Polar Record Inspiring the next generation of polar scientists: www.cambridge.org/pol Classroom extensions from teachers with research experiences 1 2 3 Commentary Janet Warburton , George Hademenos , Alice (Alex) Eilers-Guttensohn , Lollie Garay4 and Jillian Beth Worssam5 Cite this article: Warburton J, Hademenos G, Eilers-Guttensohn A, Garay L, and Worssam JB. 1PolarTREC, Arctic Research Consortium of the United States, 3535 College Road, Suite 101, Fairbanks, AK 99709, Inspiring the next generation of polar scientists: 2 3 Classroom extensions from teachers with USA; Richardson High School, 1250 West Belt Line Road, Richardson, TX 75080, USA; Pink Palace Museum, 3050 4 research experiences. Polar Record Central Ave, Memphis, TN 38111, USA; Baylor College of Medicine, Center for Educational Outreach, One Baylor 5 https://doi.org/10.1017/S0032247419000317 Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA and Sinagua Middle School, 3950 E Butler Ave, Flagstaff, AZ 86004, USA Received: 28 January 2018 Abstract Revised: 19 May 2019 Accepted: 13 June 2019 PolarTREC-Teachers and Researchers Exploring and Collaborating (PolarTREC) has provided the opportunity for over 160 K-12 teachers and informal science educators from the USA to Author for correspondence: work directly with scientists in the Arctic and the Antarctic. As a Teacher Research Experience George Hademenos, Email:
[email protected] (TRE), PolarTREC has engaged teachers with a unique professional development opportunity to increase their teacher content knowledge and learn about the polar regions by partnering with academic polar scientists who are conducting scientific research in the field. Stimulated by the IPY 2007–2008, PolarTREC has sent teachers on field expeditions for over a decade, and during that time has witnessed teachers not only experiencing the polar regions and bring- ing that experience back into their classrooms but also seeing their students learn more about the polar regions and become more interested in polar science.