Psychological impact of record-breaking polar expedition to be researched in new study
The psychological impact on a pair of pioneering explorers who completed a 1,130km mission to the South Pole will be analysed by Manchester Met researchers to shed light on humans’ ability to survive and perform in the harshest of conditions.
Polar adventurers Alan Chambers MBE and Dave Thomas completed their gruelling 58-day ‘Mission Spiritus’ expedition from the Hercules inlet to the South Pole on January 19th and have been taking part in research with Professors Andy McCann and Marc Jones who are analysing the psychological effects of prolonged, isolated exposure to the most extreme environments.
Chambers and Thomas hauled heavy sledges filled with essential supplies in altitudes of 120km and wind chill temperatures as low as -42C during their mission. To mark their amazing feat, they unfurled a Manchester Met flag when they reached the South Pole.
Between battling the elements, they collected data which Prof McCann and Prof Jones will analyse over the next three months to better understand the effects that sensory deprivation has on the body and mind.
They will also analyse the explorers’ readjustment period over the coming days and weeks, monitoring their psychological adaptation to ‘normal life’ after Antarctica.
It is the first strand of a long-term research collaboration with Manchester Met and the explorers, with further missions and analysis in a variety of different challenging climates already in the pipeline.
In this latest challenge adventurers Chambers and Thomas completed daily questionnaires addressing changes in their mental wellbeing, quality of their sleep, levels of stress, cognitive function and relationship dynamics.
Prof McCann said: “Being able to collaborate with explorers with this level of expertise, credibility and international recognition is fantastic, and allows us to further contribute to knowledge and understanding of extreme human performance. We look forward to scrutinising the data and hopefully creating a protocol to help people navigate challenging environments.”
Former Royal Marine Commando Chambers, 54, is the only person in the world to have skied across Greenland, skied to the North Pole from Canada and, now, skied from the Hercules Inlet coast to the South Pole. He said: “We are really pleased to be collaborating with Prof McCann and Prof Jones. Their department is leading the way in conducting research in human adaptation in challenging environments.
“We have an extensive collaboration planned as we have further Mission Spiritus projects to conduct in variety of different climates.”
Chambers’ fellow explorer and ex-Royal Marine Dave Thomas became the oldest person to reach the South Pole unassisted, having turned 68 last month during the mission.
Prof Jones added: “We are delighted to be part of such an exciting and innovative project. It really complements our world-leading research into human adaptation in challenging and stressful environments.”
As well as working with the Manchester Met psychology team, Chambers and Thomas raised over £9,000 for the Royal Marines Charity and took snow samples that will be analysed by Columbia University for traces of nano-plastics. The pair will keep in regular contact with Prof McCann and Prof Jones as further psychological data is collected.
The results of the Manchester Met study are expected to be announced in the summer.
