Glaciologist Jason Box has made some pretty bold climate change predictions. Unfortunately, he’s often right. In 2009 he predicted the Petermann Glacier, one of Greenland’s largest, would break up soon. Many other scientists thought he was crazy, but in 2010 the Petermann glacier started to split. Since then, enormous icebergs, miles in size have been splitting off the glacier into the ocean. Then in 2012, Box predicted, to the criticism of many of his peers, surface melting across Greenland within the next decade. This time Jason was actually too conservative with his estimate. Melting began that summer. Jason possesses unique talent in his field and he isn’t afraid to speak up even when others consider his estimates extreme or think him an alarmist.
Now Jason has decided to take another somewhat unconventional step. Jason is leading an expedition to Greenland to collect data at a weather station and with him, he’s taking… well, anyone who wants to go. If you are looking for a getaway on a ship, and the standard luxury cruise isn’t your speed, you can accompany the climate scientist and his team on their journey. Amenities on MS Fram, that will host the voyage, include an on-deck jacuzzi and a lounge to relax in but the trip will also feature science lectures, films and discussions about climate change and the collection of important scientific data from the weather station. Travelers on the ship will also have the opportunity to visit the remote village of Upernavikand and explore Greenland’s natural beauty on the 12-day journey.
This unusual method for leading a research expedition seems in character for Professor Box. He understands the importance and urgency of climate change in the fragile polar regions all too well. Jason has encountered frustration at times when trying to get funding for urgent research expeditions. He feels often the scientific community is too content to simply publish papers that only a few people in that field of expertise read, enacting very little change in actuality. By embarking on this public expedition, Jason is able to continue his important scientific research as well as share the science of climate change with some people from the general public.
