We’re Here: Setting Foot on Antarctica and other Insignificant Things, December 7

https://newslit.org/

Before you go on, an article in the May 8 & May 22 issue of Science News ran with a cover "Awash in Deception:  How science can help us avoid being duped by misinformation."  In the lead article titled: "The Battle Against Fake News," Alexandra Witze presents five suggestions on how to debunk bad information.  They come from the News Literacy Project (see the above link).

How to Debunk:

1.  Arm yourself with media literacy skills, at sites such as the News Literacy Project (newslit.org), to better understand how to spot hoax videos and stories.

2.  Don't stigmatize people for holding inaccurate beliefs.  Show empathy and respect, or you're more likely to alienate your audience than successfully share accurate information.

3.  Translate complicated but true ideas into simple messages that are easy to grasp.  Videos, graphics and other visual aids can help.

4.  When possible, once you provide a factual alternative to the misinformation, explain the underlying fallacies (such as cherry- picking information, a common tactic of climate change deniers.

5.  Mobilize when you see misinformation being shared on social media as soon as possible. If you see something, say something.

"Misinformation is any information that is incorrect, whether due to error or fake news.  

"Disinformation is deliberately intended to deceive."

"Propaganda is disinformation with a political agenda."

Sander van der Linden
Social Psychologist
University of Cambridge

Source:  Science News/May 8, 2021 & May 22, 2021

Wow, are we ever! A continent of land white with glaciers and snow surrounded by water.  We got our first taste of the place this morning on a fantastical zodiac ride featuring icebergs, bergy bits, Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins, glaciers and our first look at sea ice.

My boat was driven by the Citizen Science Coordinator of the trip, Julia, and we were able to do add a data point to the research being done on water clarity using what is known as a Secchi Disk.  I know the white disk from its use at Lake Tahoe in California.  The data point that we recorded was visibility down to 35 feet.  I signed up to be on a “Science Boat” tomorrow morning.  We will be working on a phytoplankton project.  There is a small Science lab down on Deck 3.  I believe that we will be gathering samples and looking at it under microscopes.  I’m not sure yet what the research involves, but it should be quite interesting.

Speaking of interesting, there is a wedding happening onshore this afternoon.  The party disembarked first and we are waiting to disembark.  We’re not sure who is getting married, but there is another couple that got engaged the morning of the Eclipse.  There is a reception this evening after dinner for the newlyweds.

It is white and bright!  Sunblock and polarizing sunglasses are big time in order while we are down here. 

I’ve learned a considerable amount from reading about the Antarctic Explorers of the so called Heroic Era which lasted from the 1860’s until the time of Ernest Shackleton’s death in 1922.   The hardships that they went through are the stuff of legends.

Speaking of legends, one of our speakers, mountaineer Conrad Anker, is a legendary climber.  He also lives a love story.  He showed us a movie, Torn, that was made by his son.  I’m not sure where you can see it, but you need to see it.

Here’s the second of two parts to this post.  The happy couple had a reception this evening with cake and adult beverage.  I left thinking that I would go back to the room and finish this blog post, process some whale photos. From this afternoon and go to bed, but I was drawn outside to take some sunset shots at about 2230.  As I was coming in, a fellow passenger said that I had to see what was on the other side of the ship.  And now I can’t find the photo that of the  most incredible lenticular cloud, so I’ll share this one instead as a consolation.

Bruce