Continue reading
Posted in Antarctic, Personal, Travel
Tagged Antarctica, Cape Evans, Rebecca Priestley, Scott Base, Stevenson screen, travel, weather
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Science on the sea ice
Yesterday my fellow writers (James and Alice) and I went on an amazing helicopter trip to Cape Evans (to see Scott’s Hutt), to Cape Royds (to see Shackleton’s Hut and the Adelie penguin colony) and to Lake Hoare in the … Continue reading
Posted in Antarctic, Personal, Travel
Tagged adelie penguin, antarctic ice sheet, lake hoare, Rebecca Priestley
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