Palmer LTER School Videoconference Archive
What is it like to do research on the ice? Find out in our series of archived video teleconferences between students and scientists at the Palmer LTER Station in Antarctica.
These calls were made possible as part of the Schoolyard LTER program and were supported by the National Science Foundation.
2026
| #1 February 12, 2026 Palmer LTER graduate student Mya Sharpe and field technician Abby Tomita answered questions about their research on phytoplankton, krill and penguins and what it’s like to work and live at Palmer Station with students from Newton HS (Newton, NJ), Woodbridge HS (Woodbridge, NJ), Collier HS (Wickatunk, NJ), Middletown HS North (Middletown, NJ), Egg Harbor Township HS (Egg Harbor Township, NJ), and Salem County Vocational Technical School (Woodstown, NJ) in this live video teleconference from Palmer Station, Antarctica on February 12, 2026. |
| #2 February 19, 2026 Palmer LTER postdoctoral associate Shavonna Bent and graduate student Mya Sharpe answered questions about their research on phytoplankton, krill and penguins and what it’s like to work and live at Palmer Station with students from Hansen Elementary School (Cedar Falls, IA), STEM Academy (Kalamazoo, MI), Pine Grove School (Rowley, MA), Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy (Kenner, LA), Creativity Challenge Community (Denver, CO), Pennington Elementary School (Nashville, TN), and Roosevelt Elementary School (Olympia, WA) in this live video teleconference from Palmer Station, Antarctica on February 19, 2026. |
| #3 February 25, 2026 Palmer LTER field technicians Abby Tomita and Charlotte Bramich answered questions about their work at Palmer Station with students from Long Beach Island Elementary School (Surf City, NJ), Giannini MS (San Francisco, CA), Lopatcong MS (Phillipsburg, NJ), Paterson Public School 5 / Passaic County 4-H (Wayne, NJ), East Allegheny HS (North Versailles, PA), Neptune MS (Neptune, NJ), and Alexander Batcho Intermediate School / Manville HS (Manville, NJ) in this live video teleconference from Palmer Station, Antarctica on February 25, 2026. |
| #4 February 26, 2026 Palmer LTER postdoctoral associate Shavonna Bent and field technician Abby Tomita answered questions about their research on phytoplankton, krill and penguins, and what it’s like to live and work at Palmer Station with students from Matawan Regional HS (Aberdeen, NJ), Poolesville HS (Poolesville, MD), Spotswood HS (Spotswood, NJ), Watchung Hills Regional HS (Warren, NJ), Vestavia Hills HS (Vestavia Hills, AL), Ambridge Area School District (Ambridge, PA), and West Side HS (Newark, NJ) in this live video teleconference from Palmer Station, Antarctica on February 26, 2026. |
| #5 March 3, 2026 Palmer LTER graduate student Mya Sharpe and field technician Charlotte Bramich answered questions about their research on phytoplankton and penguins and what it’s like to work at Palmer Station with students from Science Park HS (Newark, NJ), North Bergen HS (North Bergen, NJ), William L. Dickinson HS (Jersey City, NJ), and Vernon Township HS (Glenwood, NJ) in this live video teleconference from Palmer Station, Antarctica on March 3, 2026. |
| #6 March 7, 2026 Palmer LTER postdoctoral associate Shavonna Bent and field technician Charlotte Bramich answered questions about their research in the coastal waters off Antarctica and what it’s like to live and work at Palmer Station with New Jersey 4-H club members from Cape May, Somerset and Warren counties in this live video teleconference from Palmer Station, Antarctica on March 7, 2026. |
2025
| #1 Live from Palmer Station Antarctica – January 23, 2025 Palmer LTER graduate students Maya Thomas and Mya Sharpe answered questions about their research on penguins, zooplankton and phytoplankton with students from New Millennium Academy (Brooklyn Center, MN), Tequesta Trace Middle School (Broward County, FL), Lincoln Middle School (Kearny, NJ), and Neptune Middle School (Neptune, NJ) in this live video teleconference from Palmer Station, Antarctica on January 23, 2025. |
| #2 Live from Palmer Station Antarctica – February 7, 2025 Palmer LTER graduate student and scientist Mya Sharpe answered questions about living and doing science in Antarctica and her research on microscopic phytoplankton with students from Vintage Magnet School (North Hills, CA), Watchung Elementary School (Montclair, NJ), Long Beach Island Grade School (Long Beach Island, NJ), and Lopatcong Middle School (Phillipsburg, NJ) in this live video teleconference from Palmer Station, Antarctica on February 7, 2025. |
| #3 Live from Palmer Station Antarctica – February 13, 2025 Palmer LTER graduate student Maya Thomas and field technician Abby Tomita answered questions about their life and research work on penguins and zooplankton at the station with students from Minuteman Technical High School (Lexington, VA), Ulster BOCES (Port Ewen, NY), Alexander Batcho Intermediate School (Manville, NJ) and AP Giannini Middle School (San Francisco, CA) in this live video teleconference from Palmer Station, Antarctica on February 13, 2025. |
| #4 Live from Palmer Station Antarctica – February 20, 2025 Palmer LTER graduate student Mya Sharpe answered questions about her research on phytoplankton and penguins and what it’s like to live and work in Antarctica, with students from Thomas Starr King Middle School (Los Angeles, CA), Assumption Regional Catholic School (Galloway, NJ) and Sparta Middle School (Sparta, NJ) in this live video teleconference from Palmer Station, Antarctica on February 20, 2025. |
