Arctic testing on offer

By David Reed, UT EditorLondon—Not many polyurethane specialists are prepared to put their families up as a resource, but one veteran European researcher has just such a plan.Brian Grieveson, former head of urethanes research with Shell Research BV in the Netherlands, has asked if there is anyone who has some products they would like testing under arctic conditions. If so, he has volunteered to add them to the payload of his 17-year old daughter Eleanor, who is to embark on a six-week unsupported trek across the mountains of Svalbard (Norwegian territory), an archipelago of islands, including Spitzbergen, lying about 78 degrees North—halfway between the northern tip of Norway and the North Pole.Her expedition, starting in July, will be on one of the uninhabited islands in the archipelago, and is part of on-going series of scientific explorations organised by BSES, a branch of the Royal Geographical Society.Grieveson stressed that the samples should be light in weight because every ounce of equipment has to be either carried on Eleanor’s back or pulled on her sledge (see, he does have a heart!).Interested parties can contact Dr Grieveson at EMail: [email protected]"