Microbial Activity in Thawing Arctic Permafrost 2012 Resources

Mount St. Mary's College in Los Angeles profiles one of its alumni, teacher Cristina Solis who also happens to be a PolarTREC alumnus. Read about her journey to become an educator and her participation in a PolarTREC study of microbial activity in thawing arctic permafrost near Barrow, Alaska.

Overview

Students will conduct a soil study by investigating pH and water absorption.

Objectives

Students will learn: * How to describe the composition of soil and explain how it forms. * That soil is made up of tiny particles of rock, plant, and animal matter. * How to determine whether a solution is acidic, basic, or neutral. *

Overview

Students will investigate what a carbon footprint is and calculate their own personal carbon footprint. Finally, students will develop ways to reduce their carbon footprint.

Objectives

• Students will know that the principles of chemistry underlie the functioning of biological systems.
• Students will know that carbon, because of its ability to combine in many ways with

PolarTREC teacher Cristina Solis and her team presented their work on microbial activity in the tundra to junior docents at Cabrillio Marine Aquarium. This is a one hour presentation with Cristina and her research team.

Article from the Daily Breeze (Los Angeles) describes PolarTREC teacher Cristina Solis's upcoming expedition to Barrow, Alaska.

This 1 hour event is for educators interested in learning more on natural methane cycling, terrestrial methane studies in the polar regions, and Mr. Friedman's work with microbial electrochemical technologies. This event is part of the CISE online professional development course.