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
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR):
Seeing Below the Surface While Keeping Scientists Safe
Overview
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is a valuable technology that utilizes waves of low frequency electromagnetic radiation to help polar scientists understand what is beneath their feet! Using real field data from the Icelandic glacier Múlajökull, along with a small selection of short videos and web-based resources
The report is written by teacher participants upon return from their field expedition portion of the PolarTREC program. It summarizes the benefit of the expedition to the teacher, a description of activities, and a summary of how teachers plan to link this experience in classrooms and communities. This is a public document that will be posted in teacher portfolios and
This lesson allows learners to analyze and evaluate how the science of climate change and global warming are portrayed in various online media outlets.
Objectives
* Students will be able to analyze and evaluate the written structure that an author uses when writing about the science of climate change and global warming.
* Students will be able
This article highlights microbial communities in Lake Untersee, Antarctica and their connection with astrobiology. These communities are similiar to those in Lake Joyce in many ways.
Here is a great interview with Dr. Iverson on Iowa Public Radio. He gives an excellent overview of the research, why he has chosen Mulajokull as a location, and the significance of understanding glacial mechanics and movement in light of global climate change.
Read this online interview with PolarTREC teacher Jamie Esler for a snapshot of his cool summer plans. Mr. Esler will be joining polar researchers Dr. Neal Iverson and Dr. Thomas Hooyer, and Scandinavian colleagues, in a remote location of Iceland for three weeks for his PolarTREC Expedition. The team will be conducting research on drumlins, a unique type of glacial