02675nas a2200241 4500008004100000245018700041210006900228260001200297300000900309490000700318520179100325653003202116653002602148653002302174653003502197653001902232653002802251100002602279700002002305700002002325700002402345856006402369 2022 eng d00aPatterns of interdisciplinary collaboration resemble biogeochemical relationships in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica: A historical social network analysis of science, 1907–20160 aPatterns of interdisciplinary collaboration resemble biogeochemi c04/2022 a80370 v413 a

Co-authorship networks can provide key insights into the production of scientific knowledge. This is particularly interesting in Antarctica, where most human activity relates to scientific research. Bibliometric studies of Antarctic science have provided a useful understanding of international and interdisciplinary collaboration, yet most research has focused on broad-scale analyses over recent time periods. Here, we take advantage of a ‘Goldilocks’ opportunity in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, an internationally important region of Antarctica and the largest ice-free region on the continent. The McMurdo Dry Valleys have attracted continuous and diverse scientific activity since 1958. It is a geographically confined region with limited access, making it possible to evaluate the influence of specific events and individuals. We trace the history of environmental science in this region using bibliometrics and social network analysis. Our results show a marked shift in focus from the geosciences to the biosciences, which mirrors wider trends in the history of science. Collaboration among individuals and academic disciplines increased through time, and the most productive scientists in the network are also the most interdisciplinary. Patterns of collaboration among disciplines resemble the biogeochemical relationships among respective landscape features, raising interesting questions about the role of the material environment in the development of scientific networks in the region, and the dynamic interaction with socio-cultural and political factors. Our focused, historical approach adds nuance to broad-scale bibliometric studies and could be applied to understanding the dynamics of scientific research in other regions of Antarctica and elsewhere.

10acritical physical geography10aenvironmental history10ahistory of science10ascience and technology studies10ascientometrics10avisual network analysis1 aChignell, Stephen, M.1 aHowkins, Adrian1 aGullett, Poppie1 aFountain, Andrew, G uhttps://polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/803702447nas a2200181 4500008004100000245007900041210006900120260001200189490000700201520187300208100002002081700002602101700002002127700002402147700001902171700002102190856005402211 2020 eng d00aA digital archive of human activity in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica0 adigital archive of human activity in the McMurdo Dry Valleys Ant c05/20200 v123 a

Over the last half century, the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV) of East Antarctica have become a globally important site for scientific research and environmental monitoring. Historical data can make important contributions to current research activities and environmental management in Antarctica but tend to be widely scattered and difficult to access. We address this need in the MDV by compiling over 5000 historical photographs, sketches, maps, oral interviews, publications, and other archival resources into an online digital archive. The data have been digitized and georeferenced using a standardized metadata structure, which enables intuitive searches and data discovery via an online interface. The ultimate aim of the archive is to create as comprehensive as possible a record of human activity in the MDV to support ongoing research, management, and conservation efforts. This is a valuable tool for scientists seeking to understand the dynamics of change in lakes, glaciers, and other physical systems, as well as humanistic inquiry into the history of the Southern Continent. In addition to providing benchmarks for understanding change over time, the data can help target field sampling for studies working under the assumption of a pristine landscape by enabling researchers to identify the date and extent of past human activities. The full database is accessible via a web browser-based interface hosted by the McMurdo Long Term Ecological Research site: http://mcmurdohistory.lternet.edu/ (last access: 5 May 2020). The complete metadata data for all resources in the database are also available at the Environmental Data Initiative: https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/6744cb28a544fda827805db123d36557 (Howkins et al., 2019).

1 aHowkins, Adrian1 aChignell, Stephen, M.1 aGullett, Poppie1 aFountain, Andrew, G1 aBrett, Melissa1 aPreciado, Evelin uhttps://www.earth-syst-sci-data.net/12/1117/2020/