Antarctica

UHasselt, 2021

Em. prof. dr. Tony Van Autenboer started his career with the Norwegian Geological Survey: geological mapping in northern Norway and investigating old mines in the south. After his military service as a reserve officer he joined the 1959 Belgian Antarctic Expedition as geologist and in charge of the gravity measurements. He and surveyor Ken Blaiklock volunteered for a two years stay in Antarctica to ensure the possibility to investigate the unexplored Sør Rondane Mountains. This resulted in a dog sledge journey that lasted for more than 6 months. The following years he continued his polar research and became expedition leader of several of the last Belgian expeditions. The Hasselt University wanted to honour Em.prof.dr. Tony Autenboer by this permanent installation in the university building. We took our inspiration from a photo of ice drill cores used to examine the permafrost.