Postgraduate Student Conducts Research In Antarctica

University of Hertfordshire student, Scott Paulin has spent two months collecting research data in the Antarctic.

The research focused on nutritional and stress hormone profiling of elite athletes taking part in the South Pole Ultra-Endurance Challenge. In the Centenary Race to the South Pole (2012), to commemorate Captain Scott’s Antarctic journey, post-graduate Scott has made his own history as he became the first student to not only undertake this type of research but also the first student to be funded by the race sponsor company, Extreme World Races.

The challenge

University of Hertfordshire post-graduate student Scott Paulin, who is currently completing an MSc by research, was one of only two students to be sponsored by the Antarctic Centre for Exploration (ACE) in its maiden project, the South Pole Ultra-Endurance Challenge. The centre, located in East Antarctica, is a new initiative targeted at scientists who desire experience in the extraordinary environment.

For two months Scott accompanied a team of doctors and experts as they followed athletes competing in the Ultra-Endurance Challenge, which takes place over 800km. Throughout this period Scott collected data which would form the basis of his MSc research. The research project is one of the first of its kind as very little research has already been conducted into the nutritional demands of expeditions in this challenging environment.

The process

Scott’s research project was conducted in order to gather data which would provide insight into the preparation of athletes, their diet, the physiological state and their overall performance throughout the different stages of this demanding event.

“I believe that the majority of athletes have poor nutritional knowledge and under estimate the importance of refuelling” says Scott. “Many of the skiers learnt a harsh lesson. I believe that if future competitors are better educated in sports nutrition, before an event, they will undoubtedly improve athletic performance.”

Scott’s research focussed on nutritional and stress hormone profiling of the elite athletes taking part in the challenge. The physiological and nutritional data was collected in the eight weeks prior to the race, during the race and four to eight weeks after the race.

“Many of my predictions are now fact however, there was some surprising data” says Scott. “For example on average the athletes competing in the 2012 South Pole Challenge would ski more than ten hours per day. To ensure minimal weight loss and high energy levels, each competitor ideally needed to consume 6000+ kcals per day. The mean data indicates that the racers only managed to consume 2000 kcal. This huge energy deficit explains the serious degree of weight lost amongst competitors. We also discovered that large deductions in body weight had a negative impact on team and individual performance.”

The results

After successfully completing the expedition and collecting all of the necessary data, Scott is now completing the analysis element of the research project. He is also compiling the project report which is required by the MSc Research course.

Scott says: “Since arriving back in the UK, after two months on the Antarctic Plateau, my life has changed and I now have clear objectives. The trip has opened so many doors that wouldn’t have been open to me if I had settled with my BSc. I would just like to thank my two supervisors, Dr Justin Roberts, Dr Michael Roberts and the tech team. The time and energy that Justin and Mike put into student development is incredible but more importantly they set the bar high. This is why the University of Hertfordshire is ranked as a UK Top 10 Sport and Exercise university.”

Scott, who also completed his undergraduate BSc(Hons) Sport and Exercise Science at the University hopes that the research he conducted while in Antarctica as well as his analysis and written report will allow him to go on to complete a PhD.

Find out more

For more information contact Dr Michael Roberts, Principal Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science.