As a part of Antarctic
Science Curriculum program, Graduate School of Environmental
Science, Hokkaido University offers "Course for Field Skills". This
course is a combination of lectures and field activities prepared for
those who want to learn skills required for scientific field
activities. To carry out field measurements in harsh conditions, such
as in glaciers, sea ice and high mountains, you should be able to use
gears (e.g. snow shoes, crampons, ropes), to avoid dangers
(e.g. avalanche, hypothermia, altitude sickness), to act against
emergency (avalanche and crevasse rescue, artificial respiration,
carry an injured in the field) and to forecast the weather in the
field. The course provides an unique opportunity to learn these skills
from a professional mountain guides and experienced field
scientists. This course is a program authorized by IAI (International Antrctic
Institute).
As a lecturer of the program in 2011, we invited Akihiro Tachimoto, a
professional mountain guide in Sapporo. He has just come back from
Antarctica after 1.5 year stay in Syowa station as 51st JARE (Japanese
Antarctica Research Expedition) wintering team. He is the person who
knows how to behave under the most difficult condition on the earth.
