The Swedish Polar Research Secretariat (SPRS) together with the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) has funded teachers' participation in a scientific expedition to the Arctic Ocean in the summer of 2004.
For the European teacher, Erik Zetterberg (Sweden), financial (travel and curriculum development) and educational (pre-and post cruise training) supports have been provided by the ECORD and ESSAC, respectively.
What is SPRS ?
SPRS is a scientific organisations dedicated to exploring the Earth’s polar regions. The Swedish Polar Research Secretariat is a government authority under the Ministry of Education and Science and its task is to promote Swedish Polar research by organizing and leading research expeditions to Antarctica and the Arctic.
What are the goals of the IODP Teacher at Sea Program?
The central goals of the IODP Teacher at Sea Program include the following:
• Providing teachers with an opportunity to participate in seagoing research experiences, working side-by-side with scientists, using current state-of-the-art approaches to solve scientific problems of global interest, and gaining first-hand knowledge of the results of seagoing science expeditions.
• Translating scientific results into useful teaching resources, such as classroom curriculum materials.
• Distributing these resources to classrooms.
Who can participate?
Elementary school through college educators with a preferred minimum of 5 years of relevant teaching experience or equivalent and who are currently employed may apply to participate in the program. The official language of IODP is English, thus teachers must be able to read and speak English well enough to interact with the other teachers and scientists involved in the program.
What is involved in participating?
• Participation in precruise orientation prior to sailing, which will provide an overview of the scientific research that will be undertaken during the expedition and development of the education tasks each teacher would like to perform as part of the program.
• Sail onboard a drillship/research vessel for a period of approximately 6 weeks. Time at sea will include instruction from scientists, observation of laboratory processes used by scientists, introduction to the scientific database used by the program, and preparation of teaching resources related to the program.
Tell me more about the cruise participants. The people sailing on the cruise consist of international participants including the ship’s crew, catering staff, technical scientific staff, and participating scientists. Scientists from more than 15 countries sail and conduct collaborative research during each expedition. Scientists analyze the cores and borehole data that are obtained from deep beneath the seafloor. Analysis of the cores leads to a better understanding of many issues affecting society, such as climate change, natural hazards, and resources.
What type of expedition would I be involved with?
In the summer of 2004, the SPRS/IODP Teacher at Sea Program will select teachers to participate on the first IODP cruise on a mission specific platform to the Arctic Ocean aboard one of the three icebreakers participating in the expedition. The objectives of the expedition are to study the geologic, climate and oceanographic history of the Arctic Ocean. This expedition is scheduled to begin in Tromsø, Norway, on August 7, 2004, and end in Tromsø, Norway, on September 16, 2004. For more information please download a PDF version of the expedition Proposal 533.
If I participate, what are my obligations?
Requirements and commitments will include the following:
• Pass a physical exam.
• Participate in pre-expedition orientation (time and place of orientation to be negotiated after selection).
• Participate in the entire cruise (7 August – 16 September, 2004), including laboratory operations and scientific meetings.
• Participate in the development of curriculum materials.
• Write a post-expedition report on the positive and negative aspects of the at-sea experience.
• Attend a scientific or education conference and present information about your experience.
• Provide an assessment on the usefulness of the developed curriculum materials as applied in the classroom two years after the end of the expedition.
What support is provided for teachers?
• Travel costs to and from all pre- and post cruise meetings, ship, lodging in port cities, and meal expenses.
• A stipend for costs related to preparing curriculum materials.
How are teachers selected?
A committee of European educators/scientists from the SPRS and IODP ESSAC committee will review all complete applications for the SPRS/IODP Teachers at Sea Program. Because cabin space and educational needs will vary from expedition to expedition, the committee reserves the right to select the candidate that best meets the educational mission for a specific expedition. To be considered for the program, the candidate must complete the SPRS/IODP Teacher at Sea application form. The deadline for submitting applications for the Arctic Ocean Cruise, which is scheduled to sail 7 August – 16 September 2004, is June 4, 2004. Any teacher selected to participate in the SPRS/IODP Teacher at Sea Program must pass a physical exam prior to final acceptance.
Application Instructions (Download a form) A complete application consists of a three page form to be completed in English by the applicant and his or her employer . In addition, the teacher must complete a description of their teaching experience and future teaching goals by addressing the questions listed on page 4 of the application.
To find out more information about the SPRS/IODP Teacher at Sea Program or for an application form go to the SPRS Website or contact: Eva Grönlund, SPRS Information officer, Phone: +46 (0)8 673 97 30, Fax: +46 (0)8 15 20 57, eva.gronlund@polar.se, PO Box 50003, SE-104 05, Stockholm, Sweden or Eve Arnold, +46 (0)8 674 – 7598, emarnold@geo.su.se, Geology and Geochemistry, Stockholm University, S106 91, Stockholm, Sweden.
