8 February 2016 PolarTREC Orientation Update

It is a true honor to have been chosen for the PolarTREC Program. I love polar science and the fact that I am able to visit the Arctic is a dream come true. I am so excited to be visiting the Toolik Research Field Station in Northern Alaska and working with Dr. Kling and Dr. Crump on their “Microbial Changes in Arctic Freshwaters” Project. I am looking forward to translating their research and having my 2500 K-12 students participate in my research project. Traveling to Alaska was a bit of a long all day trek that included a seven hour layover in Seattle but I am very excited to be with all the new PolarTREC teachers here in Fairbanks. The first day of orientation was great and had a lot of essential information on the expectations of each of our PolarTREC adventures. I have so many ideas of outreach and I can’t wait for the rest of the week to hear more from alumni and hopefully inspire more ways of expanding my PolarTREC impact. I look forward to receiving feedback on my current ideas and seeing what resources are out there when I am planning the logistics for executing my ideas.

Science Experiments in Fairbanks, Alaska

Ice Fog

This experiment requested by one of my YSP students. Throwing Hot versus Cold water in really cold temperatures. This experiment was executed in Fairbanks at 7 AM in a temperature of -24C.

The hot water freezes- changes from a liquid to a solid- as soon as it comes into contact with the cold air. Thats why the water appears like mist; its no longer water but many many tiny ice crystals.

Bubbles in Freezing Temperatures

This experiment was recommended by PolarTREC teacher Regina Brinker. She gave me a bubble solution and I blew it in -24C here in Fairbanks, Alaska.

It took about a minute or so for the bubble solution to swirl and the liquid to crystalize. As the thin layer of bubble solution froze, it became like celofane. Very thin paper. The bubble didn’t pop when touched, but ripped instead.

## Aurora Borealis I saw Northern Lights for the second time in my life! They were amazing and went across the sky.