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Update from Allan Miller - back in Alaska

Guest's picture
Submitted by Guest on November 16, 2007 - 11:57am.

Hard to believe that just a year ago I was prepping to head off to Punta Arenas to begin the Oden Expedition.  My family and I are resettled back in Soldotna, Alaska - having wrapped up my year with National Science Foundation as an Einstein Fellow.  For the next two years I will be working as a Statewide Mentor, partnering with 15 first / second year teachers to provide them with whatever assistance they can use to help them have a solid start to their new career.  It's an exciting opportunity with great challenges - I'm matched with teachers in schools ranging from the largest high school in the state to a tiny Yupik indian village that can only be reached by boat or snowmachine - definitely draws on my years of teaching and creativity to be able to offer support that is useful and appropriate.  This group has been really receptive to ideas related to PolarTREC and IPY - several are looking forward to sharing some Antarctic science with their students through this seasons expeditions. 

I've continued to stay connected with International Polar Year in a number of capacities.  I've been invited to speak in a variety of venues about K-12 IPY Opportunities:  in Perth, Australia this summer at the International Council for the Advancement of Science Education Conference, on an NSTA Web Seminar, at the Alaska Science Teacher's Association conference, for the Dept. of Education's Teacher to Teacher Workshop in Anchorage, and in several teachers classrooms around the state.  I'm just wrapping up an article for the January 2008 NSTA Science Teacher magazine that will also highlight ways for teachers to connect with IPY, including PolarTREC.   If there is anyway I could give a teacher or school out there some support - please do not hesitate to get in touch with me.  Easiest way would be by email at:    allan.miller@email.alaska.edu

My mailing address is: 

Allan Miller, Alaska Statewide Mentor Program

PO Box 148

Soldotna, Alaska  99669 

 

address

Guest's picture
Submitted by Guest on November 16, 2007 - 5:02am.

I am writing to Alan Miller.  This is John Musgrove, from Soldotna, Alaska, who is working in Ukraine.

Do you have a current e-mail address or mailing address so that Sasha & Yulia Zibarov can send you their prayer letters. 

our e-mails are:

 johnukraine@yahoo.com

zibaroff@freemail.ru

 

Please respond if you get this,

thanks,

John Musgrove 

 

 

IDK !!!

Guest's picture
Submitted by Guest on November 13, 2007 - 8:03am.

How funn r u having their J/W  ?

Story from Peninsula Clarion 1/27

This is a great story giving some background about Dave Carey, who I wrote about in one of my journals. I thought many of you would enjoy some more information about his family in this well written article from our local Alaskan paper. Allan

Story of Lt. David M. Carey put to rest in Antarctica
Cold case

Photo of Oden at McMurdo Ice Pier

This was my last view of the Oden - looking out from the Our Lady of the Snows memorial at the ship with 12 miles of fast ice up to 15 feet thick separating it from McMurdo Station.

Oden approaching McMurdo

Here's a map of what the crew has been trying to accomplish for the past two weeks.

Dec 28 - How do you get off the ice?

I've traveled through lots of airports in my life - but NZIR, or the McMurdo Station Icerunway is now definitely one of my favorites. Orlando may have it's monorails and Dulles has those cool transports with the killer whale dorsal fins - but check out the transport system in Antarctica.

Ivan the Terra Bus

Dec 28 The cost of exploration


In 8th grade, my favorite teacher of all time, Mr. Slusarski - the crazy Pole, introduced us to the incredible story of the Endurance expedition. For 30 years since, Ernest Shackleton has been my hero, the leader who overcame seemingly insurmountable odds –never giving up in his quest to bring back every man alive.

Dec. 27 McMurdo Station - Old Friends and Science

We reached McMurdo Station at about 10 AM and only had four hours until we had to gather ourselves at the transport center to catch a ride out to Willy Field - the ice runway.  As I look back it might be the richest four hours of the entire trip - full of sights and sounds that I'll never forget.  This was the first face to greet me at McMurdo -

Erik and Allan at McMurdo

Jan 7 - Note from the Oden

I received this note from First Mate Ola Andersson - letting us know that they have completed the ice channel all the way to McMurdo and are actually enjoying some down time at the station. Here is the ice pier that he is talking about - and as soon as I receive a copy from him of the Oden here I'll post that as well. This pier is just ice with layers of dirt mixed in, made over the past two months by hauling material onto the ice, compacting it and adding layers of water until it was actually several feet above the level of the fastice around it. Then they've hauled in the moorings and gangplanks to turn it into a pier. This is where the cargo ships and the fuel tanker will dock to unload.

Jan 7 - Mrs. Chippy back home

Just thought that I'd let you know that I also have arrived back home in good shape after my Antarctic adventure - and am making up for any lack of time with children by being spoiled rotten by the Mr. Miller's three children!

Mrs. Chippy back home too

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