What an incredible few weeks I have had! The pluck ended earlier this week after eight days of carefully removing plants from earth. Eight days and fourteen people sitting around a table working from 9:00 am to at least 5:00 pm, if not later. The plants were then put in one of six scientific ovens to remove any moisture. This allows for an accurate biomass weight.
![Plants in Oven](/files/resize/members/svea-anderson/images/p8100193-500x333.jpg "This is one of the ovens used to "bake" the plants to remove moisture.")
This week we have sent most of the volunteers home so the lab is back to just a skeleton crew. I have been weighing plant samples and entering data.
Once the samples have been weighed, they are put carefully in a box and will be shipped back to Dr. Bret-Harte's lab at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks.
My time here in Toolik has been an incredible opportunity for me to see science in action and to be part of the process. These few weeks in the field and in the lab have offered me reflection time on my own teaching practices and ideas for improvement, which has been the greatest opportunity. I am grateful.
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