Antarctic Experience finalists with Cr Paula Wriedt
Ivy Spurr, Cr Paula Wriedt and Desmond Marcenko
Nine Kingborough students from the Antarctica Experience competition were recognised on Thursday
12 November for their exceptional research skills and innovative presentations for the program. Two
students were also announced as the winners of this year’s competition.
Ivy Spurr from Kingston High School and Desmond Marcenko from St Aloysisus Catholic College will
be spending time with scientists at the Australian Antarctic Division, the Institute for Marine and
Antarctic Studies and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research. They will then connect
with researchers based at the Casey Station in Antarctica before experiencing a breathtaking flight
over Antarctica.
The Deputy Mayor of Kingborough, Cr Paula Wriedt presented the certificates and spoke to the
students about the success of the program. “It is an empowering experience for young people and we
have seen how it has contributed to them as individuals in the previous years”, she said. “The journey
is inspiring and allows the students to really connect with their community when they return”.
Dr Glen Johnstone from AAD, who was one of the judges, was particularly impressed with the variety
of animals all of the finalists selected to research. “The choice of animals was very varied and
interesting this year and we could tell that each finalist really invested in their chosen topic.” He went
onto to speak about the quality of the presentations, “The presentations were exceptional and each
finalist can feel confident in their research and performance capabilities, it was a tough choice to
select only two winners”.
Desmond and Ivy are now looking forward to the journey and will be recording their experiences along
the way. Ivy is keen to learn more about climate change, developing leadership skills and inspiring
others. Desmond aims to hone his journalistic skills when interviewing scientists and then presenting
his findings to the community.
The program is a collaboration between IMAS, CSIRO, AAD and Antarctic Climate & Ecosystems
Cooperative Research Centre (ACECRC) and the Bookend Trust.
Carol Swards, Youth Development Officer
