Media circus

I know I've said this before - but I can't believe how much media attention our Greenland project is getting. Its really getting out of hand. I had several reasons for signing on to this project: I like working with my advisor and didn't want to risk trading him in for another, I wanted to go to Greenland, and I thought the project had very good scientific merit. But I had no idea it would become a news story!

In the three weeks that I was in Ilulissat I talked with 6 different reporters and gave a tour to Angela Merkel, the chancellor of Germany and supposedly the most powerful woman in the world, and to Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the prime minister of Denmark.

The reporters were from around the world - ABC News, Aftonbladet (Stockholm's evening news), Tokyo Broadcasting Station, NHK (Japanese), Haaretz (Israeli), and MSNBC. I missed an interview with a Norwegian reporter because of troubles with our flights, and I've also been contacted by the Oregonian. This is really insane. At first it was quite exciting to know that my work was receiving so much attention, but now I just roll my eyes when I hear that a reporter wants to talk to me. But then again, I am funded by public money and think that the public should have access to our research findings, so I cooperate as best I can.

I've already made an appearance in the Aftonbladet; the article is in Swedish, but there is a close-up of yours truly. In the article I'm compared to Professor Calculus from the Adventures of Tintin. That didn't mean anything to me, but Inari found it pretty funny.

I'll let you know when I make any appearances elsewhere.

I couldn't find any photos of me with the chancellor, but I did find this, which basically says that I will be giving a tour to Angela Merkel. I had dinner with the dignitaries - it was an informal dinner, which meant that you didn't have to wear a tie. I ended up borrowing a suit from somebody that works at the German embassy in Denmark. The next day we flew out to our campsite and I talked with the dignitaries for about 15 minutes, explaining what we are doing and why its important. Her critics claimed that she went to Greenland just as a publicity stunt, and I think they are probably right. She said that she wanted to meet with scientists - she met with two of us for a total of about 30 minutes - and I was picked because I was the only scientist in town at the time. On the other hand, a good photograph makes for a strong political statement.