Ali Banwell is a research scientist and glaciologist at the Earth Science and Observation Center (ESOC) — and she is currently on her way to Antarctica! Ali studies ice sheet melt, hydrology, and dynamics using a combination of remote sensing, fieldwork, and modeling. Surprisingly, she really hates being cold.

Humans of CIRES Q&A

Q: What do you do at CIRES?

My research focuses on understanding changes in Antarctic and Greenland ice sheet melt, hydrology, and dynamics using satellite remote-sensing, fieldwork, and modeling.

Q: Where is the most exciting place you’ve traveled to for your research/job?

I am fortunate to have worked in Antarctica 5 times previously, and I’m about to head back down there again (early November). Unfortunately, however, I’m a glaciologist who really hates being cold… But I do love penguins!

Q: Where did you grow up?

I grew up on the beach in Bournemouth on the south coast of England. However, I’ve also lived in Edinburgh, Scotland, and most recently in the flatlands of Cambridge, England.

Q: Coffee or tea?

Tea first thing in the morning in bed (Yorkshire tea, with milk of course!), then coffee (flat white preferably).