APECS Germany Celebrates Antarctica Day with a Thrilling Live Call to Neumayer III
After last year’s live call to a fieldcamp at Lake Untersee, this year, we commemorated the 66th anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty signing with a live call to the German research station Neumayer III. The internet connection was mostly stable allowing us to talk live to Daria and Lukas, two researchers currently working there.
We were thrilled to have up to 70 enthusiastic participants join us, including students, families with kids and administrative staff from various institutes. It was an event full of excitement about science, adventure, and community.
Lukas, an overwinterer, already spent an impressive 12 months at the station, and Daria is a scientist, who came to conduct fieldwork during this austral summer season. By having both in our call, we could gain perspectives from different angles and by that understand the seasonality that shapes the life at Neumayer and what comes with it.
We already had some great questions submitted beforehand and which shaped the call. During the Q&A session many participants asked even more curious questions in the chat or to Daria and Lukas directly. There were so many questions that due to the time constraint and not wanting to keep the two for too long away from their daily tasks, unfortunately not all could be answered. But with this event being a full success and lots of fun, we can’t wait for our next events, where we can delve deeper into the fascinating world of polar research. Who knows, maybe the live call on Antarctica Day will become an APECS Germany tradition from now on. 😉
Thank you so much Daria and Lukas for sharing your personal experiences with us, and thanks to all participants for the great questions, curiosity and engagement which made this event so much fun!
What is your background and what are you doing at Neumayer?
Daria and Lukas are both physicists by training. Lukas spent the last 13 months at Neumayer (Nov 2024 to Dec 2025) being responsible for the air chemistry observatory and weather observations. Daria is doing her PhD at the Alfred Wegener Institute and the University of Hamburg working on snow properties on sea ice. This year, she spends a couple of months during the austral summer season at Neumayer conducting sea ice measurements on the nearby Atka Bay.
How does everyday life look like during your stay?
- Daria: For my “summer” field project there isn’t really a daily routine. The “routine” is very weather dependent, if the weather is good we are out all day to get lots of measurements done – then my team and I are out all day. We bring many snacks. As long as the weather allows, we go every day. If the weather is bad, we work inside – maintaining equipment and processing data.
- Lukas: I do have a clear daily routine that is given through the task I have to conduct. My work space is outside the station, so I have to go outside everyday. Only if a persistent storm makes it impossible to walk there, to check if all instruments are running and change filters, I have to stay at the main station. I also do weather observations every midnight for the German Weather Service (DWD).
How competitive is it to get a job at a research station like Neumayer III?
The competitiveness of getting a job at a research station like Neumayer III varies depending on the field. For example, positions like chefs are more competitive, compared to science positions.
In general, we receive a good number of applications for research positions, but the relevant pool of candidates is relatively small. This means that if you have the right qualifications and experience, you have a good chance of getting invited for an interview.
It’s worth noting that technical team positions may have a different level of competitiveness, but we’re not sure about the exact numbers. The position of the physician, in particular, can be challenging to fill, as it’s difficult to find candidates who are willing and able to take on the unique challenges of working in a polar environment.
Applicants must be willing to be away from their families and friends for extended periods of time, for the overwintering positions during the polar night.