GrrlScientist is an evolutionary biologist, ornithologist, aviculturist, birder and freelance science and nature writer. A native of the Pacific Northwest, she relocated from Seattle to NYC with her parrots after earning a BS in Microbiology (emphasis in Virology) and PhD in Zoology (Ornithology) from the University of Washington. In NYC, she was the Chapman Postdoctoral Fellow at the American Museum of Natural History for two years, pursuing part of her "dream" research project by reconstructing a molecular phylogeny of the parrots of the South Pacific islands. GrrlScientist and her five parrots are currently relocating to Germany, where she will continue writing her blog while also writing a book and learning German. (Meanwhile, her parrots will continue to nibble on her extensive personal library.) If you appreciate GrrlScientist's writing, you can help pay her living expenses by hiring her to "blog" your conference, speak at your club or write articles for your publication (or by clicking on the Paypal button below). If you read an essay on this blog that you especially enjoyed, please nominate it for inclusion in 
tags: Antarctica, environment, nature, streaming video
As an introduction to my special plea to you, my readers, I want to share this astonishing time-lapse video filmed in Antarctica, in and around McMurdo Station and Scott Base [6:17]
Thanks to one of my readers, I learned recently that Quark Expeditions is searching for an Official Blogger to join a voyage to Antarctica. To select this person, they are asking blog writers to enter a competition where the public votes for whom they think would be best for the job. Quite honestly, I think I am the best person in the world to act as the official blogger for Quark Expeditions because I have earned essential scientific training and background, I possess intellectual curiosity, and I am a prolific writer of a popular blog. I have proven that I write consistently and well because I am one of the few whose contributions have appeared in every edition of the Open Lab, I am also a published writer and further, my blog platform here at ScienceBlogs provides tremendous international reach. Furthermore, I owe everything to you, dear readers, and a trip like this would be an amazing way for me to thank all of you once again for supporting me throughout these past difficult years.
I've posted a picture and written a 300 word essay (which I will no doubt revise over time) and my entry is now public. To vote, go there and register your email address and create a different password from that used for your email. In a few seconds, you will receive a confirmatory message at your registered email address so you can then vote in this competition. Remember, according to the rules, there is "one vote per valid email address."
Voting ends on 30 September 2009, and the Official Quark Blogger will travel to Antarctica in February 2010 to blog about the experience, chronicling the action, the emotion, and the drama as their polar adventure unfolds.
Education
Environment
Comments
As I read Pharyngula before I stop here, I have already voted
for you!
I hope to see you blogging from Antarctica next year.
W00T!
Posted by: pk1154 | June 26, 2009 8:34 AM
Hope you enjoy the trip! I've voluteered to go on several expeditions and haven't made it yet.
DJ
Posted by: DJones | June 26, 2009 9:39 AM
You have a massive lead, start packing :)
Posted by: Doug Alder | June 26, 2009 10:11 AM
You ARE the best person for the job! I voted for you! Shout out from Seattle - may the best girl scientist win!
shannon
Posted by: shannon | June 26, 2009 10:49 AM
wow, thanks for your votes, everyone, and be sure to ask your friends, family, colleagues and neighbors to vote for me, too!
Posted by: "GrrlScientist" | June 26, 2009 1:59 PM
Already voted for you. If I had lackeys or minions I'd send them to do the same; I'll do my best on my little blog.
Posted by: ACW | June 26, 2009 2:58 PM
GrrlScientist,
You got my vote! I have this 'feeling' that you will be the one chosen for the job. Though unscientific way of predicting the outcome, I cannot help feeling the way I feel. You seem to be the best qualifier. Period! Good luck to you in this endeavor as in many others you'll pursue as days to come.
AriSan
Posted by: AriSan | June 26, 2009 9:51 PM
if i win, i've already been told by a reader that a digital SLR (with several lenses?? hopefully!) is in my future .. it will arrive early enough that i can play with it before i am on the boat, too. i already have the ability to make sound recordings in mp3 format, and i am hoping for a video camera (unless the DSL has video capabilities) so i can create a few youtube videos of the experience (i will probably ask some of you video types to help with this). all together, i am going to try to provide a great multimedia experience for my readers.
of course, i have to win, first!
Posted by: "GrrlScientist" | June 26, 2009 10:15 PM
I do check this blog regularly and I almost didn't vote in case you'd end up in limbo for the time you were there.
Posted by: Who Cares | June 27, 2009 12:13 PM
Good luck. You got my vote.
Posted by: Tom Rhoads | July 1, 2009 8:30 PM