cultures that lived in the areas around Camp and afterwards through public Digging Science: My the Sea of Okhotsk. The islands range outreach. from a sub-Arctic climate in the north to During the field season, I worked Summer in the Kuril a nearly temperate climate in the south. with each of the teams--geology, They also vary in size and accessibility archaeology and palynology (the Islands and could have served as a route to study of pollen)--spending about a Beringia by early peoples. For all of week focusing on each discipline. I by Misty Nikula these reasons, they provide quickly learned that scientific an excellent “laboratory” disciplines have different for studying how approaches. For Daily, unpredictable Zodiac rides to early cultures may example, geologists and from fog-enshrouded beaches, have adapted dig many holes steep terraces scaled with a 25-pound to, impacted as deep and backpack, a hundred holes excavated, and been quickly as many over a meter deep, then filled affected by their possible, while back in, and over a thousand samples environment. archaeologists collected, all in an isolated corner of In this first dig holes in Russia: this was my summer as a field season, slow, careful TREC participant. It has left a lasting the researchers steps, sifting impression on my students, my wanted to make and sorting teaching and me. preliminary through the The Teachers and Researchers-- investigations dirt as they Exploring and Collaborating program, on as many of go. Each group appropriately called TREC for short, the over 20 major was interested, is funded by the National Science islands as possible however, in how Foundation and managed by the and to gather their preliminary Arctic Research Consortium of the samples that could Matt Walsh, Misty Nikula and Dena Berkey findings matched United States. TREC’s main goal is to be used to correlate (L-R) at Berezovka on Iturup Island. Photo: up with those of advance science education through time periods and Mike Etnier the other groups. teacher research experiences in the pinpoint cultural Correlating Arctic. When I was invited to join an occupations between sites. During archaeological and geological evidence interdisciplinary team of scientists from five weeks aboard the Gipanis, a at each location was crucial, so we the United States, Russia and Japan 50-meter Russian vessel, teams began working in cross-discipline as they studied the Kuril Islands visited over 30 field sites on 14 teams. I was not the only one Follow in the Russian Far East islands, collecting samples enthusiastically learning new areas of along as 36 during July and August last from archaeological and science and methods! teachers explore summer, I jumped at the geological excavations, In addition to fieldwork, I assisted both poles this year chance. taking lake sediment with lab work back on the ship. Each as part of the new Dr. Ben Fitzhugh cores, and measuring night, we drew geologic section PolarTREC program. (University of Washington, topographic profiles. descriptions, calculated and graphed http://www. Anthropology) is the These samples and topographic profiles, and labeled and polartrec.com principal investigator for other geologic and climate catalogued archaeological samples. The Kuril Biocomplexity information will be used to There was more than enough work to Project (KBP). KBP aims to determine the most promising sites go around! better understand the interaction for more extensive field research during All of these activities gave me between the peoples, ecology, climate the next two summer field seasons. plenty of material to write about for and geology over roughly the past 5000 My job as a teacher on the project the TREC Virtual Base Camp. I kept years within the Kuril Island chain, was twofold--first, to contribute an Internet journal and answered which stretches between Hokkaido to and learn about the scientific questions posted by students and the Island in Japan and Kamchatka endeavors of the project and second, public--all through an excruciatingly Peninsula in Russia. In pre-historic to communicate the science and my slow satellite phone connection! times the islands were settled by the experiences to my class, other classes In addition to describing and Jomon, Epi-Jomon and Ainu peoples, and to the public both during the field explaining the science work, I tried as well as by other hunter-gatherer season through the TREC Virtual Base DIGGING SCIENCE continued on page 2 Page 

