Arctic Alive! is an innovative distance-learning environment that allows students to "participate" in arctic research without ever leaving their classrooms.

Students interact with researchers in remote arctic locations by using a variety of technologies. Through these technologies and corresponding curriculum, classrooms will simultaneously investigate the Arctic, discover science careers and research this unique and exciting world right along with the experts.

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2004 Teachers & Researchers Exploring & Collaborating (TREC) Expeditions

As part of a new program to improve science education and engage the public in polar science, eleven teachers have traded their grade books for hip waders and parkas to participate in cutting-edge scientific research in remote regions of the Arctic. The teachers are paired with research teams to investigate the ocean, land, and atmosphere. The research projects are a diverse cross-section of Arctic sciences, including pollution research in Alaskan streams, snow photochemistry experiments on the Greenland ice sheet, river surveys in Siberia, and investigation into past climate change in Norway.

TREC extends beyond field experiences to encompass collaborative learning among teachers, students, researchers, and communities through internet-based virtual campfire chats, online journals, message boards, and photo albums, curriculum development, classroom activities, and “webinars”—online, real-time seminars, broadcast live.

Join TREC virtually at http://www.arcus.org/TREC/ , where you can follow the TREC teachers and researchers and find updates on TREC events and opportunities.

Eider Journey is an education and outreach program centered on issues related to conservation and management of Alaska's threatened Steller's eider population and the nearshore marine habitats on the Alaska Peninsula and eastern Aleutian Islands. The program stems from partnerships between U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the North Slope Department of Wildlife Management, the North Slop Borough School District, the National Science Foundation (Office of Polar Programs), and ARCUS. High school students from Barrow, Alaska work with biologists in both the eider's nesting and wintering areas, to develop an increased understanding of the needs of this species and the threats it faces.

To learn more about the ongoing Eider Journey program, go to the Login page and click on Eider Journey.

Snow Science took place March 24 -April 7, 2003, out of Kotzebue, Alaska. Researcher Merrick Johnston and team skied 400-miles through Northwest Alaska. Merrick's research objective was to determine how storm tracks affect contaminant loading in Northwest Alaska and to evaluate how this may vary with inter-annual weather patterns. With assistance from local students, members of the research team dug snow pits, collected snow samples, and interviewed Elders along the way. Merrick posted journal entries, photos, and responded to student questions as she traveled from village to village.

To learn more about the 2003 Snow Science expedition, go to the Login page and click on Snow Science.

The 2003 expedition, based out of Kotzebue, Alaska, occurred on April 21-25. This expedition focused on ecological change in Kotzebue Sound. The research used Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and Scientific Ecological Knowledge (SEK) to develop an ecological profile of the nearshore benthic ecosystem in Kotzebue Sound. The expedition includes full curriculum as well as archived live and online interaction with a middle-school science teacher, Amie Foster, and researchers. Amie, a Teacher Experiencing the Antarctica and Arctic (TEA) participant, worked with the researchers. This program is geared for students in 6-9th grade levels and open to all classrooms and home-school families.

All the program content (curriculum, audio conference calls, etc.) has been archived and is available for teachers to use as a resource in their classrooms.

To learn more about the 2003 Ecological Change Expedition, go to the Login page and click on the Ecological Change links.

In April 2002, we held our first "virtual field trip" outside of Barrow, Alaska. This "virtual field trip" focused on geosciences research and examined the arctic climate, pack ice and climate change. Our Arctic Alive teacher, Patrick Lovely, served as a liaison and guide, negotiating the sometimes friendly and occasionaly treacherous pack ice. This expedition took students "virtually" out on the sea ice to work with the researchers. Patrick also met and talked to elders and wildlife biologists to gain their perspectives on climate change.

The 2002 trip was piloted in selected Alaskan middle schools. Program content aligns with Alaska Content Standards and complements various state and federal school reform initiatives.

All the program content (curriculum, audio conference calls, etc.) has been archived and is available for teachers to use as a resource in their classrooms.

To learn more about the Geosciences Expedition, go to the Login page and click on the Geosciences Expedition links.