QAQQAQ FIRE
Leaders
Takako Takano
Takano originates from Shiozawa in Japan but is currently living in Mianmi-uo-numa City, Japan and runs her own company ECOPLUS. Takako's interests are cultures, wildlife and cooking.
"My interest has been human-nature relationships and local knowledge linked to it. This brought me to Amazon (canoeing), Siberia (sledding), villages in Alaska, small islands in Western Pacific, and many other places. Other expeditions include parachuting to the North Pole, crossing the Arctic Ocean, and participating in a survival race in Madagascar. My research in Eastern Greenland involved locals’ observation on climate change. I have been providing environmental/outdoor education since 1992, including for youth, in multi-cultural situation. I hope to contribute to the BSES Greenland Expedition the interdisciplinary perspectives and support young people’s development from my field’s experiences. I am interested in the BSES expedition as a whole!"
Thank You:
KOSHIGAYA Hideo, ICI Ishii Sports
Siobhán Power
Geology leader
Siobhan originates from Galway in Ireland but currently lives in Liverpool and is a lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University. Her interests include Geology, the earth, science, history, food, crafts, swimming and travel.
I grew up in the countryside so my childhood was naturally full of outdoor adventures and exploration. I loved science in school and although I knew little about geology, a degree in Earth Science sounded like fun. I did this at the National University of Ireland, Galway, in geology and hydrology and continued with a PhD in geology. This involved extensive field and lab work and allowed me to do fieldtrips in Scotland, Cyprus and Newfoundland. After that, I did 2 years of postdoctoral research at the University of Iowa. This work included 7 weeks in Greenland at 78˚N in the summer of 2003 and teaching field methods in Montana. Since my return to Europe in 2005, I have been working in Liverpool, teaching geology and taking students on fieldtrips to Wales, the Lake District and Arran in Scotland. I do not think of this as work as I enjoy every minute of it. It is never boring as I am always planning a fieldtrip or just back from one. I am very excited about the BSES trip to Greenland this summer. I am looking forward to working in a big group of enthusiastic explorers.
Ben Lane
Ben is currently living and studying in Durham but is originally from London. His interests are Golf, running and Arsenal Football Club.
Ben had his first experience of expeditions as a Young Explorer in 2005 in Svalbard and has been hooked ever since. He returned to Svalbard again in 2007 as a member of the BSES leadership development expedition and was a member of the team that successfully climbed Newtontoppen, Svalbard’s highest peak. Subsequently he finished his maths degree at Durham University, where he was captain of the University Rifle Club. Next year he will be training to become a secondary school maths teacher and continue to practice as an FA football referee. Ben is hoping to pass on his enthusiasm for BSES and to teach to a new generation of young explorers the skills he has learned. He will also be looking to learn from the rest of the hugely experienced leadership team so that he can return on future expeditions as a Fire Leader.
Fire members
Alan Clark
Alan currently lives in Tough near Alford in Aberdeenshire but has previously lived in Oxfordshire and was born in Muscat, Oman. He attends Alford Academy where he holds numerous roles such as senior prefect and captain of his house. He is a corporal at the 877 (Inverurie) Air Training Corps Squadron so enjoys flying, shooting and a range of adventure sports. Alan also plays the classical/Spanish guitar at grade five level. Alan has completed his bronze and silver Duke of Edinburgh and has nearly completed his gold level.
Through this expedition I hope to grow my leadership and teamwork skills as well as expand my trekking and mountaineering capabilities. I can’t wait to see the spectacular landscapes in person and greatly look forward to exploring them. I equally look forward to the science aspect of the expedition where geology will be my area of study and I will get to learn how the stunning landscape was formed.
Thanks To
Alford Academy
877 (Inverurie) ATC Squadron
The MacRobert Trust
The Ulysses Trust
The Lord Mayor of London’s 800th Anniversary Award Trust
The Alford Rotary Club
The Garioch Lions
Aberdeen Football Club
Tesco Westhill
Craigdon Mountain Sports
And my friends and family!
Simon Eastham
Hope Thomas
17 year old Hope lives in Brackenthwaite, Cubria and attends Queen Eliazbeth Grammer School. Her interests are walking, geology, singing and swimming. She is a member of the Girl Guides and the Penrith Singers.
Hope says "I am really looking forward to getting out there and seeing all the amazing scenery, as well as getting to know the other members off Qaqqaq! Not surprisingly I am not looking forward to the toilet arrrangements, but we will survive".
Thanks to:
Kieran Berrington
Nadia Couvert
Helen Burns
18 year old Helen is from Oxford and has just left Headington School. She loves being outdoors and earth sciences. Her interests are cycling, climbing, walkig and running.
I’m really looking forward to exploring such a remote area and can’t wait to get on the ice! I’m also looking forward to getting to know the fire a bit better and am pretty sure we’ll all have a fantastic time.
Thank you to:
Friends and Family
Lord Mayor’s 800th anniversary trust.
Emma McPherson
Emma from Dunblane is 17 and attends Dunblane High School. Her hobbies are running and reading. She is also a member of The Dunblane Centre.
I'm really looking forward to exploring Greenland and spending time on a glacier, and I hope I'll make some good friends during the expedition. This is a once in a lifetime experience, I can't wait!
Thank You:
The Dunblane Trust
Fiona Don
Donald Slater
Emily Lambert
17 year old Emily lives in Southampton UK but is currently based at the Army Foundation Collage (AFC) Harrogate, training to join the Royal Army Medical Corps as a Combat Medical Technition.
Emily enjoys swimming, running and going out shopping.
Emily says "I am looking forward to everything on the expedition, especially traveling to and from the Fjord and I cant wait until the adventure phase and climbing on the ice!"
Lee Helyer
Kofi Weekes
