Lt Cdr Paul Hart, the expedition Deputy Leader and Major Jez Stemp (Blue Team 2) met with Sir David Attenborough to discuss the impact of climate change in the Antarctic Peninsula region. 

Sir David’s Frozen Planet series, which has captivated the British viewing audience, culminates on 7th December 2011 when Sir David will concentrate specifically on the impact that climate change is having on the Antarctic Peninsula.  The BSAE team will be undertaking cutting edge research into the reasons behind these changes and how climate has varied in the Peninsula, including the extent of sea ice change.  In what was a frank and mutually supportive exchange of views, Sir David was surprised to find the level of risk the team are exposing themselves to, in order to achieve their scientific objectives.  Sir David was at pains to point out the need for all generations to ‘re-connect’ with the environment and realise that there is a direct consequence of humanities activities on the planet.  In this context, he was pleased to see that the British Services Antarctic Expedition is intending to contribute to the wealth of human knowledge and exploration much as Scott’s expedition did 100 years ago.  Sir David wished all members of the BSAE team safe fortune and expressed support for the scientific and exploration aims of the expedition.  After the meeting, Paul Hart said, “it was a great privilege to meet with Sir David today and we will extend every effort to ensure his support and endorsement of our expedition is fully vindicated.  Since we began this expedition programme the team members have fully grasped how important our science objectives are to the science community and, perhaps more importantly, we have all realised that what we are doing here in our personal lives has a direct effect on the ecology of the Peninsula 9000miles away."

The British celebrity historian Dan Snow has recorded his support for the British Services Expedition with the following quote sent to the expedition on the eve of their commemoration of Captain Scott at the Painted Hall, Greenwich on 3rd December 2011 . . .

‘Contrary to what many think there are still blank spaces on the map, wildernesses that have never been explored, species of flora and fauna yet to be documented and global weather patterns yet to be properly deciphered. That is why this project, like the Scott expedition that inspired it, is so important. Every time brave men and women have set out into hostile terrain, the rest of us have learned something about our planet, our environment and our humanity.’     . . Dan Snow

BSAE 2012 signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the BAS in Cambridge on 24 Nov 11.  The BSAE team gave a presentation to the scientists of the BAS where their scientific programme and objectives were scrutinised. Extensive questioning allowed the BSAE team to confirm their understanding of the higher level goals and activities which their science data would underpin. Martin Densham provided an overview of how the various projects that the BSAE team will attempt to achieve will be coordinated (further details can be found here ).
Meanwhile, the expedition leader Paul Edwards signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Chief Executive of the BAS, Mr Nick Owens, to confirm the arrangements between the two organisations..

There will be a Telegraph Newspaper Article in the Weekend Section on 10th December 2011, so check it out.  Also, they will be following our progress and will be putting updates onto their website about the expedition.  The Telegraph website can be found . . . here.  

BSAE 2012 will be at the London Ski and Snowboard show from Wed 19th to Sun 23 Oct 11 where we will be giving people the chance to pull and pull (a sled perhaps) and raising money for H4H.  Check out the event website . . . here.