The Science of the PolarTREC “Sliding Glaciers” Expedition
PolarTREC (Teachers and Researchers Exploring and Collaborating) is a program in which educators from the United States, both formal and informal (i.e. educators in museums, science centers, etc.) spend 3-6 weeks participating in hands-on field research experiences in the polar regions. The goal of PolarTREC is to invigorate polar science education and
PolarTREC teacher and Rutgers University Geology Museum Director, Dr. Lauren Neitzke Adamo featured in a news release in Rutgers Today and EOAS Website.
Article about Dr. Lauren Neitzke Adamo, co-director of the Rutgers University Geology Museum, and her upcoming expedition through PolarTREC, in the Swiss Alps to study the impact on glacier melting.
This activity works best for students who don't have a lot of lab experience and learn best through hands on activities. It allows them to not only investigate an aspect of global warming (rising sea levels), they will also get practice with making predictions and writing a hypothesis as well as understanding basic scientific concepts such as water
This presentation is designed to supplement an eighth grade science unit on polar ice but could easily be used for other audiences. The presentation covers the differences between ice in the Arctic and Antarctica, how ice affects salinity, temperature and currents, an exploration of various ice types and a summary of current research efforts to study polar ice.
Jeanine Gelhaus
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.