Pinniped Ecologist and Associate Professor at Oregon State University
WHAT HE STUDIES:
- Diving animal behavior
- Life history of diving animals
EDUCATION:
Ph.D. Zoology
Diploma Degree Biology
HOMETOWN:
Rome, Italy
ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT WORKING IN ANTARCTICA IS... "Antarctica is as close as we as humans can get to see what it might be like to work on a different planet. It's almost like being out in a different world entirely. [When working on the sea ice,] you're out in the middle of nowhere. There's only ice and cold and blue and white, and crazy animals you never see anywhere else around you. It's amazing!"
Dr. Horning talks about Antarctic working conditions - and imitates a Weddell seal! (1:07)
Dr. Markus Horning: "There's also something really unique though about the Antarctic and paradoxically makes the seals that we work with, to us, more accessible. We actually spend most of our time at sea, even though we’re driving around Ski-Doos because the sea is frozen, but then literally the seals are underneath us as we’re walking around on the sea ice and the seals are doing their thing and they come back to the surface and they’re right next to us. And they make amazing sounds and you hear the sound through the ice."
Dr. Jo-Ann Mellish: "I think you need to make the sound for us."
Dr. Allyson Hindle: "Markus makes amazing seal sounds."
*Dr. Markus Horning imitates seal sounds*
*Dr. Jo-Ann Mellish and Dr. Allyson Hindle applaud*