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Dr Ursula Rack

Contact

Department: School of Earth and Environment

Email: ursula.rack@canterbury.ac.nz

Direct Dial: +64 3 3695961

Office: Beatrice Tinsley Rm 418

Languages: English, German

My research aim is to get a better understanding how weather events influence individuals and communities.
About
Research / Creative works
Networks
Projects
Methods & Equipment

Fields of Research

  • Polar history
  • Recovering hisotric weather data
  • Social history
  • Environmental history
  • Biographies

Researcher Summary

I work currently as contract researcher for the Deep South National Science Project. The project recovers meteorological information from logbooks (merchant and navy ships) from the late 18th century until the mid 20th century which operated in the Southern Ocean including in Australian and New Zealand waters. The data is processed then in the reanalysis of historic weather phenomena to draw conclusion for future weather models.

My research interest lays in environmental and social history which includes weather data from the Heroic era onwards to investigate the influence on social condition of early expedition members and their interactions which could influence the outcome of an expedition. This research includes also biographies of expedition members from German, Austro-Hungarian and English speaking countries. My research covers also political, social and economic factors which influenced the expeditions to put the events in an appropriate historic context.

Archival research is necessary to gather diaries, ship journals, correspondence, pictures and reports on expeditions. They are mostly handwritten and I do transcriptions to interpret the contents and put it in a wider context. Social conditions cover issues such as  food, medical conditions, every day life, recruitment, insurance, income, hierarchy and leadership and how these conditions influenced the expeditions and vice versa the people.

Subject Area: Disciplines

  • History, History of Art, Classics and Curatorial Studies: Modern History; Modern History: British & European; Modern History: World
  • Ursula_Rack_cropped.jpg