| #5 Live from Palmer Station Antarctica – February 27, 2025 Palmer LTER graduate student Maya Thomas answered questions about her research on zooplankton, climate change and what it’s like to work and live at Palmer Station with students from Kearny High School (Kearny, NJ), Vestavia Hills High School (Vestavia Hills, AL), and Billingsley High School (Prattville, AL) in this live video teleconference from Palmer Station, Antarctica on February 27, 2025. |
| #6 Live from Palmer Station Antarctica – March 1, 2025 Palmer LTER graduate students Maya Thomas and Mya Sharpe answered questions about their research on penguins, zooplankton, and phytoplankton with New Jersey 4-H club members from Somerset, Union, Cape May, Atlantic, and Warren counties in this live video teleconference from Palmer Station, Antarctica on March 1, 2025. |
2023
| #1 Seabirds Live VTC from Palmer Station LTER – January 26, 2023 Palmer LTER scientist Dr. Megan Cimino, and fellow birders Helena Dodge and Darren Roberts answered questions about Sea Birds with students from Mirror Lake Middle School (Anchorage, AK), North Slope Borough School District (Utqiaġvik, AK), and Lincoln Middle School (Kearny, NJ) in this live video teleconference from Palmer Station, Antarctica on January 26, 2023. |
| #2 Seabirds Live VTC from Palmer Station LTER – February 2, 2023 Palmer LTER scientist Dr. Megan Cimino, and fellow birders Megan Roberts and Darren Roberts answered questions about Sea Birds with students from Quincy Innovation Academy (Quincy, WA), New Millennium Academy (Brooklyn Center, MN), and Collier High School (Monmouth County, NJ) in this live video teleconference from Palmer Station, Antarctica on February 2, 2023. |
| #3 Whales Live VTC from Palmer Station LTER – February 7, 2023 Palmer LTER researcher Ross Nichols and graduate student Arianna Torello answered questions about whales with students from Northeast High School (Philadelphia, PA), NLC Elementary (Americus, KS), and Whitehall Middle School (Montague, MI) in this live video teleconference from Palmer Station, Antarctica on February 7, 2023. |
| #4 Whales Live VTC from Palmer Station LTER – February 21, 2023 Palmer LTER researcher Ross Nichols and graduate student Arianna Torello answered questions about whales with students from Randolph Middle School (Randolph, NJ), Hansen Elementary School (Cedar Falls, IA), and Watchung School (Montclair, NJ) in this live video teleconference from Palmer Station, Antarctica on February 21, 2023. |
| #5 I.D. Antarctica Live VTC from Palmer Station LTER – February 23, 2023 Palmer LTER graduate students Andrew Corso and Maya Thomas answered questions about the mystery creatures of Antarctica with students from Bayonne High School (Bayonne, NJ), Alexander Batcho Intermediate School (Manville, NJ), and Booneville Elementary School (Booneville, AR) in this live video teleconference from Palmer Station, Antarctica on February 23, 2023. |
| #6 I.D. Antarctica Live VTC from Palmer Station LTER – March 7, 2023 Palmer LTER scientists graduate students Andrew Corso and Maya Thomas answered questions about the mystery creatures of Antarctica with students from L.A. Ainger Middle School (Port Charlotte, FL), Vista View Middle School (Fountain Valley, CA), and Summit Trail Middle School (Tahoma, WA) in this live video teleconference from Palmer Station, Antarctica on March 7, 2023. |
2020
| Sea Birds, January 29, 2020 Palmer LTER scientist Dr. Megan Cimino answered questions about sea birds with students from AC Redshaw Elementary (NJ), Bonita Springs Elementary (FL) and Comstock STEM Academy (MI). |
| Scientific Tools, February 12, 2020 Palmer LTER scientists Ross Nichols and Greg Larsen answered questions about scientific tools and marine mammals from students at Bayonne HS (NJ), Sinagua MS (AZ), and South East HS (CA). |
| Marine Mammals, March 4, 2020 Palmer LTER scientist Ross Nichols answered questions about marine mammals from students at Loudon Country Day School (VA), Middlefield Memorial School (CT), and Oxford Central School (NJ). |
| Changing Ecosystems, March 11, 2020 Palmer LTER scientists Greg Larsen and Beth Connors answered questions about how climate change is affecting ecosystems in Antarctica from students at Elton Gregory MS (OR), Liberty MS (AL), and Maria Carillo HS (CA). |
2019
| Sea Birds, January 23, 2019 Palmer LTER scientist Megan Cimino answered questions about sea birds from students at Franklin Elementary (NJ), Lisha Kill Middle School (NY) and Theodore Roosevelt Elementary (NJ). |
| Sea Birds, January 23, 2019 Palmer LTER scientist Megan Cimino answered questions about sea birds from students at Desert Ridge Middle School (NM), Howell Middle School (NJ) and Lincoln Middle School (NJ). |
| Marine Mammals, February 5, 2019 Palmer LTER scientists Ross Nichols and Greg Larsen answered questions about marine mammals from students at Bridgeton High School (NJ) and Collier School (NJ). |
| Scientific Tools, February 13, 2019 Palmer LTER scientists Ross Nichols and Greg Larsen answered questions about scientific tools and marine mammals from students at Alpha Public School (NJ), Elton Gregory Middle School (OR), and Sand Creek Middle School (NY). |
| Sea Ice and Climate, February 27, 2019 Palmer LTER scientists Greg Larsen and Beth Connors answered questions about how climate change is affecting ecosystems in Antarctica from students at Mainland Regional High School (NJ), Maria Carillo High School (CA) and Marine Academy of Science and Technology (NJ). |
| Food Webs, March 6, 2019 Palmer LTER scientist Jack Conroy and answered questions about how food webs in Antarctica from students at James Monroe Elementary (NJ), Phillipsburg Elementary (NJ) and STEM Academy, Comstock (MI). |
2018
Participating schools and topics from Winter 2018 live video teleconferences with the science teams of Palmer Station LTER.
