Human research in the extreme conditions of Antarctica
As part of an expedition to the J. G. Mendel Polar Station in Antarctica, Ing. Marek Sokol, a PhD student of the Department of Health Sciences and Population Protection at the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering of the Czech Technical University, is now focusing on research and development of methods for the assessment of physiological functions in an environment where cold, exertion and continuous exposure to extreme conditions represent a huge stress on the human organism. In doing so, he uses state-of-the-art measurement technologies in the form of smart T-shirts, wearable medical devices, as well as commercially available smart watches and rings.
During the expedition, camping takes place at Lake Monolith on James Ross Island, which presents invaluable conditions for measurement - low temperatures, high winds and physically demanding expeditions into the surrounding area. Examples include expeditions to Whisky Glacier, where research work on the glacier is underway. At the same time, all members are continuously monitored by instruments, providing unique information about how the human body responds to combinations and changes in environmental factors.
A broader understanding of physiological adaptations in extreme conditions not only helps in the development of modern medical devices and improved performance in challenging environments. A big thank you also goes to Masaryk University (MUNI) and the Czech Antarctic Research Programme (CARP) for making this research possible.
