Exploratorium: Ice Stories: Dispatches from Polar Scientists

Exploratorium: Ice Stories: Dispatches from Polar Scientists: "Dispatches from Polar Scientists Welcome to Ice Stories: Dispatches from Polar Scientists, where you'll meet penguin biologists, glaciologists, cosmologists, geologists, and marine scientists working in Antarctica and the Arctic. We've given them cameras and asked them to document their adventures, in real time, so you can follow their research, ask questions, and share in their discoveries as they occur. This experiment, in celebration of the International Polar Year (2007-08), gives you an up-close-and-personal look at research in extreme environments through the thoughts and experiences of the scientists working there. We'll post their photos, videos, and blogs on this site."

Live from IPY event with PolarTREC teacher, Craig Kasemodel 20 March,

Celebrate the International Polar Year! Join us for a Live from IPY event with PolarTREC teacher, Craig Kasemodel on 20 March, 2008. To learn more about Live from IPY events and to register for this event, go to: http://www.polartrec.com/live-from-ipy/overview ************************************************************************ March 20, 2008, Live from IPY with PolarTREC teacher Craig Kasemodel and researchers aboard the USCGC Healy, in the Bering Sea. Event starts at 9:00AM Alaska Daylight Time [7AM HDT, 10AM PDT, 11AM MDT, 12PM CDT, 1PM EDT]. To learn more about Live from IPY events and to register for this event, go to: http://www.polartrec.com/live-from-ipy/overview Craig Kasemodel is a science and technology teacher at the Central Middle School of Science in Anchorage, Alaska. Craig is aboard the USCGC Healy in the Bering Sea. He is with a diverse team of researchers participating in the first of three research cruises this spring and summer aboard the USCGC Healy in support of the Bering Sea Ecosystem Study (BEST) and the Bering Sea Integrated Ecosystem Research Program (BSIERP). Scientists onboard the ship are documenting late winter ocean conditions, studying the biological communities found in sea ice, examining the early spring plankton bloom, and investigating light penetration through open water and ice cover. Additionally, researchers are examining the benthic communities living on the seafloor as will as observing an important benthic predator, the walrus. To learn more about the research aboard the Healy, visit the project pages at: http://www.polartrec.com/bering-ecosystem-change Janet Warburton PolarTREC Education Project Manager Arctic Research Consortium of the United States (ARCUS) 3535 College Road, Suite #101 Fairbanks, AK U.S.A. 99709-3710 Phone: 907-474-1600, ext. 612 Fax: 907-474-1604 Email: warburton@arcus.org Websites: http://www.arcus.org; http://www.polartrec.com

Middle and High School Teacher IPY Opportunity

Middle and High School Teacher Opportunity International Polar Year: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Polar Connections University of Massachusetts Amherst 14-18 July 2008 Application Deadline: Tuesday, 1 April 2008 For further information, please go to: http://www.umassk12.net/ipy -------------------- Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and University of Massachusetts Amherst, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Polar Connections is designed to promote the teaching of science concepts and processes related to the polar regions and to emphasize connections to state and national science standards in middle and high schools. This unique teacher opportunity features a week-long program at University of Massachusetts Amherst, which focuses on current science research in the polar regions and makes connections to school science curriculums. The program will address the rapid changes occurring in the physical environment, the corresponding impact on the biosphere, and the history and politics of the polar regions. During the program participants will preview the curriculum materials and draft a plan for incorporating them into the classroom. Online discussion forums will be held during the academic year to facilitate collaborative efforts between participants and university faculty. Teachers can earn Professional Development Points (PDPs) for participation in this program, and three graduate credits will be available at a reduced cost. Housing, meals, and travel reimbursement will be provided for those who live outside the commuting area. In addition to a $375 USD stipend, participants will receive various materials, a materials budget, and funds to support their dissemination efforts. To apply, teachers must prepare a narrative statement on how they plan to use the information from this seminar in the classroom, as well as how and where they will disseminate knowledge about the study of polar regions within the school, school district, and community. Applicants must include a resume and letter of support from the school principal or superintendent. The application package can be submitted by e-mail, fax, or regular mail, but should be received by Tuesday, 1 April 2008. Late applications will be accepted on a space available basis. The program is sponsored by the STEM Education Institute and the Climate System Research Center (CSRC), and is designed for teachers of middle and high school science, math, and technology. For more information and application forms, please go to: http://www.umassk12.net/ipy or contact: E-mail: ipy@umassk12.net Phone: 413-545-0734 Fax: 413-545-3697

Beyond Penguins Magazine and Blog

From the Beyond Penguins organization: I'd like to announce a new, free online magazine for educators called Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears! While our primary audience is elementary (grades K-5 in the U.S.) educators, there is content that is of interest others as well. Our first issue of the magazine is live and can be explored at http://beyondpenguins.nsdl.org/. From this homepage, click on "Issue One" to begin exploring. Our magazine includes 5 departments with a wide variety of content. Here are a few highlights from the March issue: Read about a researcher who used remote sensing to create some of the most accurate images of Antarctica Learn about the Arctic and Antarctica and the differences between them Read about the research-based strategy of identifying similarities and differences Find lesson plans and activities to teach these concepts to your students Read about common misconceptions held about polar geography Find children's literature titles to use in your classroom Read poetry written by students in Anchorage, AK Print expository (informational) books for your students to read We also have a blog (http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/polar/) that provides a great deal of current news, professional opportunities, and lessons and activities. The blog is also a place for you to share comments and ideas about the magazine. Please check out the issue, and pass the information to your colleagues if you feel moved to do so. Our second issue, about fossils and the geologic history of the polar regions, will be available on April 1. You can contact me at this email or at my work: fries-gaither. 1@osu.edu. I welcome questions and comments! Thank you! Jessica Fries-Gaither --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~

