The process of formulating, creating and executing Life Under the Ice was six years in the making. The expedition and project would not have been possible without the support of so many awesome people and organizations along the way. I have attempted to list them all below both because they are deserving of so much gratitude, but also to be transparent in detailing just how much “it takes a village” for someone to accomplish their dreams.
– Ariel Waldman, creator of Life Under the Ice
Enormous thanks to…
National Science Foundation Antarctic Artists & Writers program
for being an invaluable program and resource in service to artists, scientists and society at-large. The program covered the cost of international flights, as well as logistics, food, and housing while in Antarctica. Specifically, thank you to Mike Lucibella and Elaine Hood for welcoming me to such a special place and taking on the lion’s share of all the months of logistics it took to create a successful expedition (including helping me physically lug many pounds of camera and microscope equipment around). Thank you also to Valentine Kass and Peter West for managing such an incredible program and providing valuable feedback and guidance over the years.
Lisa Ballard
for being the lead web developer for Life Under the Ice, turning a vague concept into a technical reality and open sourcing it along the way. Also for being there for me as an awesome BFF throughout the ups and downs of this effort.
Matt Biddulph
for being the deputy web developer for Life Under the Ice and navigating the challenges of video on the web. Thanks also for being the best partner, cheerleader, and collaborator throughout.
National Geographic
for supporting unaffiliated, independent explorers such as myself. National Geographic’s exploration grant allowed me to acquire a robust field-microscope setup, hire a web developer to help make this project come to fruition, and provided a modest stipend for the first couple months of my post-expedition microscopy work.
All my patrons on Patreon
for being awesome humans and supporting my otherwise-unfunded work and lab equipment over the years. This included time spent: researching, developing and writing proposals, meeting with artists and scientists to solicit support, teaching myself microscopy, taking one year of classes and lab time at school to become certified in microscopy, figuring out permits, figuring out equipment needs, five months of working closely with NSF on logistics and preparing everything for my expedition, the five weeks I spent in Antarctica, production of a five episode mini-series about the expedition, and all the development that went into the creation of this website once I got back home.
Chris McKay
for being my champion and guide throughout. There is so much unwritten knowledge about the logistics and politics of Antarctic work that I would’ve likely never known about and struggled to navigate without his shared wisdom. Chris helped me brainstorm the project its nascent days, gave me my first microscope, helped identify peer-reviewed papers relevant to my project, encouraged me to conduct my own portfolio-building field work, provided feedback on my proposals, and was a co-author for my first academic conference poster. He also helped kickstart my growing interest in astrobiology.
Jill Mikucki
for defending the merit of this project over the years, fighting for me to get what I needed for a successful expedition, and taking me under her wing while simultaneously showing me how to take charge in Antarctica. I’ll forever have fond memories of the week I spent camping at Lake Bonney, the site of Blood Falls and her prime stomping ground.
San Francisco Microscopical Society
for providing a friendly, local community to welcome me when I was just a self-taught beginner in microscopy looking for help. A small grant from SFMS allowed me to purchase the primary microscope much of the microbes on this site are seen through (a Nikon E200-LED). Thanks specifically to Peter Werner for recommending I enroll in school to receive my certification in microscopy and teaching me so much, and Cody Prebys-Williams and Henry Schott for so much encouragement and support.
Merritt College
and specifically Gisele Giorgi for creating an inclusive microscopy program that welcomes students who want to use microscopes for science, art, or just a better paycheck. The Merritt Microscopy Program certified me in optical microscopy, but more importantly gave me the confidence I needed to be a self-reliant microscopist in the field in Antarctica. Thanks also to Candy Mintz for giving me the confidence I need to run my own lab space.
Britney Schmidt & the Icefin team
for your support, time, helpful advice, and welcoming me to ride along with your awesome robot.
Pacifica Sommers, Dorota Porazinska, and Adam Solon
for helping me conquer hiking up my first glacier! I couldn’t have done it without their expertise, assistance, and patience. They literally helped me tie my shoes (crampons) at one point. All in service of exploring the many awesome microbes that live inside glaciers via cryoconite holes. Thanks also to Dorota for giving me awesome pointers on how to filter microbes in the field.
