Helena Reinardy

Helena Reinardy

My name is Helena Reinardy and I am completing a PhD in fish biology in Plymouth. Coming from Scotland I have always loved the cold, and I have been lucky to work in remote areas of Scotland and northern Norway. My interest in Scott stems from clambering around the Discovery as a child, and I have long dreamed of setting foot on the same places they first set foot on. I am so happy to be part of the ISCE and very fortunate to have found such a vibrant group of people all sharing the same passion for Scott’s legacy.

April 2011: Three days of living together transformed ten disparate strangers into a solid team joining the endeavours of the ISCE. Away from my habitual work place of the aquarium and the manuscript-laden desk, I arrived at HMS Raleigh uncertain of what lay ahead, and left with nothing but fantastic memories. Personal highlights were the thrills of Havoc, the high wires, and the Pac 24 jet boats. But the overriding highlight was, by far, the people. I was so impressed and humbled by the kindness, interest, and integrity of everyone - the experience and lessons from them will ever remain with me.

Dartmoor Training Weekend (July, 2011)

After a long morning at work in the lab I was a little nervous about what was in store for us for Friday afternoon. Hearing Anthony’s threats of walking solid for the next 36 hours didn’t help either! But as we started tramping, the backpack settled onto my back and I began to relax and enjoy the rhythmic trudge. My pleasure only increased with the companionable games and songs, especially at the end of the interminable Saturday hike when I was pleasantly surprised to find myself still relatively unbroken, despite the blisters and the aches. The freedom of the wilderness and the open camping gave me a much more real idea of the exciting reality of the potential Antarctic adventure ahead.