3 June 2019 Departure Time

Journal

Departure Time

Fairbanks, AK
June 3, 2019

Photo of the Day:

Spectrum News Report — Very grateful to these students for coming out for the Spectrum News interview. Shoal Creek Greenbelt, Austin, TX.

It has been a very eventful week of outreach. Multiple news organizations were very gracious to cover my trip and the importance of climate science education.

On Saturday, I was able to speak with Niki Griswold of Spectrum News Austin about the permafrost positive feedback loop and ongoing research at Toolik Field Station in the Alaskan Arctic, where I’ll be working. Special shout out to Sarah, Sam, James, and Eli, four amazing students who sacrificed some time on a summer Saturday to help out. Here’s Niki’s story, which aired on Saturday evening.

Yesterday, I met with Luis de Leon of KVUE News at LASA High School. Luis asked some great questions about the goals of PolarTREC and my plans for bringing what I learn back to my students. Here’s Luis’s full report.

KVUE Interview — With Luis de Leon of KVUE News. LASA High School, Austin, TX.

Many thanks also to the Austin Monitor for their great story, and to LASA High School, Travis Audubon, and the UTeach Alumni Network for their promotion of my program page. One of the main goals of this experience for me is effective community outreach about climate science, and I really appreciate the support.

Yesterday evening was spent completing last minute packing, and I left for Fairbanks bright and early this morning.

Bags packed and ready — What I'm taking to Alaska. Luxury items include my spotting scope and fly rod.

Dr. Rose Cory was very kind to pick me up at the airport, along with Dr. George Kling. It was wonderful to finally meet these two, as I’ve been reading about their amazing work for the past three months. I also got to meet Katie Polik, who will be serving as a research technician for Dr. Cory, and Natasha Christman, a graduate student in Dr. Byron Crump’s lab. Being surrounded by so many smart folks has already been a very valuable experience for me.

We’re departing Fairbanks for Toolik Field Station tomorrow morning, and the afternoon today was spent loading laboratory equipment and supplies into the truck. This is a 9+ hour drive, the majority of which is along a dirt highway (the Dalton Highway), one of the most isolated and dangerous roads in the United States. I’m looking forward to it with excitement and a bit of trepidation.

Loading equipment to take to Toolik — Dr. George Kling loading equipment into the truck for tomorrow's trip north to Toolik Field Station. Toolik Field Station Logistics Office, Fairbanks, Alaska.

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Details

Author

David Walker

Date

3 June 2019

Expedition

Carbon in the Arctic

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