Ogden Sponsored Student returns from Arctic Expedition

Demi Strong from Easington Community School was one of five students awarded Ogden Trust / British Schools Exploring Society joint bursaries of £1,000 for pupils at Specialist Schools sponsored by the Trust to join BSES expeditions.  These are serious scientific expeditions to remote and challenging environments which carry out valuable field work and research.  Participants require an interest in ecological and environmental science and a spirit of adventure.

 
Demi spent 5 weeks living and working on Disko Island, Greenland, which she describes as an "amazing" experience:
 
"The expedition itself was both physically and mentally challenging, but somehow you would just find the energy and determination to carry on. From the expedition I’ve gained some fantastic memories, photographs and friends that I will no doubt treasure for the rest of my life. I wouldn’t change anything about the expedition it was all just completely mind blowing. Like climbing mountains, ice axing out of a crevasse, looking at some of the most beautiful scenery ever, walking up a glacier and camping on ice and snow. "
 
Demi was part of a team of researchers examining the vegetation of the area and also glacial retreat, which was enough to suggest global warming could be having a significant impact.
 
All students aged 16-20 who are attending, or who have attended, an Ogden sponsored school (see "Specialist Schools" list) can apply for these scholarships.  The 2008 expedition destinations are:  the Amazon Jungle, the Himalayas, the Norwegian Arctic Circle and Antarctica and there are also two gap-year expeditions in 2008 to the Norwegian Arctic Circle and Antarctica.
 
The deadline for applications is the end of March 2008.