As of the writing of this introduction (Dec 2019), I am a 4th year graduate student at Case Western Reserve University in beautiful Cleveland, OH. I’m a PhD candidate in Physics working for Dr. John Ruhl on the South Pole Telescope.
I will be taking a break from grad school between January 2020 – November 2020 to winter over at the South Pole. I will be one of about 40 people wintering at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, and one of 2 people in charge of operating the South Pole Telescope for the winter.
I have been to the South Pole twice before, but only during the Summer months and I’ve never had a blog before, but I figured this would be a good way to document my time as a winter-over, and to explain the experience as best I can.
Being a member of the South Pole community is something special that I can’t really explain, but I hope that this blog gives insight into what it’s like to live and operate in the most remote, inhospitable place on Earth. Cheers!
Allen's South Pole Winter-Over 2020 (+) 