Norway - A Place to Practice!
Norway, like the UK, was wet. The rain on ice was slippery and they had to wear crampons all the time. Sleeping in tents felt like floating on a li-lo in a swimming pool but cooler! But teachers Phil Avery, Ruth Hollinger, Ian Richardson and Amy Rogers said they found it a lot of fun and it helped them to visualise what a normal day is going to be like in the Antarctic.
In the preparations for their expedition in November, the four teachers, carried out their science projects, tested their communications systems with the outside world and managed to be rescued from the crevasses they had climbed into. Amy thought that the greatest success was being able to send back communications from the field. ‘It felt very strange tapping on a laptop in the middle of a glacier and knowing that we would be able to communicate with our pupils whilst we are away.’
So now they are prepared for the big experiment – science on ice – when the Fuchs Foundation Antarctic Expedition goes to the Ellsworth Mountains 80 degrees South.
‘Its fantastic to see in real life examples of landforms and processes that I so regularly try to get students to understand from text books’ said Ruth who wants to personally take her students to show them what she experienced.
The teachers were extremely enthusiastic about their last training week and they found it an important time to bond or to ‘rub along’ comfortably with their tent mates. The process of filming and being interviewed about the expedition by Brook Lapping for Teachers TV made them reflect on the whole experience in a way which was very helpful. ‘Time is something that we tend to be pretty short of as teachers and the week gave us plenty’ commented Ian.
Phil described the trip as ‘the start line for our Antarctic Expedition. Up until now we’ve been warming up by fundraising, buying kit and planning research projects. Now, we are focused on the detail of conducting science in extreme conditions and on the dangers, discomforts and delights of heading South’.
ENDS
Contact:
Ann Fuchs, 01455 202370, email: ann@fuchsfoundation.org
Editor’s Notes
The Fuchs Foundation Antarctic Expedition 2007 celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the successfully completed Commonwealth Trans Antarctic Expedition, lead by Sir Vivian Fuchs. This expedition is the first of a series of scientific expeditions to be sent by the Foundation to the Polar Regions; the second is to the Arctic in 2009.
The Expedition Members are:
Philip Avery is KS3 coordinator for geography at Oxted School, Oxted.
Project: Temperature Torture
To cope with extreme cold should you be fat or fit? Lunching on lard or Weetabix?
Clothed in cotton or Gore Tex?
To cope with extreme cold should you be fat or fit? Lunching on lard or Weetabix?
Clothed in cotton or Gore Tex?
Phil will be trying to understand how humans survive temperatures as low as -90c (plus wind chill of course!). The team will be lending their bodies to the study and while surviving in Antarctica will have their faces and hands regularly plunged into iced water to see if it really does cause the heart rate to slow. The ice will not be the only thing that is blue!
Ruth Hollinger is a geography teacher at Tapton School, Sheffield
Project: Take only photographs, leave only footprints, and tread lightly on the earth.
An ecological footprint is the measure of consumption of resources. It is calculated in terms of the total area of land required per person to meet their food, energy, raw material, water and wastewater disposal needs. The larger the footprint, the larger the impact. What impact will the Fuchs Foundation Teachers Expedition make?
An ecological footprint is the measure of consumption of resources. It is calculated in terms of the total area of land required per person to meet their food, energy, raw material, water and wastewater disposal needs. The larger the footprint, the larger the impact. What impact will the Fuchs Foundation Teachers Expedition make?
Project: Funky Fieldwork – A Virtual Fieldtrip to Union Glacier
In addition glaciological work will be undertaken on the Union Glacier measuring its characteristics and global warming. All results will be set up in a virtual fieldtrip.
In addition glaciological work will be undertaken on the Union Glacier measuring its characteristics and global warming. All results will be set up in a virtual fieldtrip.
Amy Rogers is a science teacher at Higham Lane School, Nuneaton
Project: Naked in Antarctica (and loving it)
Lichens are one of the only living organisms that have adapted to survive the extreme conditions of the Antarctic continent. They are also extremely sensitive to environmental pollution and potentially can be used as bio-indicators for atmospheric changes resulting from human activity. The aim is to collect lichens and investigate their ecology in areas of Antarctica where they have not previously been studied.
Lichens are one of the only living organisms that have adapted to survive the extreme conditions of the Antarctic continent. They are also extremely sensitive to environmental pollution and potentially can be used as bio-indicators for atmospheric changes resulting from human activity. The aim is to collect lichens and investigate their ecology in areas of Antarctica where they have not previously been studied.
Ian Richardson is Head of Biology, Freman College, Buntingford, Hertfordshire.
Project: There’s No Way to Degrade a Tardigrade!
Ian’s project aims to study the remarkable microfauna of the Ellsworth Mountains.
The qualities needed to survive the extraordinary environmental conditions of the inner reaches of the Antarctic continent are shown by a unique collection of microscopic organisms. Among them are the strange and cuddly tardigrades (or ‘Water Bears’). These creatures can enter a remarkable state of suspended animation called cryptobiosis, in which they can endure the most punishing temperatures with apparent ease. There are at least three species unique to the Ellsworth Mountains and we know little about them. Who knows what else we might find?
Ian’s project aims to study the remarkable microfauna of the Ellsworth Mountains.
The qualities needed to survive the extraordinary environmental conditions of the inner reaches of the Antarctic continent are shown by a unique collection of microscopic organisms. Among them are the strange and cuddly tardigrades (or ‘Water Bears’). These creatures can enter a remarkable state of suspended animation called cryptobiosis, in which they can endure the most punishing temperatures with apparent ease. There are at least three species unique to the Ellsworth Mountains and we know little about them. Who knows what else we might find?
Websites
www.fuchsfoundation.org
www.hollinger.edublogs.org
www.teacheronice.com
www.antarctic-teacher.co.uk
http://rogers.edublogs.org
www.hollinger.edublogs.org
www.teacheronice.com
www.antarctic-teacher.co.uk
http://rogers.edublogs.org
Page last modified: 27th Apr 2009 - 11:26:12