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
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 article summarizes the research of cyanobacterial mats in Lake Joyce during the 2014 field season. It describes the importance of the mats to better understand Earth history and understanding of other planetary systems. Additionally, it describes the sediment trap experiement that will conclude in the next field season.
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.
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.
For three students at Monona Grove High School and their teacher Juan Botella, science and travel are best when paired. The group recently traveled to Chile to attempt a journey to the Antarctic as part of a science trip. Along the way, the students documented their trip in detail, offering viewers a glimpse into their scientific and cultural experience.
Tune
Printed in the Herald-Independent about the Joint Antarctic School Expedition. Three MG high school students and a teacher returned on Feb. 28 from a joint expedition. Although the trip did not go as planned, it was still a cultural and learning experience for the group.
Pilot program to let U.S. high-school students experience Antarctic science at a Chilean station
http://www.polartrec.com/expeditions/joint-antarctic-school-expedition-2014
Three high-school students and a teacher from Wisconsin will participate in a joint pilot program of the U.S. and Chilean Antarctic programs that will send them to a Chilean research station this February for hands-on experience with Antarctic environments and ecosystems research.
The U.S
Programa Piloto permite a Estudiantes de High School de los Estados Unidos Aprender sobre Ciencia Antártica en una Estación de Investigación Chilena
http://www.polartrec.com/expeditions/joint-antarctic-school-expedition-2014
Tres estudiantes de bachillerato (high school) y un maestro de Wisconsin
participarán en un programa piloto de colaboración entre los programas
antárticos de los Estados Unidos y Chile, que los llevarán a una estación de
investigación