National Science Foundation (NSF)’s Post

A little experiment. Let's say we are going on an expedition to the North Pole. We need to hire a captain. We have two resumes in front of us: Candidate A is a man who has already successfully achieved all four major polar goals: the North Pole, South Pole, Northeast Passage, and Northwest Passage. He was the first person to accomplish three of these. Candidate B is a man who set off for the Antarctic four times, three times as the man in charge, and every time resulted in failure, catastrophe, or death. Who should we hire? In the comments, you can find a link with a surprising answer.

I was reminded recently of this iconic job advertisement from Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton. If you haven’t seen it before, the story goes that this newspaper ad ran in 1914 seeking men for an Antarctic expedition. But the ad doesn’t say that explicitly. Instead, it details the challenges of the job, the harsh conditions, and the fact that honor and recognition are the only rewards, and then only in the event of success. I don’t know about your sense of adventure, but a young Justin Harris would have beaten down the door of 4 Burlington St. This ad reminds me above all else, how important it is to find and hire people who share your beliefs and passions. Just as Shackleton sought out people who shared his vision for exploration, we too seek out employees who are aligned with our organization's purpose. At Gregory Construction our purpose is to Honor God, Serve Others, Pursue Excellence, and Grow Profitably –  in that order - and we want team members who desire the same thing. As Simon Sinek states in his book "Start with Why," success naturally follows when you surround yourself with people who believe what you believe. That’s why we want to hire people who are not just skilled, but who are passionate about our purpose and mission. Because when we come together with shared values and beliefs, incredible things can happen. So, EMPLOYEES WANTED For fulfilling employment. Good wages, competitive benefits, hard work, awesome culture. Safety program outstanding. Career advancement in case of success. #StartWithWhy #Purpose #GregoryConstruction #CivilConstruction

The global shortage of mariners is impacting the U.S.’ NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. In a recent interview with Maritime Reporter TV, Chris Nichols, Professional Mariner Recruiter, NOAA, discusses the rationale for considering a career at sea with NOAA, including a $10,000 signing bonus. #mariners #maritime #marine #shipsandshipping

More interesting information on the United States Antarctic Program support contract recompete. This bid cycle is particularly interesting as there is no incumbent since Leidos, the current contractor, decided to forego bidding for a follow-on contract, a first in the history of the USAP. "NSF and USAP aim to support scientific research that expands fundamental knowledge of the region, fosters research on global and regional problems of current scientific importance, and use the region as a platform from which to support research that can only be done or is best done in Antarctica. NSF has the following objectives for this acquisition. We are looking for a partner in enabling a world class Antarctic science program, with seamless integration between operations and research support. We seek innovation that will keep USAP at the cutting edge of working in Antarctica. USAP has a complex mission which requires world-class expertise in information, operations, and logistics. USAP is in a period of significant upgrades to facility and research infrastructure; a track record of project delivery is a must. Safety is paramount as is a work environment that is free of harassment. Diversity and inclusion are at the forefront of NSF and USAP priorities, as is having a strong anti-harassment/assault policy. Included in the Draft RFP is an acquisition schedule that will be of value to interested parties. To read the full announcement, visit SAM.gov."

If you've ever wondered what life is like living and working in Antarctica,  then this book will be for you! 

Antarctic Exploration: A tale of resilience and rivalry 1910. The race to see who reaches the geographical south pole first has just begun. Amundsen, a 39-year-old Norwegian explorer, is on his way to the North Pole. But upon seeing that another expedition has just arrived, he decides that he will then go to the South Pole. He has never been there but he is a very experienced man in expedition missions to the North Pole. Perhaps the number one of the moment! Scott; a 43-year-old English marine soldier. He started a expedition one year ago with the idea of being the first to reach the geographic south pole. On the way he realizes that he is no longer alone in this race. Amundsen is hot on his heels! Scott had been to Antarctica years ago with his partner Shackleton. Then Shackleton returned again without Scott and he was only 200 km away from reaching the geographic south pole. When he returned home, he gave all the information to Scott. Now, Scott has decided to make the final attempt. The mission requires exhaustive preparation. And, after reaching the south pole coast, both expeditions spent all of 1910 and 1911 working on the ground, setting up intermediate camps, training men and testing equipment. And waiting to have everything ready for when the moment of truth arrives; the southern summer, at the end of 1911. But let me save that story for another day, my friend. #challenge #adventure #teamwork #exploration #spirit #storytelling

Great summary of the LMG.

This article delves into the historical context of the Age of Discovery, examining how the decline of the Mongol Empire, the dominance of Ottoman Turks over Mediterranean trade routes, and the rise of new European coastal nations converged to ignite an era of exploration. It also highlights the significant contributions of Russian explorers in advancing Antarctic exploration prior to the Technological Revolution. It highlights the role of Henry the Navigator as a key figure in initiating significant expeditions, particularly the search for a southern sea route to Cathay (Northern China). The article also discusses the Bellingshausen expedition, which is regarded as one of the expeditions that marked the end of the Age of Discovery, with their verified sighting of Antarctica in 1820.  It further explores the challenges of exploring Severnaya Zemlya and the subsequent thorough exploration of the archipelago. The article concludes by emphasizing the significance of these explorations in expanding geographical knowledge and shaping the course of history.

#Rosneft shares some insights into the results of its 2023 expedition into Russia's Eastern Arctic offshore sector. Samples of shelf rocks taken during the expedition are being examined right now by #Rosneft's scientific partner #Innopraktika. But #Rosneft says: "We assume that coniferous forest used to grow on the territory of the East Siberian and Chukchi seas! How did we come to this conclusion? You won’t believe it, but scientists found in the rock samples wood interspersed with amber older than 20 million years. We will find out the exact date after additional research, but even now the find may change everything we knew about the Arctic". Image source: Rosneftinfo #Telegram channel.