Trip to see life in the freezer

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A Cardiff teacher has been offered a place on an Antarctic expedition investigating climate change.

Joanne Hopkins, from Caerphilly, will be one of 70 people joining explorer Robert Swan on the 15-day expedition.

The group will look at changes to the continent's fragile eco-system and have the chance to study wildlife, including whales, dolphins and penguins.

Ms Hopkins, 28, said she was looking forward to studying the effects of climate change in a "phenomenal" place.

The Cardiff High School English teacher was chosen from dozens of applicants. She leaves for Antarctica on 17 February and will travel via Argentina.

Ms Hopkins said her experiences travelling around Australia had given her a "taste of adventure" but that she had never imagined going to Antarctica.

Joanne Hopkins says she is "looking for a challenge"

She said: "A friend of mine emailed me a link about the expedition from the BBC page. I've always been looking for a challenge and I've been considering taking time out of teaching to do something."

Her place on the expedition, led by explorer Robert Swan, is being funded by renewable energy company G24i.

Other organisers include Cardiff Council and science education charity Techniquest.

The journey begins in Ushuaia, Argentina - the southernmost city in the world.

After several days preparation, the group will board an ice-strengthened boat and set off to explore the Antarctic Peninsula and King George Island.

The 70 participants will take part in the opening ceremony of an Antarctic education base on the island.

Global warming

The expedition organisers said the group would gain "first-hand knowledge" of the continent's eco-system, observing icebergs and wildlife.

It is hoped the people on the trip will share their knowledge when they return home, becoming "ambassadors" for sustainable living.

Ms Hopkins added: "I'm really looking forward to meeting Robert Swan and getting to grips with what's going on out there with regards to climate change.

"The wildlife will be phenomenal, it's going to be like another planet - it's like nothing you've ever seen before."

Campaigners say the Antarctic is already experiencing the effects of global warming, reporting that temperatures on the Antarctic Peninsula have risen 2.5C in the past 50 years.