Research/Scholarly/Creative Works

  • Rack U. (2022) Antarctic pioneer: the trailblazing life of Jackie Ronne. The Polar Journal 12(2): 388-391. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/2154896x.2022.2133385. (Journal Articles)
  • Rack U. (2022) Buchrezension: Antarctic Pioneer: The Trailblazing Life of Jackie Ronne. Polarforschung 90(2): 37-38. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/polf-90-37-2022. (Journal Articles)
  • Wenegrat JO., Bonanno E., Rack U. and Gebbie G. (2022) A Century of Observed Temperature Change in the Indian Ocean. Geophysical Research Letters 49(13) http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2022GL098217. (Journal Articles)
  • Nash DJ., Adamson GCD., Ashcroft L., Bauch M., Camenisch C., Degroot D., Gergis J., Jusopović A., Labbé T. and Lin KHE. (2021) Climate indices in historical climate reconstructions: A global state of the art. Climate of the Past 17(3): 1273-1314. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/cp-17-1273-2021. (Journal Articles)
  • Rack U. (2021) Wilhelm Filchner - Hierarchy and insufficient leadership on the second German antarctic expedition. Polarforschung 89(1): 25-30. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/polf-89-25-2021. (Journal Articles)
  • Rack U. (2019) Roald Amundsen’s sled dogs: the sledge dogs who helped discover the South Pole. The Polar Journal 9(2): 464-466. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/2154896x.2019.1678989. (Journal Articles)
  • Rack U. (2019) The way to the Antarctic Treaty: System of rules in times of global conflict. Polar Record 55(5): 320-322. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0032247419000731. (Journal Articles)
  • Rack U. (2018) Exploring and mapping the Antarctic: Histories of discovery and knowledge. In Nuttall M; Christensen TR; Siegert MJ (Ed.), The Routledge Handbook of the Polar Regions: 34-44. Boca Raton: Routledge. http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781315730639-3. (Chapters)
  • Rack U. (2018) Survival and science: Early Antarctic Explorers and Sealing. In Headland RK; Lintott BJ (Eds). Proceedings: 121-129. Cambridge: Scott Polar Reserach Institute Occasional Publicatoin Series. (Conference Contributions - Published)
  • Rack U. (2017) CARL WEYPRECHT AND THE INTERNATIONAL POLAR YEARS. ARCTIC 70(2): 221-+. http://dx.doi.org/10.14430/arctic4652. (Journal Articles)
  • Rack U. (2017) Deutsche in der Antarktis. Expeditionen und Forschungen vom Kaiserreich bis heute. The Polar Journal 7(1): 244-247. Informa UK Limited. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/2154896x.2017.1314080. (Other)
  • Rack U. (2017) Heroic Era and beyond - an international perspective. Auckland, NZ: End of the Heroic Era Conference, 24-26 Mar 2017. (Conference Contributions - Other)
  • Rack U. (2017) Historical Antarctic sealing industry conference. The Polar Journal 7(1): 253-255. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/2154896x.2017.1327478. (Journal Articles)
  • Rack U. (2016) One historian, one hundred logbooks and an historic weather data rescue: a new approach in cutting edge science. Kuala Lumpur, Malasia: SCAR Open Science Conference, 22-27 Aug 2016. (Conference Contributions - Other)
  • Rack U. (2016) Our conception of Antarctica today through the lives of early explorer. Kuala Lumpur, Malasia: SCAR Open Science Conference, 22-27 Aug 2016. (Conference Contributions - Other)
  • Rack U. (2016) Passagiere des Eises: Polarhelden und Arktische Diskurse 1874. [Passengers of the ice: polar heroes and arctic discourses 1874] (Book Review). The Polar Journal 6(2): 440-442. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/2154896X.2016.1171008. (Other)
  • Rack U. (2016) Sealing for survival and science: Early Antarctic explorers and seal hunting. Cambridge, UK: Historic Antarctic Sealing Industry Conference, 19-21 Sep 2016. (Conference Contributions - Other)
  • Rack U. (2015) "Blizzard blowing again and considerable discomfort on board as usual." Personal accounts of weather as scientific data, and the weather's influence on expedition members during the Heroic Age. The Polar Journal 5(1): 113-127. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/2154896X.2015.1030159. (Journal Articles)
  • Rack U. (2015) Von der Antarktis nach Sibirien. Biographische Stationen eines oesterreichischen Polarforschers (From the Antarctic to Siberia: biographical notes of an Austrian polar explorer). Oesterrich in Geschichte, Literatur Geographie 59(1): 56-68. (Journal Articles)
  • Rack U. (2015) Polar Expeditions. In Liggett D; Storey B; Cook Y; Meduna V (Ed.), Exploring the Last Continent: An Introduction to Antarctica: 307-325. Berlin: Springer. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18947-5_15. (Chapters)
  • Rack U. and Atkin A. (2015) SCAR open science conference 2014. Report on the session 'Connecting past-present-future: studies and methods in history for Antarctic research and science'. Polar Record 51(6): 692-693. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0032247414000941. (Journal Articles)
  • Rack U. (2014) Felix König and the European science community across enemy lines during the First World War. The Polar Journal 4(1): 88-104. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/2154896X.2014.913928. (Journal Articles)
  • Rack U. (2014) The value of historic documents in the context of polar heritage. In The Polar Journal 4(2). (Conference Contributions - Published)
  • Rack U. and Atkin A. (2014) Connecting the past-present-future: studies and methods in history for Antarctic research and science. Auckland, New Zealand: Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research International Open Science Conference (SCAR), 23-29 Aug 2014. (Conference Contributions - Other)
