Synopsis:

I will describe my journey, beginning as a Cambridge undergraduate, joining the British Antarctic Survey, travelling to Antarctica, the discovery of the ozone hole and observations on climate change. I will conclude with a personal view of what links the many environmental issues that face us.

Jonathan Shanklin, Biography:

I was born in Wrexham, North Wales and educated at King's School, Chester and Magdalene College, Cambridge. I was employed by the British Antarctic Survey from 1977 to 2012 and was head of the Meteorological and Ozone Monitoring Unit when I retired. In the early 1980s I discovered what is now known as the Antarctic ozone hole. This discovery was published in Nature in 1985. I've made 20 trips to the Antarctic, visiting all the British bases. I was responsible for running the operational side of the BAS meteorological observing program. This work included purchasing, testing and installing new equipment, writing computer software, recruiting Antarctic scientists, training staff, analysing data, solving problems, writing papers and giving public lectures. I was the UK representative on the WMO working group on Antarctic Meteorology and served on several other national and international committees. I was also a Union Safety Representative and as such was vice-chair of the NERC H&S Committee. I am now an emeritus fellow at the British Antarctic Survey.

I received a Blue Peter Badge for the ozone hole discovery. Other awards include the Society of Chemical Industry Environment Medal and the Institute of Physics Charles Chree Medal and Prize. In 2005 I was awarded the Polar Medal for my work in the Antarctic and received the medal from Her Majesty in May 2006. In 2020 Shanklin Glacier was named after me.

My interests include Astronomy - I carry out a lot of amateur observing, particularly of solar system bodies and variable stars. I was the Director of the British Astronomical Association and Society for Popular Astronomy comet sections and am now the visual co-ordinator for the BAA. I have been a committee member of the Cambridge University Astronomical Society since 1974. I was elected to the Council of the Royal Astronomical Society in May 2003 for a three year term. I carry out some research on comets and asteroids at the Cambridge University Observatories and give public lectures to astronomical societies. I have discovered seven comets on the SOHO LASCO coronagraphs.

The talk will be preceded by a brief InstMC Anglia Local Section AGM, starting at 7:00pm.

To join the Microsoft Teams event please click here