What are you reading, Ms Lange?
Why is the Antarctic polar region so important for our global climate? Why do nine people choose to face the darkness and total isolation of the polar winter every year? How do you make such a situation a fulfilling experience, and what does our sister institute, the AWI, have to do with it? Dr. Aurelia Hölzer addresses these and other fascinating questions in her book “Polarschimmer: Eine Welt aus Eis und Licht – 54 Wochen in der Antarktis auf der antarktischen Forschungsstation Neumayer III des AWI” (Polar Shimmer: A World of Ice and Light – 54 Weeks in Antarctica at the AWI's Neumayer III Antarctic Research Station).
Petra Lange
Aurelia Hölzer is a vascular surgeon and in her book she takes us along on her personal adventure: spending the winter at Neumayer Station. She is responsible for managing the station and serving as the resident physician.
We learn about the extensive preparations and training at the AWI that ensure nine people are fit for the winter. Aside from technical expertise, however, the cohesion of the community is vital for the winter. Aurelia Hölzer describes each individual team member in a warm and humorous way, highlighting their unique characteristics, personal motivation, and professional excellence.
We accompany these nine people during their preparations, their duties at Neumayer Station, and their excursions into the fascinating polar world. We are there for birthday parties, nighttime polar fires, and camping out next to the penguin colony. Of course, the Polarstern also makes its grand appearances. While reading, I sometimes looked up from the book in disbelief, feeling so connected and as if I were right there in the middle of Neumayer Station.
Aurelia Hölzer: Polarschimmer. Piper, 2024.
(The book is available in German only.)
