About the Authors
Changing chief scientists of the expedition
The scientific crew changes every three to ten weeks – and so does the team of authors. The blogging students, technicians and professors are all unified by one thing: Their passion for the Arctic or the Antarctic. Whether a newcomer on board or an old hand is writing: we want to take us on an expedition to the Polar Regions, which are still difficultly accessible. The expedition participants come from diverse countries so that there are many blog posts in English language. But as Polarstern is a German research vessel, there will also be a lot of German posts.
Folke Mehrtens
Folke Mehrtens has been working in the Alfred Wegener Institute’s press office since 2008. She knows the centre from her diploma and PhD thesis, which she conducted at the AWI Helgoland. She is excited that she now has the opportunity to communicate biological, geological and climate sciences – and about the great possibilities to cover current scientific issues multimedially.
On the occasion of Polarstern’s thirstiest anniversary in 2012 Folke Mehrtens had the chance to take part in an expedition across the Antarctic Weddell Sea. Since then she does not get lost anymore when she visits Polarstern in the shipyard for reporting on the vessel. Based in the AWI press office in Polarstern’s homeport Bremerhaven, she is going to answer readers’ questions and offers the expedition team a helping hand.