User Profile

Stephen
Nicol

Stephen Nicol was born in Ireland, completed a BSc in zoology in Scotland, an MSc in oceanography in England, a PhD in biology in Nova Scotia and an MA in creative writing in Tasmania. He worked at the Australian Antarctic Division as a research scientist and program leader from 1987 to 2011. He was awarded the Australian Antarctic Medal in 2011 for services to Antarctic research and management. He worked at the Australian Antarctic Division as a Research Scientist and Program Leader from 1987 to 2011. He was awarded the Australian Antarctic Medal in 2011 for services to Antarctic research and management. He has published numerous articles, including management papers, refereed articles, travel writing, short fiction and popular science. His short story ‘Flushed Out’ was Highly Commended in the 2014 Tasmanian Writers’ Prize and he was a finalist again in 2019 with his story ‘No Man is an Island;. His recent popular science book, ‘The Curious Life of Krill’ (Island Press, Washington DC) was shortlisted for the Margaret Scott Prize in 2019.

Wilderness

Southern emeralds

by Stephen Nicol

10 Nov 2020

I have spent many months on research vessels in the waters around Antarctica. For much of that time I was surrounded by ice: blue ice, green ice, brown ice, yellow ice, blindingly white ice, even pink ice. Some of the ice was flat, some formed ramparts, much lurked in the ocean with most of it invisible. Ice can be a visual treat, provided you are on a suitably sized and carefully piloted icebreaker. It provides texture in an ocean environment that might otherwise be featureless, it damps down the ocean swell and it provides unlimited photographic opportunities for those fortunate enough to venture to the far south.