To Antarctica and beyond: an educational journey through the cosmos

Only from the air do you really get to see the immensity, the desolation, the beauty and the hazards of Antarctica. UOW's Centre for Medical Radiation Physics (CMRP) has been developing a range of radiation sensors, called microdosimeters, that measure radiation dosage or exposure. These sensors can be used across a spectrum of settings, from detecting cosmic radiation in space or on aircraft to protect flight crews and equipment.

Antarctica was the perfect destination to research cosmic radiation because the Earth's magnetic poles provide the best opportunity to observe galactic cosmic rays with minimum shielding effects from the atmosphere. The Antarctic flight data will be analysed and used to calculate the long-term radiation risks that cosmic radiation may pose for high-altitude aircraft crews, particularly those working on polar routes and to outer space with travelling astronauts.

UOW photographer Paul Jones captured the flight and research. Read more about the trip in the UOW Newsroom.

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