  • Rack U. (2013) Living on the Ice 100 Years ago. Oamaru, New Zealand: 1913, Scott Expedition Terra Nova Return. Oamaru Centenary Commemoration. (Oral Presentations)
  • Rack U. (2013) Weather still remains boisterous' - Historic weather data in diaries and logbooks 1901-1904. Cambridge, UK: SCAR History and Social Science Workshop: Past , present and future of human connections to the Antarctic. (Oral Presentations)
  • Rack U. (2013) The Japanese South polar expedition 1910-1912. A record of Antarctica. The Polar Journal 3(1): 261-263. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/2154896X.2013.783278. (Journal Articles)
  • Rack U. (2013) The Third Reich in Antarctica: The German Antarctic Expedition 1938–1939. Polar Journal 3(2): 470-472. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/2154896X.2013.846977. (Journal Articles)
  • Rack U. (2013) Weather still remains boisterous. Historic weather data in diaries and logbooks 1901 - 1904. Royal Meteorological Society History Group Newsletter 2013(3): 15-18. (Journal Articles)
  • Rack U. (2013) International Polar Heritage Conference: Conservation Challenges, Solutions & Collaboration Opportunities in Uncontrolled Environments. In The Polar Journal 3(1): 266-267. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/2154896X.2013.783291. (Conference Contributions - Published)
  • Rack U. (2013) Teleki von Szék. In Angetter D (Ed.), Österreichisches Biographisches Lexikon 1815-1950 (64th ed.): 238-239. Vienna: Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften. (Chapters)
  • Rack U. (2012) Modern Science and Historical Data - Ships Journals and Diaries. Hobart, Australia: Heritage Conference: Conservation challenges, solutions & collaboration opportunities in uncontrolled environments. (Oral Presentations)
  • Rack U. (2012) Roald Amundsen: Ein biographisches Porträt (Book Review). The Polar Journal 2(1): 175-177. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/2154896X.2012.679569. (Other)
  • Jones C., Montelle C., Pratt A., Pickles K., Rack U., Holdaway RN., Pelser PB. and Sykes WR. (2011) Exploration & Discovery. In Jones C; Matthews B; Clement J (Ed.), Treasures of the University of Canterbury Library Christchurch: Canterbury University Press. (Chapters)
  • Rack U. (2011) Felix Koenig: the European Science community across the enemy lines during WWI. Perth, Australia: War and Peace, Barbarism and Civilisation in Modern Europe and its Empires - AAEH XXII Biennial Conference Perth, 11-14 Jul 2011. (Conference Contributions - Other)
  • Rack U. (2011) Oesterreichisch-ungarische und deutsche Polarexpeditionen zwischen 1870 und 1912. Sozialhistorische Aspekte. Oesterreich in Geschichte und Literatur mit Geographie 55(2): 109-123. (Journal Articles)
  • Rack U. (2011) Selbst wenn die Entbehrungen nach so gross sind. Entdecken und Erobern im Roemerland Carnuntum. In Bruckmueller E; Humer F (Ed.), Erobern, Entdecken, Erleben im Roemerland Carnuntum: 368-387. Schallaburg: Schallaburg Kulturbetriebsges.m.b.H. (Chapters)
  • Rack U. (2010) Fritz Loewe - from Germany to Australia with focus on his time in Melbourne. University of Adelaide, Australia: German-Australian Connections; Transnational and transcultural links between German-speaking countries and Australia, 24-25 Sep 2010. (Conference Contributions - Other)
  • Rack U. (2010) Fritz Loewe - from Germany to Australia. Oslo, Norway: Annual Antarctic Conference 2010: A Taste of the Ice. Polar Science - Global Impact, 8-12 Jun 2010. (Conference Contributions - Other)
  • Rack U. (2010) Fritz Loewe - from Germany to Australia. Universtiy of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand: Annual Antarctic Conference 2010: A Taste of the Ice, 5-7 Jul 2010. (Conference Contributions - Other)
  • Rack U. (2010) Sozialhistorische Studie zur Polarforschung anhand von deutschen und oesterreich-ungarischen Polarexpeditionen zwischen 1868 - 1939 (Social-historic study of polar exploration based on German and Austrian-Hungarian polar expeditions between 1868 - 1939). Bremerhaven: Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research. 279. (Authored Books)
  • Krause RA. and Rack U. (2006) Schiffstagebuch der Steam-Bark Groenland gefuehrt auf einer Fangreise in die Antarktis im Jahre 1873/1874 unter der Leitung von Captain Ed. Dallmann. Bremerhaven: Alfred Wegener Institut fuer Polar- und Meeresforschung. 1-175. (Authored Books)

Affiliations

  • Lyttelton Historical Museum Society (Community Organisation/NGO): Committee member, membership , http://www.lytteltonmuseum.co.nz/
  • Antarctic Society, Canterbury branch (Professional Organisation): committee member NZAS Canterbury Branch, chair from 2014-2016, http://www.antarctic.org.nz/
  • Canterbury Historical Association (CHA) (Professional Organisation): Member, Vicepresident in 2011 and President in 2012
  • New Zealand Federation of Graduate Women (NZFGW) (Community Organisation/NGO): Member
  • Canterbury History Foundation (CHF) (Professional Organisation): Member
  • New Zealand Institute of International Affairs (Professional Organisation): Member, secretary 2013-2014

Research Groups

  • Gateway Antarctica

Future Research

  • Interdisciplinary research on historic weather data
  • Investigating logbooks and diaries for weather phenomena

Key Methodologies

  • Transcription and social interpretation of handwritten records; interpretation of historic qualitative climate data
  • Archival research
  • Interdisciplinary methods
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