Sea Birds (January 30, 2018)
- Ying Hua International School, Kingston NJ
- Robert Hunter Elementary, Raritan Township, NJ
- Hesperian Elementary, San Lorenzo, CA
Sea Birds (February 1, 2018)
- Lincoln Middle School, Kearny NJ
- Chalone Peaks Middle School, King City CA
- Marina del Ray Middle School, Los Angeles CA
Marine Mammals (February 22, 2018)
- Franklin Elementary, Kearny NJ
- James Monroe Elementary, Edison NJ
- George E. Wilson Elementary, Hamilton Township NJ
Marine Mammals (February 27, 2018)
- Sand Creek Middle School, Albany NY
- San Antonio Elementary, Lockwood CA
- AKTEACH Homeschool, Kodiak Island AK
Microbe Ecology (March 1, 2018)
- Maria Carillo High School, Santa Rosa CA
- Santa Rosa High School, Santa Rosa CA
Long-Term Ecological Research (March 6, 2018)
- Collier School, Wickatunk NJ
- Columbus Preparatory Academy, Columbus OH
- Grice Middle School, Hamilton Township NJ
Long-Term Ecological Research (March 14, 2018)
- New Brunswick High School, New Brunswick NJ
- JFK STEM Academy, Paterson NJ
- Jefferson Township High School, Oak Ridge NJ
2017
Participating schools and topics from Winter 2017 live video teleconferences with the science teams of Palmer LTER.
Phytoplankton and Zooplankton (January 24, 2017)
- Sand Creek Middle School, NY
- Lincoln Middle School, NJ
- Highland Park High School, NJ
Sea Birds (January 25, 2017)
- Long Beach Island Grade School, NJ
- Indian Hill School, NJ
- Sand Ridge Elementary, NC
Marine Mammals (February 6, 2017)
- Bayonne High School, NJ
- Howell High School, NJ
- Egg Harbor Township High School, NJ
** Great video of marine ecologists tagging whales for their field work!
Marine Mammals (February 15, 2017)
- Chalone Peaks Middle School, CA
- Jefferson Township Middle School, NJ
- Lincoln Middle School, NJ
- Princeton High School, NJ
Microbe Ecology (February 21, 2017)
- San Antonio Elementary, CA
- Shrewsbury Borough School, NJ
- YingHua International School, NJ
Sea Birds (February 28, 2017)
- Bartle Elementary School, NJ
- George J. Mitchell Elementary, NJ
- Lord Stirling Elementary, NJ
Microbe Ecology (March 1, 2017)
- Manchester Township High School, NJ
- Maria Carrillo High School, CA
- Morehead City Middle School, NC
- Sandwich High School, MA
2016
Participating Schools and Topics, Winter of 2016 live video teleconferences with the science teams of Palmer LTER.
| Sea Birds (January 27, 2016 @ 10:00am EST) – Harpswell Coastal Academy, ME – Lincoln Middle School, NJ – Hillside Avenue School, NJ |
| Marine Mammals (January 28, 2016 @10:30am EST) – Beaufort Middle School, NC – Egbert Intermediate School, NJ – Lake Riviera Middle School, NJ ** Great video of marine ecologists tagging whales for their field work! |
| Marine Mammals (February 16, 2016 @ 12:30pm EST) – Princeton High School, NJ – Woodbrook Elementary, NJ ** Great video of marine ecologists tagging whales for their field work! |
| Microbe Ecology (March 1, 2016 @ 11:00am EST) – North Plainfield High School, NJ – Mt. View School, NJ – Thompson Middle School, NJ |
| Microbe Ecology (March 2, 2016 @ 12:00pm EST) – HB Whitehorne Middle School, NJ – Township of Ocean Intermediate School, NJ – Neptune Middle School, NJ |
| Phyto- and Zooplankton (March 3, 2016 @ 1:00pm EST) – Collier School, NJ – Bayonne High School, NJ – Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School, NJ |
