Polar Science Investigations (Sci-I) Project

sci-icoolroomphoto

Some of the Polar-ICE Sci-I Project 2016 participating teachers (left to right): Tom Grych, Jennifer Smolyn, Dolores Taylor, Carolyn Laymon, Kimberly Kellam, Kelly Terry, Denise Hardoy, Sue Morrow, Stacia Lothian; and Dr. Bridgette Clarkston (co-facilitator, California State University, Monterey Bay) touring the RU COOL lab.

The Polar ICE Science Investigations (Sci-I) Project was designed to increase skills in designing and conducting open-ended science investigations as well as analyzing and interpreting online data in alignment with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) through the lens of polar science for both educators and students.

The Sci-I Project focused on students in grades 6-9 and on broadening participation in STEM. The project, which was active from 2015-2018, focused on partnering with school districts that served communities predominately underserved in STEM.

If you would like to recreate the Sci-I program in your school, we encourage you to check out our Sci-I Project Development & Implementation Guide.

The Student Polar Research Symposium was the culminating event of the Sci-I Project designed to facilitate student exchange of ideas and findings about the Polar Regions. Students were empowered as science communicators and peer educators through a scientific poster session and panel discussion with Polar scientists. For more, check out our video documentary.

Components of the Sci-I Project

Teachers investigating graphs on a table

1) Professional Development for Educators (Summer)

Participating educators explored polar science, real world data, and the process of developing an open-ended science investigation during the summer workshop.

Educators interacted over a four day Professional development program with polar scientists and engaged in open-ended science investigations to learn themselves and to explore how to effectively lead students in designing, developing, and conducting polar science investigations. Two educators from each school worked together to co-develop their plan for the school year.

See Chapter 3 Summer Educator Workshop in the guide for more information and resources that we used.

2) Student Investigations (Fall)

Students presenting a poster at a Polar Science Research Symposium
Student teams design and conduct investigations using real world polar data to answer their own questions from the data.

During the year, students conducted their own open-ended, student-developed investigations using authentic, real world, online polar data. Students were empowered to develop testable questions and an inquiry-based scientific investigation that built upon their knowledge of the process of science. Students developed scientific posters to communicate their results.

Students learned:

  • How to take a question they have about the polar regions and make it into a testable question
  • How to write a Research proposal, like scientists do!
  • Collections of research datasets to utilize in the investigations

Students also learned about the importance of communicating their science to their peers in preparation for the student polar science research symposium.

See Chapter 5 Mini-Proposals in the guide for more information and resources and student activities that we shared with teachers.

3) Polar Student Research Symposium (Spring)

Students presenting a poster at a Polar Science Research Symposium
Students presented their results and findings to polar scientists and to one another at the Student Polar Research Symposium culminating event.

Scientists travel to professional conferences to present their research to peers, so should students! Each year, students participating in the Sci-I project presented the results of their open-ended science, using online real world polar data, investigations to polar scientists and one another.

The top groups from each Sci-I Project school presented their science posters at the SPRS Poster Session. Members of the presenting group rotated through presenting on their investigation and observing other students’ investigations. Similar to a real professional conference, at least one participating scientist, educator, and a group of students were assigned to review each poster. The agenda was developed to ensure that each reviewer would be able to spend roughly 10 minutes at each poster they were reviewing.

Sample Agenda for a SPRS:
9:45a – 10:10a : Arrival, Check-in, and Set-up posters
10:15a – 10:35a : Scientist introductions
10:45a – 11:45a : Poster Session – students, teachers, and scientists visited posters to learn about the investigations
11:45a – 12:15p : Lunch *Schools brought their own lunches*
12:15p – 12:30p : Poster Session reflection
12:30p – 1:00p : Scientist panel to answer student

Sci-I Poster Guidance

  • Poster Requirements:
    • The poster had to include the following sections: 1) title and author names, 2) concept for the investigation, 3) question(s) of the observations you will make as part of your investigation, 4) explanation of methods of testing the question(s), 5) graphs or images of results, 6) description of results, and 7) description of what the results mean for your lives and for the oceans.
    • Content on the poster about the students investigation could be written or visual, but had to convey to the audience the scientific process.
    • All posters had to be original and could not contain content that was inappropriate for general audiences.
    • Posters had to comply with copyright rules and regulations. Sources of information and materials used was to be properly acknowledged and credited on the poster.
    • The Polar-ICE (black or blue) and National Science Foundation (NSF) logo were included on all posters.
  • Poster Format:
    • All posters were tri-fold.
    • Paint, pen and ink, crayon, markers, etc. were all accepted when creating the poster.
  • Additional Information:

See Chapter 6 Student Research Symposium in the guide for more information and resources that we used during the events.

Previous Student Polar Research Symposiums

  • Cohort 2016-17
    • February 24, 2017: California State University – Monterey Bay, Seaside, CA
    • June 8, 2017: Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
  • Cohort 2017-18
    • March 1, 2018: Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
    • March 8, 2018: The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
    • March 15, 2018: California State University – Monterey Bay, Seaside, CA
    • June 5, 2018: Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