The Strathmore Speaker Series and Onondaga Free Library‘s June 2021 event featured Joee Patterson, marine technician in the U.S. Antarctic Program and tall ship sailor. Ms. Patterson shared stories of life on an icebreaker, the scientific expeditions she has facilitated and close encounters with wildlife. This lecture provided an overview of marine operations for the U.S. Antarctic Program and a discussion of the science conducted on these missions (from the perspective of a layperson) combined with personal stories and observations from her nine Antarctic expeditions.

This event was held on Thursday, June 10th. Missed it? Watch the full video below.

About Joee Patterson

Originally from Anchorage, Alaska, Joee Patterson began sailing traditionally rigged vessels in 2003 while working at the South Street Seaport Museum aboard the schooners Pioneer and Lettie G. Howard. In 2007, she moved to Linconville, Maine to pursue her passion for tall ships while rigging and painting at the Rockport Marine and O’Donovan and Dole Traditional Wooden Boatworks. In 2014, Ms. Patterson served as a crew member on the 38^th voyage of the then 173-year-old Charles W. Morgan, America’s last remaining wooden whaleship.

In 2016, Ms. Patterson was offered a dream position as a Marine Technician in the U.S. Antarctic Program, which allowed her to pair her love of the sea with her fascination with the intricacies of the natural world. Since her initial voyage, Ms. Patterson has made eight more trips to Antarctica. Most recently she journeyed to the Thwaites Glacier as one of four marine technicians aboard the Nathaniel B. Palmer research vessel, part of an international research collaboration between the United States, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Japan, and Germany.

When not participating in sailing voyages or science expeditions, Ms. Patterson resides in Lincolnville and can be found indulging her passion for nature through photography and contributing to science education and environmental stewardship in Maine.

Read more about Joee Patterson, the Thwaites Glacier Collaboration, and the United States Antarctic Program:

Public Radio International Article

National Geographic Article 1

National Geographic Article 2

Rolling Stones Series