Field Notes by Virginia Bria | Team Juliet
We began the day with a successful landing at Kapp Lee, navigating drizzle and swell to observe a large colony of walruses. Juveniles, adult males, and females rested on the shore while others swam nearby. Our small-group Zodiac approach ensured we respected their space. Along the way, we passed reindeer bones, bird remains, animal scat, and kelp—reminders of the Arctic’s fragile but thriving ecosystem.
Back aboard Sylvia Earle, the Next Gen Climate Avengers—11 inspiring youth aged 9 to 25—delivered engaging presentations on topics from polar bears and puffins to glaciers and Arctic ecology. Their passion and insight were celebrated by Dr. Sylvia Earle, Esther An, Alex Rose, Michael Aw, and Eirik Grønningsæter.
The afternoon brought the ever-popular polar plunge, and in the evening, we were moved by Hillary O’Sullivan’s piano performance of a piece composed by Eric Bettens, followed by the screening of “The Girl and Her Piano.” The film, produced by Elaine Lim, documented Hillary’s journey to Bhutan to share her Antarctic music and raise awareness about climate change.
