Nanna Katrine Luders Kaalund - Explorations in the Icy North

The journey from initial idea to published book would not have been possible without the help, support, and advice of several people. First and foremost, I am indebted to Bernie Lightman for his continuing guidance and encouragement, both academically and personally. I could not have wished for a better mentor than Bernie. I would also like to thank wholeheartedly the wider academic community at York University, Toronto. The PhD program in science and technology studies at York University was a wonderful place for developing my research and building friendships. I am very thankful to Colin Coates and Ernst Hamm, and to Deborah Neill, Katharine Anderson, Aryn Martin, Alexandra Rutherford, James Elwick, and Adrian Shubert. I am also indebted to Janet Browne for fantastic feedback and support. The importance of their guidance during the process of writing this book cannot be overstated. I received funding from the Ontario Graduate Scholarship scheme to support my doctoral studies, for which I am very grateful.

My second academic home is in Leeds, where I first became interested in nineteenth-century history of science during my MA. The Centre for History and Philosophy of Science made the (perhaps questionable) decision of hiring me as a lecturer in the history of science communication after I completed my PhD, and I loved every second of working there. I am particularly thankful to Jonathan Topham and Graeme Gooday, who, although they have known me since I was an MA student, have continued to be wonderfully supportive friends and mentors. I am also thankful to the wider research community at Leeds, including Jamie Stark, Adrian Wilson, Greg Radick, Becky Bowd, Thomas Brouwer, Liz Bruton, and Helen Steward.

I researched and wrote much of this book at the Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge. I am very thankful to Michael Bravo and Richard Powell, for their support and advice at different points during the journey of completing this book. The Scott Polar Research Institute is a wonderful place to work, and I am fortunate to have had access to the Polar Library and the Thomas H. Manning Polar Archives. My eternal gratitude extends to Naomi Boneham, Laura Ibbett,Frances Marsh, and Peter Lund for their help with accessing the library and archive, and for their insights into polar history.

My thanks also extend to the University of Pittsburgh Press, in particular to Abby Collier. Abby is a truly incredible editor and has made the process of finishing this book very enjoyable. I am also indebted to the insightful comments of the two anonymous reviewers. Their suggestions strengthened the book immensely, and I hope they are as pleased with the final result as I am.

Finally, I am thankful to my friends and family. Throughout the years, many people have helped and supported me, and made it possible for me to both start and finish this project. I am lucky to have the continued friendships of Sara Kvist, Geoff Belknap, Helen Coskeran, Jon Livingstone-Banks, Michaela Livingstone-Banks, Sidsel Wittendorff Srensen, and Christie Busich. I am very grateful to my family, in particular my parents and siblings, for believing in me and supporting me in my travels from Denmark to England, before going to Canada, and then back to England again. Finally, I would like to thank my husband, Efram Sera-Shriar, without whom none of this would have been possible.

FIGURE I.1. Map showing the approximate routes taken by the main expeditions discussed in the following four chapters. The map was kindly produced for this book by Philip Stickler, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge.