Communications team

Our ambition

Is to create and deliver high-impact outward-facing activities that promote and explain BAS science and operations, engaging people from different sectors of society in our work. Our activities in the field of science communication, corporate communications and internal communications are designed to meet our strategic aspiration to be recognised as a world leading centre of excellence; and to fulfil Government aspirations to put science at the heart of society.

Team priorities

  • Science Communication. Explain research outcomes and operational activities to many sectors of society through media relations campaigns, digital communication channels, public and business events.  Write, edit and produce plain language science briefings and interpretative material
  • Public Engagement in Research. Work in partnership with leading museums and science centres to take our science and operational stories to where our audiences congregate. Manage events, talks and public information services
  • Education.  Work with partners to develop curriculum-relevant learning resources to explain the relevance and importance of the polar regions to teachers and students
  • Supporting science.  Embed science communications and public engagement across the organisation by providing support and training for colleagues in science, operational and business teams.
  • Provide Creative Services in direct support of science projects
  • Internal communication.  Manage the BAS intranet, produce the internal newsletter and support colleagues across the organisation to plan and internal communication initiatives.
  • Demonstrate  Impact. Evaluate and analyse media coverage, public engagement events and stakeholder interactions

Technology, innovation and training

  • Optimise the use of digital communication channels for engaging citizens in science
  • Work with the Web Applications team and external providers to create and maintain the BAS public-facing website
  • Use specialist cameras, multi-media equipment and industry-standard editing facilities to capture and produce a visual record of UK activities in the Polar Regions and manage the online image collection
  • Use media monitoring and evaluation software to track impact of Press Office activities
  • Use publishing and design software and printing equipment to produce quality digital illustrations, animations and printed material
  • Manage an ISDN audio recording studio to enable broadcast quality interviews with science and support staff

Influencing and leading international programmes

  • Play a leading role in the COMNAP (Council of Manager of National Antarctic Programmes) expert group on communication and outreach
  • Co-leadership of the Antarctic Treaty Intersessional Contact Group on Education and Outreach
  • Lead the delivery of tasks in EU-funded programmes including EU-PolarNet and ICE-ARC

Stakeholder engagement

  • Establish and maintain positive and mutually beneficial relationships with UK and international media
  • Develop internal and external stakeholder engagement campaigns and resources
  • Support science into policy initiatives
  • Work in partnership with NERC Communications teams

Awards and nominations

  • 2024     CIPR Excellence Awards Mark of Excellence in Best Use of Media Relations – The Tip of the Iceberg
  • 2022     CIPR Excellence Awards Finalist in Best STEM Campaign – Research ship makes pre-COP26 visit to London
  • 2022     CIPR Excellence Awards Finalist in Best Event – Research ship makes pre-COP26 visit to London
  • 2020    CIPR Excellence Awards Finalist in the Public Sector Category – Naming a new Royal Research Ship
  • 2020    CIPR Excellence Awards Mark of Excellence in Best STEM Campaign – Naming a new Royal Research Ship
  • 2017     Maritime Media Awards The First Sea Lord’s Digital Media Award for Best Use of Digital and Social Media
juupe

Julie Jupe

Head of Communications

amdi

Athena Dinar

Deputy Head of Communications

livand

Livia Oldland

Corporate and Internal Communications Manager

emile

Emily Neville

Project Communications and Engagement Manager

emiton

Emily Newton

Communications Officer (Digital)

katmac

Kathleen Maclean

Project Communications and Engagement Manager

headland

Heather Adland

Communications Assistant (Public Engagement)

pbu

Pete Bucktrout

Senior Creative Services Manager

jaol

Jamie Oliver

- Creative Services Manager

Data As Art

DATA AS ART is an ongoing science & art project in development at NERC’s British Antarctic Survey (BAS). It visualises science data (in its widest definition), to create stunning and …
A group of people wearing hard hats

60 Second Science

We’ve challenged our science, engineering and support staff and their research collaborators to explain in 60 seconds what they do.  Decide for yourself if they have met the challenge well!  …
A close up of a snow covered mountain.

Transformation

Realising the benefits of the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation programme.
The RRS James Clark Ross moored up at the new Rothera Wharf

Rothera Research Station Modernisation

Over the next decade Rothera Research Station will be upgraded to ensure its facilities keep the UK at the forefront of climate, biodiversity and ocean research.
A close up of a person.

Data as Art: POLAR AESTHETICS

British Antarctic Survey has an ongoing science & art collaboration with Royal College of Art PhD candidate Wayne Binitie. Wayne has visited BAS a number of times to develop his …
Website

Get your Ticket to Antarctica!

