Breaking the Ice: Antarctica, climate change and me

About the Book

Antarctica fascinates us with its awe-inspiring beauty, wildlife, and tales of the heroic age of exploration. Often described as the last frontier, this frozen continent is critical to all life on earth. Professor David Vaughan shares the excitement of his first trip to Antarctica, his passion for the ice, and his 40-year quest to solve a scientific conundrum – is the West Antarctic Ice Sheet stable and will climate change drive it into irreversible retreat. For the first time we go behind the scenes to discover what it takes to undertake polar research. “This is a gripping memoir by a pioneer in Antarctic science who did so much to uncover and communicate the rapid changes taking place on Earth’s southernmost continent. There are fascinating, funny and startling stories from forty years of expeditions taking scientific measurements in this most chilly and remote of environments. And there are insightful and moving reflections on the nature of planetary change and the inadequate political response, on collaborating across boundaries for the common good, and on facing a terminal diagnosis.” Professor Peter Stott MBE, Professor in Detection and Attribution, University of Exeter and Science Fellow, Met Office. Author of “Hot Air”.

About the Author

During his 36-year career at British Antarctic Survey (BAS) Professor David Glyn Vaughan, OBE became recognised nationally and internationally as a leading expert on understanding the response of polar ice sheets to climate change and the implications for society.

Born in Cyprus while his father was working for the Met Office in Libya, David went to school in England where he shone at maths, science and exams. He went on to read Natural Sciences at Churchill College, Cambridge, followed by a Masters in geophysics at Durham University.

Over a period of 15 years, he served as co-ordinating lead author in two rounds of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment reports. He was responsible for identifying the policy-relevant issues and negotiating the acceptance of key findings by high-level policymakers. His enthusiasm for science communication enabled wider publics to understand why the polar regions are crucial for planet Earth.

As the former Director of Science at BAS, David was the UK lead for the International Thwaites Glacier Programme. He retired from BAS in July 2021.

Bury me with my glasses. If I should find myself at the gates of heaven, I will need them to read the small print.