This final reflection comes in two installments. The first was written back at the beginning of the school year, for unknown reasons I never got back to putting the finishing touches on it. The second part is being added on a snow day four months later. Time has moved quickly, this journal entry will provide a unique, longer term look at what has happened as a result of my PolarTREC work. I hope this provides a perspective for what science can look like, as well as the importance of these experiences for teachers, their students, and community members. As always, send questions or feedback. I will try to check in periodically.
September 1, 2008 Final Reflection #1
This final reflection is being written from the kitchen on Labor Day Weekend. I look back with a smile and a slight ache at...
This journal comes from our home in Chester, VT. Today is the first work day that I have not been wearing long johns!! Shorts and tevas are a welcome change, as are hugs and kisses from Julie and Marina. ☺
This final journal provides a few summary photos and thoughts. A final reflection will come later, after I have a chance to think through all of the wonderful experiences that I have been part of.
The Arctic people and the animals have adapted to a challenging ecosystem, developing remarkable adaptations. Life and death coexist everywhere, in the Arctic they seem to be more apparent. I have a deeper respect for all living organisms up here, they are unique and beautiful.
The seasons are changing, fall is coming to the tundra. The colors of the tundra grasses and sedges are getting...
The day was relatively quiet with the exception of another polar bear being sighted. This bear stayed around longer and therefore provided lots of photo opportunities. BIG thanks to JR and Isaac for once again keeping up safe and getting some good polar bear pictures.
Tonight’s journal was supposed to focus on a bunch of the scientists, specifically Barrow memories, Barrow favorites, and first things when you get home. Unfortunately, I washed my spiffy news reporter notebook, the only thing left was the metal, curly spine. Not much help with this journal, next topic, …, how about Last Day Shots.
First shot, has to be of the polar bear coming up out of the water.
The polar bear is just minding it's own business, heading up on the land.
One of the things we did today was close down the...
Archaeologists talk about the "48 Rule”. This rule states that significant objects or artifacts will be discovered during the last 2 days of the project. We were close today, significant pieces kept showing up in the burial that I have been working on for the last 3 days. Christine and Michael kept things moving along, unfortunately Dave had left so he missed all the action today. The time constraints kept me from wandering far for photo opportunities. The time also kept us out at Nuvuk until 7:30PM, by the time everyone was home and gear was put away, it was 9PM. Another late day.
So, tonight’s journal is going to be a quick one. In many ways, the sun is setting on the Barrow scene. Tomorrow is a clean-up day in the field. Saturday is flight day for just everyone.
The sun is dropping...
Today’s journal is the National Geographic version. Lots of pictures and captions. We were out listening to a speaker discuss underwater archaeology sites in the area as well as remote operated vehicles to search some of them. After that, Dave’s celebratory last dinner at the local sushi and Japanese restaurant. He will certainly be missed, he has made numerous contributions during his 10+ weeks here.
The Barge Is Here!!
Goods come in but once a year. Want a new car? Order it and have it shipped up on the barge. Washer? Same thing.
Up here, new stuff comes in either on a plane or on a boat. The barge arrived yesterday with lots of activity going on as the steel containers where unloaded. If you look carefully you can see one of the eight by eight by ten trailers on the ship.
The town...
This past Sunday gave me another opportunity to take a Sunday stroll. This time, I joined University of Texas – El Paso graduate student, Adrian Aguirre, on his coastal erosion monitoring project. The concept is pretty straightforward, yet the data collection and the mapping is rather sophisticated. The goal is to monitor the south end of Elson Lagoon, where waves and ice tend to cause the greatest erosion of the tundra.
We checked out the map and explained to the BASC driver, Nok, exactly where we were going so if something happened, he could come and find us.
One of the great joys of the Nuvuk Archaeology Project is the combination of science, history, math, writing, reading, and thinking. You can't get away from the wonderful connections that exist in this field. As one of the...
Saturday, August 9th, 2008 was the first game of the season for the Barrow Whaler’s Football team. They were playing the Skyview Panthers who traveled up from Anchorage for the game. A long way to go, and a little pricey with the standard fare being around $280/ person. Both teams were ready to play some exciting football when they took the field.
