High Arctic Change 08

Missy Holzer has been teaching for over 20 years and currently teaches Honors Earth System Science and A.P. Environmental Science at Chatham High School in Chatham, New Jersey. Ms. Holzer believes in using hands-on, minds-on, and data driven inquiry activities as a way to promote life-long learning in her students. She enjoys field research immensely and has assisted in data collection in places such as Nicaragua, Kenya, Ecuador, Jamaica, off the coast of Chile, and Oregon. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Planning and Design and Masters degrees in Secondary Science Education and in Physical Geography. In the classroom, Ms. Holzer uses her field experiences to develop units of study that inspire students to get out and explore their natural world. Outside the classroom she enjoys learning, traveling, running, hiking, kayaking, and spending time with her nephews.

Mike Retelle is a professor at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. Dr. Retelle teaches courses that focus on Earth surface environments and records of environmental change. Dr. Retelle has been working in Svalbard since 2005 and has previously mentored numerous undergraduate students in the field through the National Science Foundation’s REU program (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) as well as three past TREC teachers. Dr. Retelle and Mr. Moore developed a collaborative working relationship even before the expedition, as Dr. Retelle is an assistant coach of the hockey team at Mr. Moore’s high school!

Dr. Steve Roof is an associate professor of earth and environmental science at Hampshire College. Professor Roof's teaching and research focus on environmental issues such as climate change, pollution, and land conservation. He and his students travel frequently to Death Valley and the Southwest for climate change field research. Professor Roof also coordinates a climate change research program in the High Arctic for undergraduate students called the "Svalbard REU." To learn more about Dr. Roof, please visit his faculty biography page (http://www.hampshire.edu/faculty/sroof.htm).

Dr. Al Werner is a professor of geology at Mt. Holyoke College. His areas of research are in geology and climate change. As a kid he was told "not to play in the mud," but now he makes a living doing just that. In his feild work across the Arctic, Dr. Werner and his students bring sediments back to the laboratory to learn more about past environmental change. To learn more about Dr. Werner, please visit his faculty biography page.