If you've been following along on our expedition through these journals, or the photo gallery, you may be wondering, "Who are these people?"In the Overview tab, you found out about me, the PolarTREC teacher, and Ross Powell and Julie Brigham-Grette, the researchers. But not about the REU students. Go back to the Overview tab, and you'll see this photo:
Mike Rhinard, Hector Zamora, Julie Brigham-Grette, Theo Barnhart, Laura Kehrl, Laura Poppick, Hannah Marshburn, Phaedra Tinder, and Ross Powell
You'll also be introduced to Hector, Theo, Laura K, Laura P, Hannah, & Phaedra.
Now, why are they here?
These 6 students are undergraduate college students from various colleges and universities across the U.S. This "High Arctic Change" expedition is part of the "Svalbard REU" program. (REU is an acronym for: Research Experience for Undergraduates.)
Each of them is taking on one or more specific aspects of the research we are doing. The samples and data they are collecting will help them to develop a senior thesis project. Each of them will work on the information collected here, in Svalbard, back at their respective schools, working closely with their advisors over the next 2 semesters. In April, each of them will present their final projects at the 40th International Arctic Research Workshop, in Boulder, CO, coordinated by INSTAAR.
What a great "hands-on" experience for future geoscience* researchers! And, quite possibly future "polar" geoscience researchers.
In upcoming journals you will get to know each of these students a little better. You'll also get to see the science they are doing. That's right, they are "doing" science, not just learning about it in a classroom. And that's the best way to learn . . . by doing. And it is fun! Have you seen the photo gallery?
So check in again to find out what each REU student is up to.
see *Project Vocabulary under Overview tab.