Antarctica to get special global airing

American astronaut Dan Barry has walked in space but never in Antarctica.

Having viewed it from space on several occasions, Barry is looking forward to setting foot on the continent for the first time this week.

Barry is one of 10 speakers who made the more than eight-hour flight to Antarctica yesterday for Tedxscott Base.

The world-first event marks the 60th anniversary of the New Zealand Antarctic programme and raises awareness of climate change.

Kiwi musician Gin Wigmore, her guitarist Dave Goodison, and veteran journalist, adventurer and advocate for the environment, Ashlan Cousteau, joined Barry for a fitting of Antarctic gear on Monday, ahead of the Antarctica New Zealand-hosted event.

There would be no excuse for getting cold, with up to six top layers and three bottom layers provided. Each person got merino underwear, a balaclava, neckgaiter and nine sets of gloves.

Barry, who has logged over 734 hours in space, including more than 25 hours in space walks, had to learn how to secure a different kind of suit on Monday.

Barry said many scientists, himself included, were not great at communicating the work they did.

‘‘An event like this is particularly important at a time like this when for some reason, climate change seems to be a controversy.

‘‘The work that is being done in Antarctica is so fundamental to showing that what is happening today is unprecedented in the order of 20 millions years. We need to get that communicated in an unequivocal way.’’

Wigmore, who will perform at the end of the event, said she never expected her music career would take her to the ice.

’’Coming here and getting all this gear – it’s really wild and I’m feeling very privileged and honoured to be part of such an amazing expedition.’’

Wigmore said it was common for musicians to share stories about tour locations and being able to claim Antarctica was a coup.

Antarctica New Zealand chief executive Peter Beggs said he opted away from a ribbon-cutting event to mark the 60th anniversary of New Zealand’s relationship with Antarctica – and the many years of research carried out.

’’The best way to showcase that is to have a conversation, and who do you have that conversation with? Well, not the people who have done the science. They already know it. It’s the people who don’t know it.’’

Beggs said the science of Antarctica could be ‘‘quite dry’’, and the group of speakers picked for the event were ‘‘intentionally diverse’’ to help reach a wider audience.

Tedxscottbase will be broadcast in its entirety around the globe on Sunday, January 22. More than 50 public broadcast events have been confirmed, including at least one on every continent.

– Fairfax NZ