Continued from page  and curriculum to convey what life was like on the development. ship. With often more than 50 people Over the summer, following a regimented and yet my students unpredictable daily routine while living avidly followed in cramped spaces with no common my adventures language and dramatic cultural through the TREC differences, life aboard the Gipanis Virtual Base was frequently comical and sometimes Camp, reading frustrating. The Americans were and summarizing amused by the Russian penchant for the scientific salvage (a heavy, rusted freezer was activities and picked up from the beach at our first posting questions. stop and lashed to the aft deck for the Throughout this rest of the voyage), and for fishing--the school year, they decks, engine rooms, control rooms continue to learn and any spare spaces were liberally more about the strung with drying fish. science and the The Russians, in turn, had difficulty scientists. Bre understanding American eating habits. MacInnes and Beth Why did we need to carry lunches with Martin, geology us to the work site (which might be 1-2 graduate students km from our drop site) instead of just at the University stopping work and heading back to the of Washington, beach for a hot meal from the ship each recently helped day? Several missed noon meals were my students make followed by the cook’s dirty looks for topographic profiles A map of the Kuril Islands, located north of Hokkaido Island and the next few days as we took extra food of the playground, south of Kamchatka Peninsula. Image: Magellan Geographix from the breakfast table “just-in-case.” simulating some of In the end, we resolved the conflict and our activities in the the cook sent lunch to shore with us. Kuril Islands. I am conducting guest By the end of the expedition, everyone lessons in other classrooms on “How to generally agreed that it was a success- be an Archaeologist,” where students -both culturally and scientifically. study unknown objects, deciding if Since my return from Russia, they are made by nature or humans, I have worked on translating my and then use their observations and experience and KBP science work experience to support their conclusions, for other teachers, students and the just as “real” archaeologists do. I public through presentations, lessons continue to actively seek out additional venues to present “Travelogues” of my experience--telling stories and showing Bre MacInnes, third from left, works with pictures of my scientific adventure. Whatcom Day Academy Middle School Probably my most ambitious students to measure a topographic profile undertaking, however, is the development of a multi-unit, integrated of their playground. Photo: Misty Nikula biocomplexity science curriculum. I envision a curriculum incorporating My summer in the Kuril Islands has geology, weather and climate studies, reinforced my conviction and further archaeology, anthropology and enhanced my ability to convey it to my zooarchaeology as well as integrating students through connections with the language arts and mathematics. I activities of “real” scientists--which, in recently submitted a proposal to train their eyes, includes me. teachers in the curriculum at a national teacher’s conference. Misty Nikula is the Middle School I firmly believe that science is Science and Math Teacher at Misty Nikula and Beth Martin (L-R) work both a dynamic body of knowledge Whatcom Day Academy, Bellingham, to expose the stratigraphy along a road and a process for learning about the Washington, where she has worked for cut at Golovnina on the southern tip of natural world. This philosophy infuses the past 9 years. Kunashir Island. Photo: Jody Bourgeois my classroom and my instruction. Page 

The Warmest Place on when Ed bakes chocolate chip cookies over a fishing boat bound in ice, its for us Kyli and I consider signing on blazing lights illuminating sled tracks to Earth by Susan Zager with the Air Force. and from. We’re told the vessel is used We get to know a second new for wintertime fish processing; when the Two hours into the 6-hour flight from friend, Luca DiLiberto, over coffee ice releases it in spring, it will head to Baltimore to , , on Sunday afternoon as Ed gives market. a stomach virus takes hold of me and lessons in Danish billiards. Luca, a is a metropolis compared to I’m miserable. When we researcher from Savissivik; about 600 people live here. finally land and the door the University There’s a school, church, retirement opens, I rejoice at the shock of Roma, has home, satellite dish for cell phone and of fresh, cold air and head been operating television, and a lovely place to stay: directly to my room and to the LiDAR for PI Hotel Qaanaaq. Hans Jensen, who runs bed. And so my first trip to the Giovanni Muscari the hotel with his wife Bertie, meets us at Arctic in 2007 begins with a Kyli Olson, Col. Ed Fienga and at Thule since the airport and takes us into town. Hans resounding whimper. Susan Zager at the Top of the December (the is quite possibly the friendliest person I arrive at Thule with two World Club. laser requires I’ve ever met, making hotel-keeping agendas: to give new darkness). an ideal VPR staffer Kyli Olson a contextual Apologizing for his English and then vocational perspective of her work in the Denver proceeding with perfect grammar, Luca calling. office, and to lay is animated as he talks about polar The hotel Thule is the Dept. the groundwork research and the prospect of returning is small and of Defense’s for the 2007 field to Thule next year. “It’s the best,” Luca perfect, and northernmost base season. We have says. we sample at approximately several projects in some of 76° N. Lat. Its the area, including Bertie’s baking Susan and Hans Jensen missions are to the continuing before taking track satellite orbits Jeff Welker/ a tour of town with Hans. Qaanaaq, and continously