Exploration of the Antarctic continent did not occur until the late 1800’s, and the South Pole was first reached on December 14, 1911. Courage, planning, and technology have been the main components of Antarctic exploration from the earliest days. This classroom activity is designed to highlight the historical elements of the past 100 years of exploration in Antarctica and
President Obama recently named 102 researchers as recipients of the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers, the highest honor bestowed by the United States Government on science and engineering professionals in the early stages of their independent research careers. Researcher Samantha Hansen, who worked for two field seasons in Antarctic with PolarTREC teacher Brian DuBay will be one
This video clip from from Alabama TV 13 News profiles PolarTREC researcher Dr. Samantha Hansen's work studying the history of landforms in Antarctica. Dr. Hansen will be one of a hundred scientists to be awarded the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers.
Antarctica is the coldest, driest place on Earth with a fairly limited number of native species which have adapted to these extreme conditions over millions of years. As a result, it's not very likely that a non-native species would survive there . . . right? Actually ever since exploration and exploitation of the Antarctic region began in the 1800's
This story in Discover magazine profiles the work of the WISSARD (Whillans Ice Stream Subglacial Access Research Drilling) project team and the challenges faced by drilling thousands of feet into the West Antarctic Ice Sheet to reach a lake buried for millennia.
A poster by PolarTREC alum Dan Frost describing the integration of Arctic research into secondary education through a field season in Svalbard. It details possibilities for curriculum building and outreach through Arctic field work experience.
Article about earth science and environmental science teacher Mike LeBaron's expedition to Antarctica as part of the WISSARD project (Whillans Ice Stream Subglacial Access Research Drilling) at McMurdo Station, Antarctica.
This one hour live event is hosted by PolarTREC teacher Mike LeBaron and his team studying sub-glacial lakes and streams. The team is at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. This event was part of the December 2012 Antarctica Day celebration. The team also speaks about the importance of the Antarctic Treaty and scientific investigations.
This article in the suburban Chicago newspaper The Daily Herald, describes the WISSARD project and it's science objectives. The article highlights the work of NIU professor Dr. Ross Powell, John Winans, and graduate student Timothy Hodson.