Antarctica: provocation, bottomless paradox and solution with Andrew Kelly.

When we consider Antarctica, many of us think of ice, penguins, or that white blob that barely registers at the foot of most world maps.

But if you live on this planet, you can thank Antarctica.

Antarctica is humanity’s greatest library, containing information about Earth’s deep past, but we’ve barely read any of its books!

Research gives us unprecedented access, allowing us to the previously inaccessible “Special Reserve” shelves and help us determine our destiny.

It is this research which tells us that Antarctica and the Southern Ocean are the engine room of global climate, and its waters are the cradle of global fisheries. The Icy Continent is a highly complex set of integrated systems which act as natural shock absorbers, accepting and returning heat and carbon over tens of millions of years.

Antarctica’s reach affects all life on this planet. And with increasing detail, we are coming to the sobering realisation that human activity is also impacting the Icy Continent.

The awe of Antarctica has inspired voyages of exploration, which have given rise to poetry, literature and art. The only continent never to have had an armed conflict is also a curious alternative model for how humans might live in harmony.

So what do we know about Antarctica and its role on our planet?
Who owns it, and how large is it?
What is Antarctica already telling us, and what are the pressing research questions we are yet to ask?

In this Dialogic Drinks, we will explore Antarctica: its history, complexity and the work already underway to ensure sustainable life on our planet.

Andrew Kelly is the CEO of The Antarctic Science Foundation, which creates connections between philanthropists and researchers to enable catalytic scientific research on the Icy Continent. Across two decades, he has witnessed the power of generosity by facilitating transformational gifts to Youth Off The Streets, The Smith Family, The Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS), the Society of St Vincent De Paul and Children’s Medical Research Institute. Andrew trained as an economist before commencing a career in banking with Macquarie, Bank of America and Westpac. He has competed at an elite level in road cycling and is an Observer at the Australian Antarctic Science Council. His favourite role is being a Dad.