Polar Zero – Ice core
A moment frozen in time Experience the sound of ancient air bubbles popping as an Antarctic Peninsula ice core emerges from an insulated tube. As it melts and drips away […]
Linda Capper
Head of Communications
Linda leads the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) Communications team. She is responsible for designing and delivering strategic communications and engagement campaigns for BAS and for high-profile collaborative programmes including the new polar research ship for Britain and the Antarctic Modernisation Programme .
Her leadership roles include serving on the BAS Executive Team, the BAS Management Team, as well as a number of major programme and project boards.
Her early career at BAS included a publishing role with the international multidisciplinary scientific journal Antarctic Science.
In 1992 she established the first proactive Press operation within the BAS Information Office and subsequently developed an integrated Press, Public Relations and Education function at BAS to deliver corporate and Government aspirations for public engagement in science. She was instrumental in establishing a formal Antarctic media visits programme and managed many of those visits on location.
She is a founder member of STEMPRA (Science, Technology, Engineering and Medicine Public Relations Association), a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations. Her international roles include the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programmes (COMNAP’s) Outreach Network (former lead), and Co-lead of the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat Inter-sessional Contact Group for Education and Outreach.
The work of Linda’s team has gained recognition for excellence within the PR and Education industries. The team has achieved several nominations and awards including a BAFTA and a Geography Association award for innovative education projects; as well as PR industry awards from the CIPR & CorpComms. Linda was awarded an MBE for services to science in 2003.
Research interests
- Strategic communications and leadership
- Science communication
- Public engagement in research
- Corporate Communications
Collaborations
- 2015- present – Communications and Engagement lead for the new polar research ship for Britain – RRS Sir David Attenborough
- May 2015 –EU-PolarNet initiative – Connecting Science with Society – Horizon 2020 project. www.eu-polarnet.eu. Task-leader within Work Package 4 of this 5-year project, developing a suite of communications and engagement tasks.
- June 2015 – Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) Inter-sessional Contact Group. Established June 2015.
- 2011-12. IPY 2012 Conference “From Knowledge to Action”. Programme Chair, Public Engagement
- 2007-11. International Polar Year (IPY) Communications and Outreach Steering Groups (UK, European and International)
- 2007-11. Co-ordinator/Chair INFONET/COMNAP expert group on Education and Outreach
1992- present
Press releases, science briefings and internal reports
too many to list
2014
UK Science in Antarctica: 2014-2020. Policy paper
From: Department for Business, Innovation & Skills. First published:16 July 2014
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-science-in-antarctica-2014-to-2020
2013
Making an Impact – communications, public engagement and outreach. Section within ‘ A story of Antarctic Co-Operation: 25 Years of the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programmes’ by Gillian Wratt.
Publications from NERC Open Research Archive
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Read more of: Polar Zero – Ice core
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Polar Zero: climate science-art collaboration
Read more of: Polar Zero: climate science-art collaborationThe Polar Zero experience at Glasgow Science Centre is a fusion of science and art made for COP26 climate summit
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Transformation
Read more of: TransformationRealising the benefits of the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation programme.
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60 Second Science
Read more of: 60 Second Science60 Second Science challenged our science, engineering and support staff and their research collaborators to explain in 60 seconds what they do.
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Data as Art: POLAR AESTHETICS
Read more of: Data as Art: POLAR AESTHETICSBritish Antarctic Survey has an ongoing science & art collaboration with Royal College of Art PhD candidate Wayne Binitie. Wayne has visited BAS a number of times to develop his […]
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iSTAR – Stability of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet
Read more of: iSTAR – Stability of the West Antarctic Ice SheetScience on the move – the mission to understand the stability of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet
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New polar research ship for Britain – Communications and Engagement lead
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COP26 Polar Net Zero
Read more of: COP26 Polar Net ZeroJoin online – this interactive event challenges young people around the globe to think about the part they can play in creating a low carbon future.
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Polar Zero: visual arts take centre stage at COP26
Read more of: Polar Zero: visual arts take centre stage at COP26Immersive science-art ice core research exhibition to be displayed at Glasgow Science Centre during COP26
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Ice core inspired art installation opens in London
Read more of: Ice core inspired art installation opens in LondonA new climate change artwork – Ice Floor, a new Phase 2 by Wayne Binitie, opens this week at Arup’s Fitzroy Street offices in London. The work was developed in […]
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State of the Polar Oceans report published
Read more of: State of the Polar Oceans report publishedReport published July 2018
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New polar research ship makes a ‘splash’
Read more of: New polar research ship makes a ‘splash’RRS Sir David Attenborough hull launch into River Mersey 14 July Update 20 July 2018 – watch video of launch A major milestone in the build of the UK’s state-of-the-art […]
International leadership
2011-2012 IPY 2012 Programme Chair – Public Engagement: Conference: From Knowledge to Action
2007-2011 Coordinator/Chair of INFONET, Outreach Expert Group, COMNAP (Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programmes)
2005-2009 International Polar Year Outreach Steering Groups (International, European and UK)
Antarctic projects
1997-2001 Campaign to promote the joint commission by BAS and the Philharmonia Orchestra of a new Antarctic Symphony by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies
1997-98 BBC News & Current Affairs media visit to Rothera Research Station
1998-99 ITV News media visit to Halley Research Station
2003-04 Guardian newspaper media visit to Rothera Research Station
2004-05 Documentary filming (Windfall Films) for BBC Royal Institution Christmas Lectures
2004-05 Sky News media visit to Rothera Research Station
2005-06 BBC News visit to Rothera Research Stations
2006-07 ITV News live from Antarctica – Rothera Research Station; featured Royal visit to the station by HRH the Princess Royal
2007-08 ITV News The big Melt special – live reports from Rothera Research Station
2009-10 BBC Frozen Planet – documentary filming at Rothera Research Station
Awards and nominations for Public Relations
2002 CIPR Cream Award – Silver for Best In-house PR Department
2003 PRWeek Award Finalist for Best Public Sector Dept of the Year
2006 CorpComms Winner for Best Public Sector Award for ‘Discover Antarctica’ public engagement campaign; event (Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, Edinburgh 2006)
2007 CorpComms Winner for Best use of Broadcast(for ITV News Antarctic visit – the Big Melt)
2007 CIPR Excellence Awards Finalist in Broadcast Category (for ITV News Antarctic visit – the Big Melt)
2017 Maritime Media Awards The First Sea Lord’s Digital Media Award for Best Use of Digital and Social Media
2020 CIPR Excellence Awards Finalist in the Public Sector Category – Naming a new Royal Research Ship
2020 CIPR Excellence Awards Mark of Excellence STEM Campaign – Naming a new Royal Research Ship
Awards and nominations for Education
2002 BAFTA Winner for Offline Educational Resource Antarctic Waves
2006 Scottish Association of Geography Teachers award for DiscoveringAntarctica online educational resource
2006 The Geographical Association award for DiscoveringAntarctica online educational resource
2007 Childrens BAFTA nomination for Secondary Education
2007 International Webby Award nomination for Education
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Task Leader - Communication and Outreach, EU-PolarNet
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Steering group member, Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting Intersessional Contact Group for Education & Outreach