HR: 09:32h
AN: ED21B-07
TI: From the Ice Sheet at Summit, Greenland to the Earth Science Classroom: Science Research in the Arctic Applied in Middle School Science.
AU: * Dodds, J
EM: doddsjo@tfsd.k12.id.us
AF: O'Leary Junior High School, 2350 Elizabeth Blvd, Twin Falls, ID 83301, United States
AU: Albert, M
EM: Mary.R.Albert@erdc.usace.army.mil
AF: Cold Regions Research and Engineering Lab, 72 Lyme Rd, Hanover, NH 03755-1290, United States
AU: Lefer, B
EM: barrylefer@gmail.com
AF: University of Houston, 312 SR01 Dept. of Geosciences, 4800 Calhoun Rd, Houston, TX 77204-5007, United States
AB: My selection for the NSF funded 2007 Polar TREC project provided the opportunity to become a member of a core drilling and processing research science team at Summit, Greenland. Polar TREC is an educational research experience in which K-12 teachers participate in polar research, working closely with scientists as a pathway to improving science education. I was chosen to participate in the research project on the Greenland ice cap which examined the air trapped in firn for clues to past climates. The unique characteristics of firn allow the sampling of large quantities of pre- industrial air to explore anthropogenic effects on the atmosphere. While in the field, the team conducted a variety measurements of physical parameters of snow; post-field analysis of the data will enable a better understanding of past climates and the impact of human activity on the Earth's atmosphere. I was also able to participate in atmospheric chemistry research as the team measured nitrogen oxide, hydrocarbons, sun intensity, ozone, and bromides. During the time in which I was at Summit, my students in Twin Falls followed my work via the PolarTrec website. I posted daily journals, answered emails submitted by students and teachers, and posted images of our work and daily life at Summit Camp. We had several webinars with schools world-wide in which students and teachers interacted with the research team. My students followed other PolarTrec teachers in their expeditions in the Artic in the spring and will continue to track other teachers while they participate in polar research. In my Earth Science classes we will be using methods of inquiry to study stratigraphy, density, porosity and permeability. Students will also use a pyranometer to collect and analyze sun intensity data, sharing this data with other schools collecting similar data.
UR: http://www.polartrec.org
DE: 0724 Ice cores (4932)
DE: 0805 Elementary and secondary education
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting