In a “March Madness” game of survival of the fittest, will your microbe and its genes survive the test of changing conditions on Planet Earth and beyond? Students choose genes from a “toolbox” and pit their microbe against their classmates’, using critical thinking and argument writing to determine the microbe with the best chance of success. Based on PolarTREC
Analogs are used in science investigations to better understand systems we can’t access ourselves. In this lesson, students explore the Dry Valleys of Antarctica to better understand microbial communities on early Earth and what might have been possible on ancient Mars. Students will examine photographs, written descriptions, and artistic renderings of early Earth, the Dry Valley lakes, and
On 6 October 2014, Capital Public Radio in Sacramento, CA interviewed Dawn Sumner, Tyler Mackey and Lucy Coleman on connections between the research in Lake Joyce, Antarctica, and work by the Mars Curiosity rover. To listen to the interview, click here.
Students will use the TAMMNET project and accompanying PolarTREC resources to learn about seismology in the Antarctic, culminating in the creation of an annotated map using google maps.
Objective:
Students will understand the different ways mountain ranges are formed, and appreciate the questions unanswered about the Transantarctic Mountains. Students will also appreciate the ingenuity required for doing research in
Wilderness Research Foundation (USA) has developed two teaching modules based on a project we conducted in the Antarctic Peninsula in January 2010. They're available free for any educator interested in reviewing them for classroom use. The project concerned the collection of soil samples for the potential corroboration of a new conception of the carbon cycle. The principal investigator
Join the International Sun Shadows Project! - Pupils and teachers all over the world will join forces to measure the shadows of a 1m long stick.
Participation in the project is free and open to all! Teachers, students and scientists from around the world are encouraged to join in and make their own measurements and enter the data
This PolarConnect live event is a one hour presentation by PolarTREC teacher Michael League and the research team studying Adaptations of Marine Worms in Antarctica. The team covers field logistics, what they have found, and what the next step is in the scientific process.
This PolarConnect Event was with teacher Michael League and a team of researchers in Antarctica. They are looking at adaptations of marine worms. The event focused on adaptations and biomes. Length: approximately one hour
This PolarConnect Event was with teacher Michael League and a team of researchers in Antarctica. They are looking at adaptations of marine worms. The presentation was given a part of a teacher training in energy curriculum. Length: approximately one hour.
We go places, but what do we do with the billions of snippets of information we absorb? How do we process the information so that it means something to us when we can no longer be there? As a geographer, my objective was to be able to observe, participate and categorize the billions of pieces of visual information