Australian Antarctic Division Sea Bird Ecologist Dr Barbara Wienecke is working with Melbourne Aquarium's staff and colony of Gentoo penguins, to trial a data-logging leg band which will help the long-term monitoring of their Adelie cousins in Antarctica. Melbourne Aquarium Gentoo penguins Roxy, Crumpet, Mushroom, Aroha, Herbie, Woody and Indi will be fitted with the 1.5g leg bands, with Aquarium keepers watching on to make sure they do not interfere with the penguins' daily activities. 'It is a great advantage to have an opportunity to test a new method before going into the field where this kind of monitoring is not possible,' said Dr Wienecke.

Australia's new Station Leaders are preparing to go south to take up their positions at Mawson, Davis and Casey stations, and on Macquarie Island. I come from Brisbane and I originally qualified as a vet and have spent most of my career in more of a scientific profession as a microbiologist and parasitologist. So I am really looking forward to that.