Three questions for Tim Heitland

What is the most exciting thing about your job?

I am very lucky and privileged to have a job that is exciting in every way. For me, there is no one thing that is most exciting, but rather a whole range of exciting content, areas, expeditions, and most of all, the people I work with. I play a small part in making research possible in some pretty extreme places. Research in such remote and inhospitable areas, on land, on water, on ice and in the air, is not only exciting because of the challenging and, above all, relevant content. It also presents us with all kinds of challenges: The logistics and technology of such expeditions, as well as medical care in such an environment. And when you can be there and see and experience the incredible and unique beauty of this world, it is of course exhilarating. In particular, preparing the overwintering teams for Antarctica always brings me into contact with a very diverse group of people from a wide range of disciplines and backgrounds. They all sparkle with enthusiasm, are capable and motivated, want to do their best and have a common goal. Nobody stays over winter by accident.

If money and time were no object, what would your next project be?

I would like to make it possible for more scientists and other people to spend the winter in Antarctica. There is so much to discover, including in the social sciences and humanities. I would also like to open up this platform to other people, for example, artists and writers, to share the experience and the possibilities of this project. Not only do I love the nature, wildlife, and sheer beauty of Antarctica, but it is also a place where I have learned and experienced much of what I consider desirable and important in and for life, including tolerance, community, respect, helpfulness, openness, and enthusiasm. Imagine if we could teach these values and experiences at an early age and have, for example, an international school class spend the winter here.

Who would you like to have dinner with and what would you talk about?

I’d like to listen to Kurt Gödel, M. C. Escher and Johann Sebastian Bach talk about endlessly braided ribbons while physicist Douglas Richard Hofstadter explains what it's all about. Maybe Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner could support me as a role model for achieving extreme goals. And if that doesn’t help, I’d be happy to talk to Tedros Teclebrhan about anything; Kaltenbrunner, Escher, Hofstadter and Bach would be delighted.