It's absolutely incredible – what an extraordinary accolade. I'm so touched that there's a little bit of Antarctica named after me,
said Jonathan Amos after a newly formed channel in the British Antarctic Territory was named the Amos Channel in his honour, according to a report by We News.
The Amos Channel is a stretch of water situated between Rothschild Island and Alexander Island. This geographic feature appeared after a section of ice connecting the two islands disintegrated, as reported by AOL.
The name recognizes Amos for his 38-year career at BBC News. During this time, he reported extensively on polar science and climate change.
Naming the Amos Channel
The UK Antarctic Place Names Committee recommended the designation. This organization oversees names for sites within the British Antarctic Territory, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. BBC News reports that naming conventions in Antarctica follow strict rules to avoid duplication and ensure historical significance.
The committee honored Amos for his work in bringing Antarctic research to public attention. Amos has reported on the region for decades, though he has not yet visited the continent in person.
Scientific Community Response
Athena Dinar of the British Antarctic Survey praised the veteran journalist. She stated that Amos’s enthusiasm for Antarctica and his engaging journalism offered something valuable for every reader, viewer, or listener.
Dinar called the geographic recognition a fitting tribute to his contribution to promoting Antarctic research. Fiona Fox from the Science Media Centre added that Amos consistently explained the societal and environmental implications of polar work. Fox noted that he explained the specific science conducted in Antarctica and why those developments matter for climate understanding and the global environment.
Career Achievements of Jonathan Amos
Amos began his career in 1986 as a local radio reporter in Cambridge. In 1997, he joined the team that launched the BBC News website. He managed the online science desk for many years before working as a science correspondent across television, radio, and online platforms. He departed the organisation in 2024.
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1986 | Joined the BBC as a local radio reporter in Cambridge |
| 1997 | Joined the launch team for the BBC News website and ran the online science desk |
| 2024 | Left the BBC after serving as a science correspondent across TV, radio, and online |
Amos covered major polar events throughout his tenure. His reporting included melting ice sheets, colossal icebergs, the fate of penguin colonies, and a BBC exclusive on the discovery of explorer Ernest Shackleton’s lost ship, the Endurance.
Reflecting on the new geographical feature, Amos remarked: while the designation serves as quite the incentive to finally travel south, Antarctica remains on the front line of climate change.