Ron Sletten with its colorful houses in neat rows, monitor the skies biocomplexity looks out onto icebergs and islands, and for incoming project, the new children play outdoors bundled head threats. Scaled Steve Oberbauer/ to toe in the twilight. Again, our feet back from a peak Jeff Welker ITEX are on the ground for too short a time, population of (International and Hans and Qaanaaq shrink into the 10,000 during the Tundra distance. Cold War, Thule is Experiment), The passenger we have taken currently home to and the new Luca DiLiberto with the LiDar (L); Kyli on on in Qaanaaq speaks to us in about 600 USAF Roger Barry/ her first helicopter ride (R). incomprehensible English, but with staff and support Shari Gearheard perfectly comprehensible excitement contractors. The human/sea-ice And then the highlight of the trip: and happiness: he is going home. As we base presents a dynamics project. hitching along on the hover over tiny Moriusaq, I see the black unique opportunity And so our days helicopter as it makes trips to silhouettes of 11 people and 8 dogs for NSF are filled with Savissivik, Qaanaaq, and Moriusaq. coming to greet the helo. The passenger researchers: its meetings to renew Savissivik, a village of approximately disembarks, is enveloped by the crowd, infrastructure offers old acquaintances 60 people, is the first stop. We fly 45 and walks into the darkness toward town private rooms, a as well as to minutes southeast along the coast in with a small child holding each hand. dining hall, a store, connect with new the 9am moonlight. The gray landscape The others turn back, waving wildly as vehicles, and an people. passes beneath us; snow makes fluid we rise, and I have the perfect mental AirGreenland Bell The first new the transitions between sea ice, rock, photo of Greenland to take home with 212 helicopter for person we meet is islands and mountains. me. transportation into Base Commander The twinkling lights of Savissivik the field. Find out Colonel Ed come into view, so impossibly located more about Thule Fienga. Ed is at the edge of the Earth. I take in at http://www.thule. warm and quick- the shadowy landscape: a mountain af.mil/ witted and we are perched on an island, its slope into immediate fans. the sea interrupted by a small belly He reminds me of on which Savissivik sits. We’re on the a small-town mayor: proud of his people ground for only a moment. A few sled and proud of the base, and the focal dog barks emanate from the darkness point for issues large and small, on duty of Savissivik; everything else remains Sleepy Moriusaq in the mid-day twilight or not. But quality of character aside, hidden. Then we’re off again, swooping Page 

The VPR Alaska staff spent January looking ahead to what promises to be Summit Station a busy spring. Among other efforts, January was bitter cold and stormy Matt Irinaga conducted experiments up on Greenland’s apex, with to determine the efficacy of various temperatures dropping into the –70s. Toolik looks like a lonely place this de-icing techniques (see photo below). Biting winds made outside work difficult Broader impacts: results will be used winter. Photo: Jason Neely (but not impossible!) to complete. to prevent ice buildup on various Blowing snow obscured the first sunrise remote imaging systems, like the Ivotuk to pin down support requirements, webcam. including Alex Huryn (Marine Biological of the year from the team’s view for Laboratory), whose new year-round two days; but “it was an amazing study (biological activity in a perennial moment” when they finally spied the spring) really ramps up at Ivishak Hot golden circle on Tuesday, 30 January, Spring in March. manager Kathy Young reported. Later this spring, VPR will collaborate The team launched extra balloons for with the University of Washington the European-lead Match campaign, to support a group of researchers which coordinates ozone-sampling working from a Navy sea-ice camp in the Beaufort Sea. Up to 30 scientists activities at participating stations and 10 camp staff will spend about around the Arctic during the campaign two weeks at the camp after the Navy season. The goal is to sample parcels The de-icing experiment. completes its training. A group led of air more than once (in an effort to Larry Levin spent several days in by Jennifer Hutchings (University better understand the complicated the field. At theSag River DOT site, of Alaska) will study the dynamic chemical reactions that lead to ozone he replaced a failed computer and component of sea-ice mass balance. loss). In addition to launching balloons upgraded the Starband modem and Another group, led by Max Coon at very specific times for the Match wireless network in support of various (Northwest Research Associates), will campaign, Andrea Isgro and Sonja hydrology studies led by Doug Kane collect information for an ice-motion Wolter deployed others specifically in modeling theory they are developing; and/or Larry Hinzman of the Water support of NOAA’s effort to sample their field team will include a high- and Environmental Research Center early spring stratospheric ozone (University of Alaska). He also stopped school student selected competitively for the work. For more information, concentrations. They’ve also been at Toolik Field Station to assist with preparing for the phase 3 crew, due on a 2000-hour service and water pump (including a comprehensive project list) Friday, February 9. replacement on the 50 kW generator. visit the Applied Physics Laboratory Ice Several scientists visited the staff Station 2007 website. GREENLAND continued on page 5

