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While most of us are enjoying an unusually warm April, a PhD student from Norwich will be in the North Pole struggling in temperatures as low as -18C. Neil Jennings, who has nearly completed his doctorate in climate change, is spending seven days in the Arctic working with scientists to research the effects of global warming. The Cambridge geography graduate won his coveted place on the study trip, set up by the Climate Change College. The 26-year-old is one of this year's six ambassadors, although Neil is just one of two people visiting the North Pole. The rest of the group will stay in Norway to record the experiences of local tribes whose lives have been affected by environmental change. Plummet in temperatures Before he set off on his 10-day adventure, travelling northwards to the Arctic via Holland and Norway, Neil said he was apprehensive about the plummet in temperatures. "Given how warm it's been here, there's going to be a 50C change," he said. From a Russian research base, Neil is shooting video and pictures which will help him explain what's happening in the Arctic during talks to groups once back in England. Energy switch off Neil secured his place at the Climate Change College after putting together an energy switch-off competition at the UEA. He plans to work on the scheme full-time after his studies, rolling it out to other organisations. "With the Student Switch Off, we've been getting halls to compete against one another to use the least amount of electricity," said Neil. The students have been powered into energy-saving action by the incentives of prizes and parties - and it's been a winning formula. "The scheme has been running since September 2006 and the university has saved Β£15,000 and we've kept 75 tonnes of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere," said Neil. Inspired at school The North Pole expedition is the latest in a line of Neil's achievements after he was inspired as an eight-year-old during a school talk. "A woman from Thames Water came along and told us all about global warming and ozone depletion and it's then I became aware of it," he said. "It was frightening but we were told what we could do about it, so if you know there is a solution to it or there are things you can do you're not so fearful. "So we were told to recycle more, turn the lights off and not leave things on standby." Following his trip to the top of the world, the green campaigner also hopes to be one of those to spread advice on how we can save the planet. Find out how Neil got on by visiting his blog: |
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