8 January 2017 Meet the Cosray Team

This is a picture of the folks I'm working with on the CosRay Neutron Monitors at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. I don't know how to put them in order so I'll just introduce them from left to right.

On the far left is Samantha Pedek. She is an undergraduate physics major at the University of Wisconsin - River Falls. They must be doing something right down there because she knows nuclear physics a lot better than I did as an undergrad (ok ... a lot better than I do now). I think that the emphasis that UWRF places on getting undergrads into research pays off. Anyway, she is very smart and works super hard. The next person in is Jungil Jung. Jungil is a graduate student from South Korea who will be helping with the installation of the neutron monitors at Jang Bogo Station. Jungil is a very hard worker who is always willing to lend you a hand. Next is Dr. Paul Evensong (center left). He is a professor at the University of Delaware. He studies the Sun through cosmic rays. He has been deployed to Antartica 18 times. From what I can tell he is pretty much like the Yoda of Neutron Monitors. Dr. Evenson has also been very patient and thorough when answering my many questions. He is also an all-around good guy and pretty funny. Also the guy is surprisingly strong. Yesterday he picked up one of the lead weights that surround the neutron monitors... they weigh two hundred pounds. I just used a handcart. The next person over (center-right) is Dr. Jim Madsen. He has been the guy I have worked the most closely with. Jim is really one of the nicest guys I've ever met. He is always looking out for us and wants us all to get the most out of our trip to Antartica. He also wants to keep us safe and see that we enjoy our stay here. That can be difficult because we have a lot of work to do. Jim is also a bit of a cut up and often has us in stitches at dinner. The next person is just me. You probably know me. If you don't then I'm a super guy and it's your loss. The last member of our little team is Dylan Frikken. He is also a physics undergrad at UWRF. He really knows physics but has a lot of other skills that he has brought to the table. He has got a lot of hands on construction ability. His experience in the Marine Corps shows in his disciplined work ethic. He has been a real workhorse. I feel really lucky to have met all of these folks especially in a place this beautiful.