POLAR-PALOOZA's "Stories from a Changing Planet"

POLAR-PALOOZA's "Stories from a Changing Planet" at National Geographic in Washington, DC on 13 March - 14 March, 2008 For more information, visit the website at <http://passporttoknowledge.com/polar-palooza/pp04.php> or contact Erna Akuginow . ********************************** Earth's Poles are changing rapidly and midway through the 4th International Polar Year (which runs from March 2007 through March 2009), there is widespread public interest in how our planet's most remote regions affect global climate. Important questions remain about how fast change will come, and how great will be the worldwide - and regional - impacts. The national POLAR-PALOOZA education and outreach project, supported by both NSF and NASA, begins its 2008 season with events at National Geographic in Washington, DC, on March 13th and 14th, in the Grosvenor Auditorium, 16th and M Streets, N.W. POLAR-PALOOZA's mission is "To Connect the Poles to the Planet", and to allow the general public and students to interact in person with researchers who have lived and worked in the Arctic and Antarctic. Three free student presentations for area youngsters take place on Thursday and Friday, and are already full. An evening presentation for the general public at 7:30 p.m. Thursday March 13th still has seats available. Please call 202.857.7700 and mention this e-mail for discounted tickets which include free parking. "Stories from a Changing Planet" is a dynamic multimedia presentation featuring new HD video from both the Arctic and Antarctic, authentic artifacts such as a section of ice core from Greenland more than 110,000 years old, along with some of America's leading polar experts: RICHARD ALLEY, glaciologist, Penn State University, and a contributor to the recent IPPC reports JACKIE RICHTER-MENGE, sea ice researcher and engineer, CRREL, and lead author of "The State of the Arctic" MIKE CASTELLINI, a marine biologist, UA Fairbanks, who has studied seals in both the North and the South RICHARD GLENN, geologist, whaling captain, and vice president of lands at the Native-owned Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, and president of BASC, the Barrow Arctic Science Consortium. Joining them for the evening presentation: WALEED ABDALATI, head of the Cryospheric Sciences Branch at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center ANDY REVKIN, environment reporter, The New York Times and author of "The North Pole was Here." Revkin will moderate the evening event and a follow-up Question and Answer session with all panelists, after which the audience will have an opportunity for informal interaction with the presenters, and to examine the artifacts, including the section of GISP ice core, up close and personal. TEACHER WORKSHOP A free workshop, targeted at middle and high school science teachers, is offered at National Geographic from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m., Thursday March 13th. Light refreshments will be served and a few places may still be available. To inquire and/or register, please see: <http://www.ngsednet.org/community/showcase_view.cfm?community_id=482&sh owcase_id=1027> The POLAR-PALOOZA tour continues in April 2008 in Norman OK, and Salt Lake City UT, before moving on to Anchorage and Fairbanks AK, and Raleigh NC, in May. All dates and additional host cities for Fall 2008 (such as Denver, Cleveland, Boise, Chicago, Richmond, Houston and more) may be found at: <http://passporttoknowledge.com/polar-palooza/pp04.php> DOWNLOADABLE VIDEO PODCASTS Recent videos added to the growing library of IPY podcasts include a mini-series on the Norwegian-US Scientific Traverse of East Antarctica, one of whose main goals is to provide ground truth for satellite observations. Please see THE TRAVERSE BEGINS and INTO THE HEART OF WHITENESS at: <http://passporttoknowledge.com/polar-palooza/pp06.php>

IPY Science Day, 12 March 2008

Celebrate the International Polar Year (IPY) and virtually join researchers on IPY Science Day, 12 March 2008! Interact with researcher conducting research in the Arctic and Antarctic. These are real-time, interactive events where you can ask questions and view photos! Anyone can register for these events and participation is free! For more information about PolarTREC or to register for Live from IPY events, visit http://www.polartrec.com Or contact Janet Warburton or Kristin Timm or call the Arctic Research Consortium of the United States (ARCUS) at 907-474-1600 *********************************************** Live From IPY Event Information *********************************************** You may register for this live events at: http://www.polartrec.com/live-from-ipy/overview 12 March is IPY Science Day, focusing on Changing Earth; Past, Present, and Future. The IPY Science Day on March 12th will focus on change over geological time, especially the glacial and interglacial periods that have occurred during the past million years, and cycles of ocean- atmosphere interactions that give rise to regional climate variations on scales of decades to centuries. Understanding these processes, and the science projects that investigate them, is critical in order to put recent human- induced climate change into context. Join the Live from IPY event on 12 March and talk to researchers in the Arctic and Antarctic conducting research that relates to changing earth. Event starts at 9:00 AM Alaska Standard Time [8:00AM HST, 10:00AM PST, 11AM MST, 12PM CST, 1PM EST]. Register for this live event at: http://www.polartrec.com/live-from-ipy/overview