12 September, 2024

Your name will go on a journey to the frozen wilderness! New project seeks to inspire, educate and entertain the public about Antarctica. Do you dream of visiting Antarctica? Well, …

People on a snowy mountain range holding a rainbow flag

Pride Day declared on 18 November

27 July, 2020

The Government of the British Antarctic Territory (BAT) and the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) celebrate the contribution of LGBTQ+ people by declaring 18 November …

A group of clouds in the sky over a body of water.

British Antarctic Survey response to COVID-19

6 April, 2020

British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has precautionary measures to limit the spread of COVID-19. Our organisation continues to function well in spite of most of our staff working from home. Science and support teams who have completed summer fieldwork are currently being repatriated to UK.

Simon armitage wearing a suit and tie.

Poet Laureate marks naming of polar ship

20 October, 2019

A new work by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage celebrates the RRS Sir David Attenborough. In this video Simon describes his inspiration for the poem, which can be read in full …

A boat by the side of snow covered land

Ship is named with royal ceremony

26 September, 2019

The UK’s new polar research ship is formally named the RRS Sir David Attenborough today [Thursday 26 September] by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.  In their first engagement of …

ship

New polar research ship makes a ‘splash’

11 July, 2018

RRS Sir David Attenborough hull launch into River Mersey 14 July Update 20 July 2018 – watch video of launch A major milestone in the build of the UK’s state-of-the-art …

The RRS Sir David Attenborough in the virtual wind tunnel

27 October, 2017

The RRS Sir David Attenborough (SDA) just got another step closer to completion as the Hamburg Ship Model Basin (HSVA) investigated the aerodynamic performance of Britain’s new polar research vessel using a computer generated ‘virtual wind tunnel’

A group of people standing on top of a snow covered slope.

Midwinter’s Day 2017

21 June, 2017

As darkness cloaks Antarctica, science and support staff wintering across the white continent will  today celebrate Midwinter’s Day – the shortest day in the Austral winter. With some staff experiencing …

British Antarctic Survey at Bluedot Festival 2017

14 June, 2017

British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is delighted to be participating in this year’s Bluedot music festival in Macclesfield 7-9 July. The event, which last year attracted over 20,000 visitors, is billed …

A couple of people that are standing in the snow.

Horizon Antarctica Ice Station Rescue on BBC Two

6 June, 2017

Horizon documentary ‘Antarctica Ice Station Rescue’ broadcasts on Wednesday 7 June @ 21:00 on BBC Two In 2016 British Antarctic Survey (BAS) invited BBC film-maker Natalie Hewit to its Halley …

Halley relocation

Halley VI Research Station – relocation success

2 February, 2017

British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has successfully relocated Halley VI Research Station to its new home on the Brunt Ice Shelf.  Operational teams have spent the past 13 weeks moving each …

Twin otter landing on the Dyer Plateau

PRESS RELEASE: New season – ambitious science

23 November, 2015

New season tackles ambitious science and logistical challenges The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) 2015/16 field season is underway with dozens of scientists and support staff – together with planes and tonnes …

NEWS STORY: New website

28 July, 2015

Welcome to our new website! We’ve given our website a makeover so that you can find everything you need or want to know about polar science and operations. There are …

Wind scoops and ridges around Antarctic Peninsula mountains

NEWS STORY: Schools Competition

22 July, 2015

Why does Antarctica matter? Young Geographer of the Year Award 2015 The Royal Geographical Society is running a schools competition to mark the centenary of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Endurance expedition, …

Nacreous (also known as mother of pearl or stratospheric) clouds. These clouds form at around 20km altitude in the ozone layer and are instrumental in the process of ozone depletion. Because of their altitude they remain illuminated by the sun, long after sunset on the ground.

NEWS STORY: Space weather features at free event

4 June, 2015

FREE event: ‘Discover Antarctica’ at British Geological Survey Open Day, Saturday 27 June, 10am-4pm Staff from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) will showcase its work at this year’s British Geological Survey …

Module A being towed to Halley VI site - rear elevation

NEWS STORY: Free event on Halley VI

27 May, 2015

FREE Public Event – Work in a cold climate: designing for the most extreme place on Earth London Festival of Architecture 2015 Thursday 18 June 2015, 18:30 – 20:00 The …

NEWS STORY: Ice Lab exhibition in Manchester

17 October, 2013

Ice Lab: New Architecture and Science in Antarctica 21 October 2013 – 6 January 2014, 11am – 5pm Free entry Museum of Science & Industry, Liverpool Road, Castlefield, Manchester M3 …

