A New Zealand-based Antarctic research group has invited a Maritime university student to take part in their research investigating soil biological activity in the extremes of the earth.

Chris MacIntyre, a student at St. Francis Xavier University, loves the cold and scientific research, so when his work on an instrument developed at St. FX led to an invitation to Antarctica, he was thrilled.

The International Centre for Terrestrial Antarctic Research approached MacIntyre’s earth sciences professor, Dr. Dave Risk, during a meeting in Norway to discuss a St. FX-developed gas measurement instrument.

“They asked us to make it last the field season of about two weeks and we made it last the whole year, which has never been done before. Most equipment only lasts a day or two,” says MacIntyre.

Risk says MacIntyre was key in making the sensor last longer.

“He’s the one that programmed the power management of that instrument and so, it really sips power, which is sort of the secret of its success,” says Risk. 

As a result, MacIntyre has been invited to take part in the research project in the Antarctic in the New Year.

MacIntyre will take the instrument and an array of equipment for soil sampling. When he returns in February, he will bring back samples of soil to be analyzed at St. FX.

Risk says the research has implications that go beyond our planet.

“If you think of Mars, Mars is about minus 40 degrees, minus 50 degrees,” says Risk. “It’s cold and it’s dry and in many ways, it’s similar to these Antarctic dry deserts.”

Before embarking on the adventure, MacIntrye has some final preparations to take care of.

“A bunch of medical examinations to make sure I’m fit, I’m healthy, some stress tests, get some shots, regular travel shots that you would do,” says MacIntrye.

MacIntyre will be sleeping in a tent during his time in the Antarctic.

He says he may follow in the footsteps of the scientists on CTV’s “The Big Bang Theory,” who tried working in a meat locker before going on their own Arctic expedition.

“Actually, that many not be a bad idea to do that before I go,” says MacIntryre. “Spend a week sleeping in a meat locker to prep for camping out.”

He is scheduled to leave for Antarctica on Jan. 4 and will return at the end of February.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Dan MacIntosh