20 November 2012 I Wish I'd Known . . . and The Nature of Science

Confessions

As an introduction I have a confession - I wish I'd known the opportunities that I'd have here in Antarctica before I got here. If I'd had the insight that I have now, I would have built my journal entries around the categories I've listed below:

• WISSARD - my project. This is my primary focus and what I'm here to share with anyone who is reading the journal entries and asking questions.
• Antarctica - the natural world of ice, sky, and rock. This is the overpowering image of the land that totally surrounds you and leaves you in awe every day.
• McMurdo (Town) - this is a snapshot of the ways in which humans have used technology to be able to work and live in this harsh environment.
• People - this one is very broad because there are so many different people, from different backgrounds, with different interests but who have all been drawn to Antarctica because it represents one of the remaining frontiers on Earth. Listening to their stories is one of the really great benefits of being here.
• Science - It's why this station is here. The scientists, support staff, cooks, shuttle drivers, and pilots are all here because man wants to learn about the world we live in.

The Nature of Man and Science

One of the many great opportunities I have is to go to weekly presentations by the scientists and staff who are working here in Antarctica. The topics I've listened to have included WISSARD, ice core drilling, seal research and diving under the ice, and ocean acidification and it's effect on sea urchins. What's really great about this is that I not only learn new things, but I get to see science in action.

What do I mean by "seeing science in action"? It means I get to see how scientists work by sharing the results of their research and asking each other questions. Questions help people learn because a question makes you think and try to come up with an answer. If you get the right question, you start thinking differently. If you start thinking differently, you may see the problem your are trying to solve from a different viewpoint and it may open a whole new solution for you. In other words, the question you got from someone in the audience (or from your teacher) may lead you to an answer you didn't even know existed!! And the best part is that you still get to have the excitement of learning because you got to discover the answer, not have it told to you!!!! Isn't that great!!

I hope that your teachers are asking you a lot more questions than they are giving you answers for because that's how you are going to learn. It lets you be responsible for leaning and lets you "own" what you learn. You take control - not someone else. It lets you practice being a scientist, even if you are not in science class.

I am leaving you with this challenge - ask each other questions every day. Then, use those questions to help you learn about the world around you. You will not just be smarter, you will give yourself an opportunity to keep learning.