Polar Pint of Science - Edinburgh

The Southern Ocean has acted as an important buffer against the full force of climate change. However, it is now suffering as a result, with ocean acidification putting pressure on the Southern Ocean's ecosystems and its ability to continue to protect as from run-away global warming.

Antarctica is one of the remotest regions on the planet. There is no permanent human population and extreme weather conditions make it an inhospitable place for all but the most hardy plants and animals. Nevertheless, the region is subject to one of the most ambitious and complex systems of environmental governance on earth. This talk will consider the development of environmental rules for the Antarctic region on land and at sea. It will identify the key rules that apply to protect the fragile polar environment, as well as continuing challenges for ensuring the integrity of the Antarctic ecosystem.

Life in the high Arctic during the long winter months can be dangerous. Werewolves are on the prowl and may gobble you up by the light of the moon - at least if you are a small marine zooplankton. Yet the Arctic is warming - it is becoming fresher and more sea-ice free with shipping forecast to increase. These will bring light into a world where, for many months during the winter, the sun doesn’t shine. This talk will take you onto a research voyage to study the effect of light on zooplankton, central to the functioning of the Arctic ecosystem, and explore what changes we might expect in the future.