Whitehouse Scientific Team Returns from the Snows of Saskatchewan

Whitehouse Scientific’s Graham Rideal and Jamie Storey returned from the adventure of a lifetime braving the snows of Saskatchewan with a deep sense of respect for the forests of Northern Canada. Following their successful bid in Terry Wogan’s Children in Need auction on the Radio 2 breakfast show, the intrepid duo spent three days with expert Ray Mears in near-arctic conditions learning both the art of survival and the consequences of environmental pollution.

Graham Rideal tells his story; “When we arrived at Prince Albert National Park, Saskatchewan, a few hundred miles south of the Arctic band, we were met by strong winds at minus 25 degrees Celsius. The feeling of being totally alone, miles from civilisation with no man-made sound to be heard, was a truly amazing experience and quite difficult to put into words.

“Ray Mears explained to us that the forest was not merely a collection of trees but a collection of friends, each of which could supply us with all we needed for survival in this hostile climate, not just in the short term but for the survival of the world as we know it. When valleys are flooded for hydroelectric power, the standing trees diffuse absorbed pollutants back into the water which then enters the food chain. This has devastating effects on wildlife and the human population. “I have many unforgettable memories from this trip, not least of which was spotting a highly elusive black wolf. But, the overall conclusion from this remarkable experience was a deep
understanding that we tamper with the balance of nature at our peril.”

Both scientists by profession, Managing Director, Graham Rideal and Lab Manager, Jamie Storey, are also heavily involved in children’s and young people’s activities. Graham teaches science in local primary schools while Jamie runs a detachment of army cadets. Whitehouse Scientific is now one of the world’s leading suppliers of precision glass microspheres for calibration and is celebrating 25 years in business this year.