Halley VI Research Station on the Brunt ice shelf Antarctica

NEWS STORY: Construction award for Halley VI

10 October, 2013

British Antarctic Survey’s Halley Research Station wins British Construction Industry Award 2013 British Antarctic Survey’s Halley Research Station won a prestigious British Construction Industry (BCI) International Award at a ceremony …

NEWS STORY: Closing event for Ice Lab in Glasgow

24 September, 2013

Exciting closing event for Ice Lab exhibition, Gallery Two, The Lighthouse, Glasgow Commissioned by the British Council and curated by the Arts Catalyst, Ice Lab: New Architecture and Science in …

Halley VI Research Station on the Brunt ice shelf Antarctica

NEWS STORY: Halley Research Station at Ice Lab

3 September, 2013

New Architecture and Science in Antarctica 26 Jul – 02 Oct Gallery Two, The Lighthouse, Glasgow Commissioned by the British Council and curated by the Arts Catalyst, Ice Lab: New …

NEWS STORY: Twin Otter at schools day

21 June, 2013

Antarctic Twin Otter features in Duxford Education Day Around 600 schoolchildren from across Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire attended a special STEMNET (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Network) Education Day at the …

A couple of people that are standing in the snow.

NEWS STORY: Midwinter’s Day celebrations

21 June, 2013

  Celebrating Midwinter’s Day in Antarctica Staff at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) celebrate Midwinter’s Day today (21 June , 2013). Celebrated as the Summer Solstice in the northern hemisphere, …

NEWS STORY: Halley VI featured in exhibition

22 May, 2013

Halley VI Research Station to feature in Architectural Exhibition A new international touring exhibition illustrating how innovative contemporary architecture is enabling scientists to live and work in one of the …

Map of Antarctica with the flags of the Antarctic Treay nations.

NEWS STORY: Celebrating Antarctica Day

27 November, 2012

Antarctica Day was inaugurated in 2010 to celebrate the 1st December 1959 signature of the Antarctic Treaty, which was adopted “with the interests of science and the progress of all …

NEWS STORY: HMS Protector open to public

6 August, 2012

Royal Navy’s Antarctic patrol vessel, HMS Protector, pays a four-day visit to Ipswich The Royal Navy’s 5000 tonne Antarctic patrol vessel will sail into Ipswich on Friday (August 10) for …

NEWS STORY: Antarctica celebrates Olympics

25 July, 2012

Rothera Station staff take part in ‘All the Bells’ to celebrate the Olympics Kitchen pots, glasses and a bedpan are just some of the items being used by staff at …

NEWS STORY: Antarctic band reform for one off gig

26 June, 2012

Nunatak reunion at the Sanday Soulka festival on the Orkney Islands Having performed at one of the world’s biggest concerts ‘Live Earth*’ on 7th July 2007, Nunatak** — the British …

A building next to a body of water.

NEWS STORY: Midwinter’s Day in Antarctica

20 June, 2012

Antarctica celebrating Midwinter’s Day A hundred years ago Captain Robert Falcon Scott and his team celebrated Midwinter in Antarctica (known as Midsummer’s Day in the UK) — a tradition that …

Antarctic Tragedy

23 July, 2003

Press Statement – 23 July 2003 It is with the deepest sorrow that British Antarctic Survey (BAS) reports the death of a marine biologist at Rothera Research Station on the …

Guest blog: Ship Ahoy!

21 October, 2020 by Nigel Bird

Guest Blog. UKRI-NERC’s Nigel Bird reflects on the highs and lows of the commission of RRS Sir David Attenborough.

Ninety years of change, from commercial extinction to recovery, range expansion and decline for Antarctic fur seals at South Georgia

1 December, 2023 by Andrew Wood, Jaume Forcada, Pete Bucktrout

With environmental change, understanding how species recover from overharvesting and maintain viable populations is central to ecosystem restoration. Here, we reconstruct 90 years of recovery trajectory of the Antarctic fur seal…

Read more on Ninety years of change, from commercial extinction to recovery, range expansion and decline for Antarctic fur seals at South Georgia

The state of the polar oceans 2018: making sense of our changing world

1 July, 2018 by Andrew Meijers, Eugene Murphy, Geraint Tarling, Jamie Oliver, Jeremy Wilkinson, John Turner, Layla Batchellier, Linda Capper, Mark Belchier, Michael Meredith, Paul Holland, Philip Trathan, Simeon Hill

The vast frozen worlds of the Polar Regions are a major component of the Earth’s global climate system. The polar oceans are amongst the least understood environments on our planet.…

Read more on The state of the polar oceans 2018: making sense of our changing world