Rob Robbins, Steve Rupp, and Henry Kaiser
for diving into the cold depths of Antarctic waters to fetch me the coolest of microbes. Also thanks for being so welcoming, helping me navigate McMurdo, and making sure I was included.
Ken Mankoff
for being the first to tell me about the existence of the Antarctic Artists and Writers program, encouraging me to apply, and putting me in touch with Jill Mikucki. This journey would not have even begun without him suggesting it to me.
Penny Boston
for including me in the astrobiology world, sending opportunities my way, helping review my proposals, and providing tons of helpful advice and guidance over the years.
John Priscu
for providing a letter of support to someone new to the Antarctic field, and for trying to get me out into the “deep field” of Antarctica, which I still hope to find an opportunity to.
Lynn Rothschild
for offering a letter of support and being a champion of multidisciplinary collaboration.
Matt Bellis
for taking the time to review my proposals, provide valuable suggestions, and for always offering help when I need it.
Alex Parker
for helping review my proposals, making valuable introductions, and providing excellent advice on how to convey my concept.
Byron Adams
for helping me get my lab supplies in order, tracking down answers, and providing additional microbes for filming. Thanks also for all the support and encouragement to collaborate in future expeditions.
Maryanna Rogers
for the letter of support and helping workshop my proposal to stay rooted in art.
Ian Brunswick and Shaun O’Boyle
for letters of support and being a welcoming interface to the awesome Science Gallery network.
Matt Ganucheau
for the letter of support and encouragement from the world of art+tech.
Seth Shostak
for the letter of support early on, being a sounding board, and for always believing in me.
Marina Gorbis
for the encouragement, cheerleading, and letter of support early on.
Josh Greenberg
for the encouragement and letter of support early on in this effort.
Brad Bebout and Angela Detweiler
for helping me build my portfolio in the lead up to this project by letting me come take photos of the awesome microbial mats you grow at NASA Ames.
Paul Miller
for keeping me motivated and helping me think about alternative pathways to Antarctica if this one didn’t pan out.
Caroline Miller
for giving me a tour of an awesome microscope startup and offering space for me to experiment with microscopes early on in my microscopy journey. And thanks to Stef Magdalinski for introducing me to Caroline.
Friends, family, and colleagues
for rooting for me over the years since I started pursuing this dream in earnest in 2013. I’m grateful for all your support.
All the wonderful people I met while in Antarctica
for helping me with really huge tasks and also just in small ways, and for being so friendly and making me feel welcome. There’s so many of you. 60 to be exact. Thanks (and thank you again) to Peter Abraham, Nels Abrams, Denis Barkats, Kimberly Beachy, Anne Beaulaurier, Marci Beitch, Linda Best, Yubecca Bragg, Frances Bryson, David Burris, Amy Chiuchiolo, Andrew Christensen, Christine Colburn, Jessie Crain, Richard Dean, Peter Doran, Megan Goodale, Chad Goodale, Michael Gooseff, Hailey Gruber, Tiegan Hobbs, Elaine Hood, Henry Kaiser, Cole Kelleher, Robert Kendall, Mitch Kennedy, Doug Kowalewski, Michelle LaRue, Jennifer Law, Justin Lawrence, Mike Lucibella, Timothy Lynch, Ellie Mango, Matt Meister, Jill Mikucki, Andy Mullen, Mark Murphy, Krista Myers, Madeline Myers, Susan Nachtigal, Dorota Porazinska, Jennifer Rhemann, Rob Robbins, David Robinson, T.J. Rogers, Steve Rupp, Caitlin Scarano, Neal Scheibe, Britney Schmidt, Adam Solon, Pacifica Sommers, Michael Stone, James VanMatre, Claire Veligdan, Joe Wallis, Kathleen Welch, David White, Spring Wood, Debora Zamd, and Steve Zellerhoff.