Patagonian Icefield Research Program 2024
Bernal Glacier, Kawésqar National Park, Chile
PIRP 2024 was the fourth expedition and the second to adopt English as its official language and invite international students. All these changes transformed it into an even more fascinating experience, enriched by a wide diversity of research fields, cultures, and personalities that somehow coalesced in a team with fun and stimulating dynamics.
The campsite was on the east side of Bernal Glacier, an area reserved for conservation and research; no tourists were allowed. This allowed us to enjoy the wilderness of Patagonia in solitude and peace, which was broken only by the work and laughs of our expedition mates or the wind blowing through the treetops.
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Dates: November 15 to December 2, 2024
Duration: 16 days
Fieldwork: 12 days
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The expedition was led by Natalia Martinez and Camilo Rada. And counted with a fantastic group of faculty composed of Dr. Michaela Mühl (University of Bern & Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research), Dr. Santiago Munevar García (University of Virginia), MSc. Fabienne Meier (ETH Zürich, EBP) and Dr. Gino Casassa (Universidad de Magallanes).
The staff that managed the logistics and mountaineering curriculum was composed of Natalia Martinez, Yara Vargas (local guide), and Paul Sandoval, a former PIRP 2023 student.
This outstanding team was completed with the participation of Davis Cossio, an influencer and photographer who crafted an excellent video about this expedition.
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This eight-strong team was there to support ten extraordinary students coming from all around the world.
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Anastasiia Grecova is a Russian Ph.D. student in bioinformatics at the European Laboratory of Molecular Biology (EMBL).
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Ana Carolina Moraes Luzardi, a Brazilian PhD student in Geology, University at Buffalo (Buffalo, NY)
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Han-Yu He, a Taiwanese Ms.C. student at National Center University, Center for Space and Remote Sensing Research.
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Javiera Carrasco Gálvez, a Chilean working in Geoestudios.
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Taisiia Kisileva, a Russian Ms.C. student at the Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences (IGRAS), Glaciology department. Study program: Glaciology and Cryology of the Earth
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Alberto Prado Sepulveda, a Chilean Ms.C. student at Universidad de Magallanes.
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Wilmer Sánchez Rodríguez, a Peruvian Master in Science and Engineering with a mention in Risk Management and Climate Change, Santiago Antúnez de Mayolo National University, Perú.
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Cristobal Rodrigo Silva, a Chilean Ms.C. student at Universidad de Magallanes.
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Malo Landrain, a French Ms.C. in Earth Sciences: Climate System - Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Cryosphere.
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Donglai Yang, a Chinese Geophysics, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology.​​
PIRP 2024 expedition team. Top row from left to right: Yara, Malo, Natalia, Camilo, Ana Carolina, Paul, Javiera, Fabianne, Wilmer, Michaela, Santiago, Gino. Lower row: Cristobal, Alberto, Anastasiia, Taisiia, Han-Yu, Donglai, and David.
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Take a trip into PIRP 2024 through David Cossio's and Fabianne Meier's short video.