Since Kathy Huczko, technical
project manager for NGEE Arctic was a member of the team that designed the EESD
trailer, we volunteered to set-up a display that would provide an opportunity
for students of all ages to gain first-hand experience with frozen soils or
permafrost from the north of the Arctic Circle. The “Arctic in a Mason Jar”
display was specifically developed with the idea that students would learn
where the Arctic was located (i.e., a long ways from where they live), how
field scientists obtain permafrost cores, and how laboratory researchers
measure greenhouse gases (e.g., carbon dioxide and methane) that are produced
from thawing permafrost. I was fortunate to have Taniya Roy-Chowdhury help put
this display together and then have her talk people through the various aspects
of the display. Taniya participated with our team last April in coring samples
from the Barrow Environmental Observatory (BEO), outside Barrow, Alaska. She is
also doing the laboratory research as part of her post-doctoral studies at ORNL
so Taniya had no trouble conveying the underlying science to people in way they
could easily understand. Feedback was positive and we had a great time showing
everyone this unique aspect of the project.
Taniya and I will take our
experience with ORNL staff and continue to modify the display to best interest
students in topics that are relevant to Arctic ecosystems. Taniya and I agreed
that we want to make science fun and informative for everyone regardless of
age. Based on our experience at the Fall Festival, we took a positive step in
that direction.
