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Victoria University Antarctic Research Expedition Science and Logistics Reports 2005-06: VUWAE 50

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  • Application process

    The application process was organised in a professional and efficient manner. While we feel that the review process of the Antarctic Research Committee is rigorous and unbiased, the ranking/grading system lacks accountability, as the ranking results are not provided to the applicant. This also prevents the applicant to improve future applications.

  • Communications with Antarctica New Zealand staff

    Communication with Antarctica New Zealand staff was professional, timely, and effective.

  • Provision of maps and aerial photographs

    N.A.

  • Preseason information

    In late May 2005 we were informed that our planned work at Cape Hallett (GPR and drilling of 200m ice core) could not be supported due to Antarctica New Zealand logistics constraints. For this reason our programme was condensed to our long-term mass balance monitoring at Victoria Lower Glacier and the maintenance work on the automatic weather station at Evans Piedmont Glacier. Furthermore, Antarctica New Zealand accommodated an additional visit to Mt Erebus Saddle to deploy snow stakes for mass balance measurements.

  • Medicals, documentation and flights to Antarctica

    The information received was timely and valuable

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  • Environmental Advice

    The information received was timely and valuable

  • Other comments

    In our experience over the last years, Antarctica New Zealand excelled through practical, innovative approaches and reasonable flexibility to evolving situations and opportunities. In contrast, we feel that last season, communication and discussions on the practical execution of fieldwork preparations were noticeable bureaucratic and lacked some of the flexibility that has made the New Zealand programme so successful. While growing demands and challenges may necessitate the organisation to streamline, we would hope that the practical and innovative spirit of the New Zealand programme will be retained and not exchanged for a bureaucratic and removed administration.