Agnieszka Fryckowska is a New Zealand meteorologist and Antarctic base manager who has worked with the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). Fryckowska has spent five winters in Antarctica. She is a recipient of the Polar Medal.

Agnieszka Fryckowska
NationalityNew Zealand
EducationBachelor's Degree, Otago University Master's Degree, Cranfield University
Scientific career
ThesisThe Impact of Large Organic Debris Jams on Stream Morphology: A Reconnaissance Survey of Montane Streams in South Westland (1996)

Biography edit

Fryckowska's parents are Polish and she was born in Auckland.[1][2]

Fryckowska first became interested in working in Antarctica when she had a lecturer at Otago University who visited the Antarctic yearly.[3] At Otago, she earned a Bachelor of Science in 1995 and then a diploma in science in 1996.[4][5] The title of her postgraduate diploma thesis was The Impact of Large Organic Debris Jams on Stream Morphology: A Reconnaissance Survey of Montane Streams in South Westland.[4] She earned her master's degree from Cranfield University.[5]

Fryckowska joined the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) in 2004 and started as a meteorologist.[6] She worked there for 34 months.[7] In 2007, she became the Winter Station Leader for Halley V.[6] In 2008, she served as the Summer Station Leader for Rothera.[6][8]

Fryckowska was the station leader of Halley VI in Antarctica in 2012.[9] She continued to work as the Winter Station Leader for Halley VI until 2015.[6]

Fryckowska was awarded the Polar Medal in April 2016.[10]


References edit

  1. ^ Gibb, John (25 April 2016). "Polar Medal for Otago graduate". Otago Daily Times Online News. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  2. ^ Keeling, Emma (23 April 2016). "New Zealander awarded prestigious Polar Medal for work in Antarctica". 1 NEWS NOW. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  3. ^ "Five winters on Antarctica: Agnieszka Fryckowska". Radio New Zealand. 25 May 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  4. ^ a b Fryckowska, Agnieszka (1996). The Impact of Large Organic Debris Jams on Stream Morphology: A Reconnaissance Survey of Montane Streams in South Westland (Postgraduate Diploma thesis). OUR Archive, University of Otago. hdl:10523/11906.
  5. ^ a b "Polar Medal for Otago Alumna for British Antarctic Survey Service". University of Otago. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  6. ^ a b c d "Polar Medal awards - News - British Antarctic Survey". BAS. 8 January 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  7. ^ Morton, Jaime (15 April 2016). "Royal honour for Kiwi ice queen". NZ Herald. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  8. ^ Jones, Beth (20 May 2012). "'Women won't like working in Antarctica as there are no shops and hairdressers'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  9. ^ Hamilton, William L. (1 June 2013). "Come in from the Cold: Hugh Broughton Fills Antarctica's Halley VI Research Station with the Comforts of Home". Interior Design. Archived from the original on 15 November 2018 – via HighBeam Research.
  10. ^ Tanaka, Kisei (30 May 2016). "Five winters on Antarctica: Agnieszka Fryckowska - Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition". Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition. Retrieved 8 September 2017.

External links edit