January 17, 2019
More than 9,500 miles separate Oakland University’s Rochester campus from Antarctica. Fortunately, modern technology helps bridge that distance.
Oakland University Honors College Dean Graeme Harper and a group of students recently chatted by phone with Will Jelbert, team leader and doctor for the South African National Antarctic Expedition (SANAE) 57. Jelbert is currently stationed with a team of scientists at SANAE IV, a South African Antarctic Research Base located in Vesleskarvet, Queen Maud Land. The 38-year-old spoke to students about his experiences, including the challenges of working on the earth’s coldest content, where temperatures regularly plunge to minus 50 degrees or lower.
“We have to be prepared for anything,” said Jelbert, who is also trained to perform certain dental procedures, in addition to his emergency medicine specialty.
Will Jelbert is pictured on the South African National Antarctic Expedition 57, for which he serves as doctor and team leader. |
The SANAE 57 team consists of 10 members, including professors and Ph.D. students, who have conducted research in areas such as weather and renewable energy. According to Jelbert, the day-to-day work can be physically demanding and sometimes result in injuries, from lacerations to a shoulder dislocation. Since Antarctica is also the driest place on earth, Jelbert said that sinus issues are also common.
Being stationed in a remote place also comes with psychological challenges, Jelbert added.
“Because the weather is so bad, you can’t go outside the base for weeks at a time,” he said. “There’s a lot of empty time.”
He said he pushes through the down time by pursuing hobbies such as photography, reading, writing and movies. He also keeps in contact with friends and family through email – which is how Dean Harper invited him to call in to Oakland University.
“I thought the students could really benefit from Will’s perspective,” Dean Harper said. “We’ve got lots of Honors College students who are pursuing careers in the health care field, studying pre-med, health sciences and nursing. This was a wonderful opportunity for students to hear from someone who is working in the field in a particularly bold and adventurous way.”
Learn more about OU’s Honors College at oakland.edu/hc.