Comment on the Use of the Alpha Helix for Land Based Research in Human 
Biology, Medical and Other Biological Sciences 
Although I have never taken part in any of the expeditions of the R/V 
Alpha Helix , I have had to use naval, civil government and commercial ships in 
many remote parts of the Pacific for our work on remote islands and atolls, and 
on remote shores of New Guinea. With fifteen years of experience working yearly 
with remote island populations in New Guinea, I would consider the ship 
superfluous and unnecessary for most work in New Guinea. Certainly, on the 
Australian administrated part of the island and, to a large extent, even on the 
Indonesian side, small commercial and government airstrips are so thoroughly 
spread throughout the country that they offer access to almost every human 
population group and every ecological region within brief walking, canoe or 
launch distance from an airstrip. On both sides of the island. Catholic and 
Protestant missions and small mission airlines have provided almost daily 
service from such small strips, such that a research team can get liquid 
nitrogen, microbial culture specimens, frozen tissue, fresh blood, urine, and 
even living cells in tissue culture shipments out from the hinterland to a 
larger airstrip where competent intermediaries can arrange for connecting air 
shipment within a day or two to an international airline connection. Because of 
this, we have succeeded throughout the past fifteen years, both in the Territory 
of Papua and New Guinea and in West Irian (formerly Netherlands New Guinea) in 
getting ice-cooled or frozen tissue, serum specimens and other labile biological 
specimens to major base laboratories either in New Guinea's urban centers or on 
the Australian, American or European continent. Furthermore, in almost every 
anchorage base where a ship can be stationed safely offshore there are good 
living accomodations and usually electric current. At every urban center in the 
Territory of Papua and New Guinea there are hospitals with moderately well 
equipped laboratories. By air dispatching necessary specialized equipment 
almost any modern laboratory technique can be performed, often in 
air-conditioned comfort. Portable electric generators can be purchased in the 
shops in every center for use in villages and in the field. 
This long discussion of conditions in New Guinea has been given in order 
! to make it understandable to the reader not familiar with this reputedly wild 
■ and remote area why I would disparage the use of the vessel for most land-based 
( research in New Guinea. It is truly extravagant, superfluous and unnecessary 
ij under such circumstances for all but true off-shore investigation while at sea. 
' A similar criticism could be leveled at the use of the ship in many other areas 
I where it is similarly unnecessary. I can think, however, of a few remote 
i regions of the New Guinea coast where it might be of real service in work with 
\ human populations. Yet, even there I would simply use the vessel to shuttle 
I supplies to the nearest airstrip and land based laboratory, an extravagant 
;1 expense for such an unsophisticated service. 
I would recommend, however, that the ship be used instead to provide 
, access, living accomodations and laboratory facilities and frozen storage for 
■ specimens collected in remote regions where the on-shore facilities are not 
; superior to those on the ship and where the possibility of more convenient and 
