2025 Palmer LTER Video Teleconferences

A classroom participates in a live video call with researchers in Antarctica

Educators: Join Polar Scientists on a Research Expedition to Palmer Station, Antarctica 

We are recruiting 12-18 educators and their students to participate in the 2025 LTER field season in Antarctica! This unique opportunity will immerse students in the fascinating world of Antarctic food web ecology and demonstrate how scientists are using long-term experiments to study climate change. 

 Through this program, students will: 

  • Explore Antarctic ecology through classroom lessons 
  • Follow real-time scientific discoveries via social media 
  • Participate in a live Video Teleconference (VTC) with scientists in Antarctica! 

This hands-on experience aligns with NGSS science practices, including planning and conducting investigations, data analysis, modeling, and asking testable questions. Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to engage with science at the cutting edge! 

The 2025 Palmer LTER VTC program flyer and schedule.

How does it work?

Requirements for Participation: 

1) Professional Development

  • Each educator will attend a research team meeting with scientists and educators via Zoom on December 12, 2024, 6 pm-7:30 pm ET/3:00-4:30 pm PT.

2) Classroom Lessons

  • Integrate several activities from our Data to the Rescue: Penguins Need Our Help! into your classroom teaching to help prepare students for your call.
  • Optionally, you can also include materials from the following programs
    • ID Antarctica: A collection of mystery images taken by Antarctic researcher Andrew Corso. Each image includes a dichotomous key to hep students practice their skills in identifying critters living in Antarctica.
    • When Whale I see you again? Join the whale research team in their work to track migrating humpback whales with this Data Nugget.

3) Video Teleconference with Antarctica

  • Each educator will participate in a test video call prior to their scheduled call with Palmer Station. 
  • Submit 10 questions from your students. Questions are due 48 hours in advance of the call.
  • Each school will get one 30-minute call shared with 2-3 other schools.

4) Evaluation

  • Students will be asked to fill out pre and post surveys to help us measure the impact of the program.  Educators will need to collect student/parent consent forms. 

How do I Apply?

Complete this online application by December 6, 2024 (Deadline Extended!)

Apply today

Educators will be notified by December 9, 2024 of their acceptance into the program. 

How can I learn more?

Check out the 2025 Palmer LTER VTC program flyer for the full VTC schedule.

You can alas review out our archive of past Palmer LTER classroom video teleconferences to see how the calls work.

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