For Dean Rusk Center Associate Director Dorinda G. Dallmeyer visiting Antarctica is more than just a once-in-a-lifetime trip. She and her husband David, a UGA geology professor, have visited this exotic continent 17 times and have traveled to the world’s southernmost landmass each of the last seven years during Winter Break. They serve as naturalists and lecturers on expedition cruises through icy waters to Antarctica. In addition to describing the history of exploration on this continent, Dorinda often discusses who owns Antarctica, which allows her to share portions of her international legal expertise.
When asked about her most memorable moment during her visits to the frozen landmass, Dorinda replied that it was hard to pick out just one. “However, it certainly was a thrill late one evening to float on a glassy calm sea in golden light among a group of 20 orcas (killer whales) and just listen to them sigh as they slowly made their way across the strait.”
Late last year, Edward J. Larson, who holds the Talmadge chair of law and the Russell professorship of American history, spent two months on the frozen continent. Funded by a federal grant, Larson was studying the history of science in the Antarctic as well as the current conduct of science in this icy world. His research included interviewing scientists, visiting penguin rookeries, seeing historic camps and retracing the routes followed by scientific explorers such as Ernest Shackelton and Robert F. Scott. Portions of Larson’s work will be published in forthcoming articles. Larson said while in Antarctica he met some of the most brilliant people he has ever encountered. “It is a place where the spirit of adventure in science lives on into the 21st century,” he said.
Portions of this story were taken from an article published in the Athens Banner-Herald.
