ANDRILL’s Education and Outreach Programme 2005‑2008: MIS and SMS Project Activities during the 4th IPY

Authors

L. T. Huffman, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Richard Levy, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Laura Lacy, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
D. M. Harwood, University of Nebraska at LincolnFollow
M. Berg, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
M. Cattadori, Servizio Sviluppo e Innovazione del Sistema Scolastico
J. Diamond, University of Nebraska State MuseumFollow
J. Dooley, Downes Elementary School
L. Dahlman, TERC
R. Frisch-Gleason, Bach Elementary School
J. Hubbard, ASD Education Center
R. Lehmann, Zum Weidegut
K. Mankoff, NASA GISS
V. Miller, Central Park East
K. Pound, St. Cloud State University
F. R. Rack, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
G. Scotto Di Clemente, Scuola Media L. Stefanini
A. Seigmund, Pädagogische Hochscule Heidelberg Im Neuenheimer Feld 561
J. Thomson
E. Trummel, Husmann Elementary School
R. Williams
ANDRILL-MIS Science Team
ANDRILL-SMS Science Team

Date of this Version

2008

Comments

Published in Terra Antartica, 2008-2009, 15(1), 221-235.© Terra Antartica Publication 2008-2009

Abstract

A key goal of the ANDRILL programme’s education and outreach (E&O) activities was to engage the public in, and inform it about, our scientific endeavour to uncover the behavior of Antarctica’s ice sheets over the past 20 million years. We recognized that a critical component of ANDRILL’s research effort was to ensure that our motivation, methods, and results were conveyed to non-experts in a clear and understandable manner. This effort benefited from several factors: a synergy between scientists and educators generated by the 4^th International Polar Year (IPY); the allure of the Antarctic region as one of Earth’s few remaining frontiers; a desire to understand and respond accurately to climate change discussions; and the interest of many nations and institutions to enhance science and environmental literacy in schools and across broad public audiences. In order to achieve ANDRILL’s E&O objectives, we developed a diverse range of education and outreach projects, established key partnerships with a range of informal science education outlets, implemented a communication network of educators and scientists, and sparked the curiosity and interest of students while promoting understanding and a prospect of continuing engagement. A central component of ANDRILL’s E&O activity, the on-ice ANDRILL Research Immersion for Science Educators (ARISE) programme enabled 16 science educators to participate in ANDRILL’s scientific activities and gain first-hand experience in a multi-national scientific drilling programme. ARISE participants then used knowledge gained from this experience to develop innovative and exciting learning approaches for the public. Partnerships with established teaching and learning institutions and programmes provided excellent opportunities to broadcast content to a broad audience. Interest in ANDRILL from the popular media was high and resulted in the production of several film documentaries involving ANDRILL science, audio programmes, and print articles in newspapers and journals. ANDRILL’s education and outreach materials and programmes are available at http://www.andrill.org/education.