Planning

The planning for this event was relatively straight forward. However problems can arise in between the time of when proposals are first initiated and when approval is obtained. For example some of the critical hazardous chemicals were sent to the Antarctic by ship cargo in early 1986 before finding out if the project had been included in the research programme.

The major problems that this event encountered in the Antarctic related to the lock of co-ordination between this event and K012. It was assumed that where co-ordination was required, i.e. access to the New Zealand fish hole and the sharing of transport, that K012 would have been officially notified. The event briefing sessions at Tekapo are recognized as an important place for meeting the leaders of other events and discussing event co-ordination. Thus briefing K047 and K012 at the same time was a very good idea. It was unfortunate that the leader of K012 was not present at Tekapo and this may have avoided the confrontation that lead to denial of access to the fish hole and to ground transport that was assigned to be shared between events.

Cargo

Substrates for enzyme assay: Epoxy (p-nitrophenoxy)propane, 1-chloro-2,4-dinitro-benzene, 2,4-dichloro-1-nitrobenzene, p-nitrobenzly chloride, cumene hydroperoxide, hydrogen peroxide. Less than 5g or 6ml of each.

The second group was those that were packed in a cargon for flight to Scott Base. The cargon's approximate cube was 12 ft and weight 155 lbs. It contained assorted laboratory equipment, glassware and non hazardous chemicals.

The third load was red flighted chemicals 5,5-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) and glacial acetic acid 200 ml. All cargo reached Scott Base before I arrived and was not damaged during transport.

Return cargo: this comprised of 2 boxes of equipment approximately 120 lbs which arrived in mid December and one small box of frozen samples. The frozen samples were brought back to New Zealand as excess baggage and as it was Saturday they were left in the freezer at Harewood store on 24 November with instructions to send them via refrigerated freight lines to Wellington. When the samples had not arrived by 9 December I phoned Harewood store to enquire about the delay. The samples had not been dispatched. I rang again on 19 December and twice on the 23 December to ensure the samples had been dispatched. The samples were finally dispatched on the 7 January and I received the samples 10 January. This is an unacceptably long delay as samples deteriorate and are only stable for prolonged periods if stored at −70°C.

Event Diary

K047 arrived at Scott base on 3 November. The next 3 days were spent locating and unpacking cargo and making up stock solutions for testing enzyme activity. The 7th was spent attending a sea ice survival course. Between the 8th and 17th fish species were checked for glutathione concentration in livers and enzyme activity. Attempts were made to separate the different types of detoxification enzyme for cumene hydroperoxide but these were unsuccessful. On the 12th, caught first D mawsoni with enzyme assays showing more activity than in previous season. Between the 14th and 17th the weather was poor and time was spent evaluating early results and checking the thermostability of the D mawsoni enzymes. On the 18th I assisted Dave Lambert K121 with penguin sampling from Cape Crozier and Cape Royds. The 19th and 20th were spent fishing with a D mawsoni being caught on the 20th. Tissue from this fish was tested for enzyme activity that night which effectively completed the research programme. The 20th was spent cleaning and packing up. Departure time was approximately 0030hrs on the 22nd arriving in Christchurch mid morning.

Use of Scott Base Facilities

Extensive use was made of the bio-lab area in Q hut and the wet Lab in the pump house. The area in the bio-lab was particularly useful although a little cramped. The wet lab is useful in that it is one of the few areas in Scott Base where the ambient temperature can be reduced. This facility is therefore invaluable for the running of cold temperature experiments such as protein separation. Host of the equipment taken to the Antarctic by this event was of a specialist nature, such as protein purification equipment. Items that would be of general use that were taken were a magnetic stirrer and a pH meter. The pH meter currently located in the bio-lab area doesn't work and is probably not accurate enough for general use. The centrifuge in the bio-lab could also be upgraded with the purchase of a fixed angle rotor and the purchase of new plastic inserts for the swing arm rotor. Bed plastic inserts would initially be most useful. This would increase the ability to use this facility for more than haemocrit type work. It would be of great assistance to prospective researchers to have a list of equipment available in the bio-lab and wet lab facilities.

A good supply of distilled water should be available. This will require fixing the still and obtaining ideally a 25 litre glass container to collect the water once distilled. Washing up soiled glassware is currently a problem but was overcome with the use of the mess facilities.