A Polar Ambassador is one of the twenty students in grades 9-12 at State College Area High School who are helping me spread the word about polar science. My expedition to Palmer Station Antarctica is fast approaching and the Polar Ambassadors have been working hard to help me increase awareness about the research I'll be involved with while I'm there.
Me and the Polar Ambassadors at Park Forest Middle School
Polar Ambassadors logo designed by Claire Placky
The Polar Ambassadors have been meeting with me on Thursdays after school since September to read about and discuss polar science and ocean acidification. During our meetings, we have developed hands-on lesson plans for middle school students in the State College Area School District. To date, the Polar Ambassadors have taught a lesson about ocean acidification to over 300 eighth grade students at Park Forest Middle School and are planning to teach elementary students in the near future.
Eighth graders at Park Forest Middle School
A PFMS student with Polar Ambassadors Emily, Pratiti and Mila
Dr. Amsler, a chemical ecologist, will be visiting State High on January 12th and 13th in order to meet the Polar Ambassadors and to talk with science, math, social studies and English classes about ocean acidification, the focus of his research, a topic not widely understood by the general public. While most people are aware of the causes and effects of climate change, fewer realize that fossil fuel emissions have caused a significant change in the ocean's acidity since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. The more acidic the ocean becomes, the more difficult it is for many marine animals to survive. Ocean acidification impacts a variety of organisms including plankton, bivalves, coral, sea stars and sea urchins and can be detrimental to entire marine ecosystems.
Polar Ambassadors Maddy and Anna