While many of us will be preparing to reunite with family for Christmas, a small group of Scott Base scientists will be getting further away from theirs.
Climate change scientist and ecologist Ian Hawes will lead a team of researchers on a remote field trip to the McMurdo Dry Valleys to look for microbes.
They're about to set off, but before they do Ian Hawes talks to Karyn Hay about the trip
Aquatic Ecologist Professor Ian Hawes Photo: supplied