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Lake Ecosystems in Antarctica

PolarTREC Posters

Posted October 16, 2009 - 4:11am by Robert Harris

Have your classes follow PolarTREC Expeditions in the Arctic and Antarctic by creating posters.

Pond Profiles

Posted August 19, 2009 - 8:31am by Robin Ellwood

Students develop original research questions to assess the environmental conditions at a local pond (depth, temperature, light, turbidity, carbon dioxide levels, species diversity, pH, stratification (temp/light/biological) within the pond, etc. This lesson integrates the use of Probe-ware with inquiry-based methods and ecosystem dynamics.

Model Making Mania!

Posted August 17, 2009 - 10:41am by Robin Ellwood

Students create scaled models of the Taylor Valley glaciers and lakes (or any valley of your choice!). This lesson covers basic glacial features and has students reading and using Topo maps to construct a replica of Taylor Valley, Antarctica (or the valley of your choice!).

Pond Profile

Students develop original research questions to assess the environmental conditions at a local pond (depth, temperature, light, turbidity, carbon dioxide levels, species diversity, pH, stratification (temp/light/biological) within the pond, etc. This lesson integrates the use of Probe-ware with inquiry-based methods and ecosystem dynamics.

Model Making Mania

Students create scaled models of the Taylor Valley glaciers and lakes (or any valley of your choice!). This lesson covers basic glacial features and has students reading and using Topo maps to construct a replica of Taylor Valley, Antarctica (or the valley of your choice!).

Peter Doran

peter_doran_round.jpg

Peter Doran is an associate professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences and active research scientist at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is a veteran of numerous expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic studying climate and ecosystem change. Ms. Ellwood worked with Dr. Doran’s Antarctic research team in 2004.

Peter
Doran

Occupation: 

Researcher

Organization: 

University of Illinois at Chicago

Robin Ellwood

robin_round.jpg

Robin Ellwood has always had an affinity for the outdoors. Her passion for environmental systems led her to pursue a degree in Zoology from the University of New Hampshire. One of her favorite experiences was participating in a summer program at the Isles of Shoals Marine Laboratory in the Gulf of Maine where she took an Underwater Research course. This experience, coupled with her teaching experience as a SCUBA instructor, sparked a desire to become a science teacher. Upon completing a Masters Degree in Science Education, Ms. Ellwood forged a loyal relationship with Rye Junior High School in the seacoast town of Rye, New Hampshire. She has been teaching 8th grade science there ever since, and is currently working on a Ph.D. in science education. Ms. Ellwood’s goal is to bring the spirit of life-long learning to her students and to create innovative field research opportunities for students.

Robin
Ellwood

Occupation: 

Teacher

Organization: 

Rye Junior High

Classroom Antarctica

A comprehensive online teaching resource produced by the Australian Antarctic Division. It is particularly aimed at grades 5 to 8.

December 2, 2008: Home again!

After several days of missed connections and 10 hour layovers before "next available flights," I have landed back in NH! I must say that the dark nights are feeling a bit odd, but it is good to be home!

I wish to thank, one more time, Dr. Peter Doran for inviting me to join his team again this season, PolarTREC for selecting me as a representative teacher, ARCUS and NSF for funding and supporting the program, the Rye School District for its continued support, and all my family and friends for their support! It was an amazing season and I look forward to continued collaboration with Peter and continued sharing of the experience!

Don't forget, you can follow the remaining progress of ENDURANCE by tuning in to Shilpa's Blog at: http://sgulati.wordpress.com/

I will do my best to keep you all updated on ENDURANCE and the results of our Lake Hoare experiments, so keep checking back! Thanks for following along with this journey!

Missing "The Ice", but good to be home!

UNH Grad Goes to New Depths for Research Study

Posted December 2, 2008 - 1:06pm by Janet Warburton

When she goes outside, Robin Ellwood wears sunscreen to protect herself from the 24 hours of continuous daily sunlight. But in her office, filled with below-freezing water and hidden beneath 15 feet of solid ice, all she has protecting her is an insulated diving suit and, in some cases, a rubber tube providing oxygen from above.