Postcard from Mark Begnaud’s been up in Kangerlussuaq working on a “long list of items” to prepare the Greenland hub for spring research support. He sent this note late last month. You wouldn’t have known it was winter when we arrived last Tuesday (January 23). The week before Basse Vængtoft (KISS facility manager) reported they’d had a lot of snow this year and snowmobiling was really good. But as we flew in we noticed the snow was all but gone. It was +51F when we landed, freaky warm for this time of year, and the snow had turned into deep puddles. But it’s cooled off again and the wet streets and puddles are now ice-skating rinks. Lots of slips and trips. It’s light enough to see (if dimly) from about 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM, and it’s improving every day. It’s commercial hunting season right now, so there are lots of dead musk ox being hauled around on sleds. The hunters plan to take up to 1000 animals this year. They’ll process the Kangerlussuaq, January 22, 2007. Photo: Ed Stockard meat here and ship it out to and beyond for sale. Page 

continued from page 4 SRI’s John Kelly helms a new study of the aurora based in Resolute Bay, After a two-week turnover, the team Cornwallis Island, Nunavut, Canada. will split up and most will head south: The experiment should provide insight Kathy to Hawaii via Arizona; Shannon to space weather events, which can Zellerhoff to her husband and the ski “This is real, this is real, this is real,” disrupt satellite signals. slopes in Washington; Sonja Wolter says Richard B. Alley (Pennsylvania to her Colorado home and the relative State University) about climate change The House of Representatives comforts of NOAA’s Boulder facility. As in this article co-authored by Andrew approved Joint Resolution 20 on 1 a testament to her stamina and/or to Revkin in The New York Times (may February, which proposes to fund FY 2007 budget items left unfinished how smoothly phase 2 went, Andrea require free subscription). Results show by the last Congress. The bill, which Isgro will remain behind to tend the global climate change is underway, an assessment regarded as “unequivocal” is expected to be passed by the by the United Nations-created Senate, should be presented to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate President before 15 February, when Change in its summary report released the continuing resolution (now funding on Friday, February 2. Reached by government activities at 2006 levels) consensus among the panel’s scientists expires. (themselves an international body of leading experts), the report also offers 90 percent certainty that recent warming is caused largely by human activities. Read the UN press release.

Bucking the trend, Iceland is Jill Ferris, Operations Manager Adrea Isgro shows off her baking skills experiencing the thickest pack ice in the Big House kitchen. in decades this winter, frustrating Field Notes production team: commercial fishers and giving rise to Oversight: Diana Garcia-Lavigne concerns that polar bears may make station’s science for another phase. Writing/Editing: Kip Rithner unwelcome visits. Layout/Writing: Susan Zager In spite of enduring such dark and stormy conditions at Summit, the phase Power up those PDAs! Stanford VPR is the logistics provider to the 2 crew seems in exceptional spirits. University hosts its Third Annual Polar National Science Foundation’s Arctic VPR Summit operations manager Technology Conference, this year at Sciences Division in the Office of Polar Sandy Starkweather notes that the SRI in Menlo Park, California, April 26 Programs. Opinions, findings, conclu- team shared a “sense of celebration” and 27. sions, or recommendations expressed and a fierce work ethic: “In all of their herein do not necessarily reflect the work, it is obvious to me that they want views of the NSF. to leave Summit in better shape than Field Notes is published weekly from they found it and overall to bring camp May to September, and monthly other- to the next level of organization. They wise. Our thanks to those who provide are all overachievers and I know we news updates, photos, story ideas, and encouragement. Send feedback/sugges- will be implementing their ideas for tions to: [email protected]. seasons to come.” Thanks to Joe McConnell & Liz Morris for photos on page 1 banner. Keep up-to-date Ivory Gull. Photo by Stuart Tingley on your Field Notes! Subscribe An ivory gull, a rare sea bird potentially to the VECO to be added to the endangered species Polar Resources list, was found dead along a road in the southern Yukon, far from its home newsletter here. in the high Arctic. Species population has been declining drastically in recent years, perhaps because the bird feeds and nests on sea-ice.