The end zone view captures the size of the field. This field appeared smaller due to the limited sideline space as well as size of the bleachers.
There’s more to this story than the standard one high school team playing another. Most surprising is that the Barrow Whalers team is a little more than two years old. The story is told in detail in the article link that follows, the summary version is that the team was put together as a way to...
The Scientist of the Week for this week is the PI (Principal Investigator) for the Nuvuk Archaeology Project, Anne Jensen. She wears many hats. Head of the Nuvuk Archaeology Project, Senior Scientist for UIC Science Center, as well as other duties are all part of what Anne does around here. Whether talking to bear guards about recent events, or discussing the next steps in our excavation work, Anne knows her stuff and keeps things moving along.
Anne spends most of her time out in the field these days. Her part of the project is overseer of all the different components as well as the operator of the transit or Total Station. As mentioned before, this piece of equipment is the mapping device that determines the exact position of an artifact.
The field office has become an essential part...
This journal entry continues the story of a lemming’s view of the world from yesterday. I apologize if you read the "first edition” of yesterday’s journal. Writing and sleeping do not go well together. Today’s piece is a little earlier in the day so should be a little more clear.
The Lemming’s View of the World – Part II
The lemming is busy doing lemming chores and tasks. The beauty of looking at the world from a different perspective, in this case, the lemming perspective, is that routine things look different. We need to look more closely to see the details, the small pieces, that could go unnoticed. Today’s journal is a quick attempt to use a digital camera to change my perspective, to get a "lemming-eye-view” of the tundra.
The Beauty of Flowers and Color on the Tundra
My view of...
The science work I have been doing is documented in the journal pages on this site. In the background, has been a nagging thought of how can this activity be a stepping stone, a starting off place, for better teaching and learning in my class and beyond. I recently received the following note from our technology coordinator. Ironically, the PolarTREC site did not allow her to post it directly into the Ask the Team section.
I appreciate the thought-provoking nature of this piece. Technology is all over the place up here, yet at the same time, there are traditional skills of map-making and data recording going on as well. Not to mention, the very traditional skill of moving gravel with a shovel.
I encourage others to jump into the discussion of technology and education.
More Lemming News...
Another nice day for Barrow, 40’s, light breeze, clouds and fog. Overall, pretty nice. The Driftwood Feature continued to occupy my time and energy, as well as the energy of 5 other people. Lots of material coming out, over 160 artifacts pulled out today. Mostly wood, a few fish scales, a couple of shells, and some faunal (animal) bones. We’ll be back at it on Monday, trying to get the materials that are exposed, shot in. I will sketch the area from a picture tomorrow so it is easier to envision what we are working on.
Today’s topic is based on a walk I took last Sunday. As you walk across the tundra, anywhere at all up here, you will find lemmings darting this way and that, diving from one burrow to another. My trip last weekend was no different. This is the first of two pieces...
A nice day up here, cool, misty, but not too windy. Today’s journal covers three quick topics that make this place special. First is the work of an archaeologist, second is the unique Arctic region, and third is the interesting people you meet. The journals are looking at smaller topics, the fine point of the trip these days. I have a couple of bigger pieces in the works, keep checking in and think of these as National Geographic versions, you know, just look at the pictures and captions.
Work Pictures
I was paperwork dude today. An important job but not very exciting. I still had fun, everyone kept bringing me pieces to look at!!
The stadia rod takes a laser beam from the transit and reflects it back. Check out the three images of the same camera. Pretty cool!!
The wood chips are...
A misty start to the day, and then sunlight sliding through thinning clouds. A few serious bright spots, blue water, and spirits were soaring. I was a little fatigued today after all the excitement of yesterday. Some good work done in the Driftwood Feature though. Most finds are still undercover, here are a few shots I slipped out.
Coal flakes - plasticy, light, and sometimes in piles. Other times, bigger pieces. Archaeologists ask questions. Why? Where did it come from? How did it get here? What was it used for? And much more….. Another important piece of the puzzle, where does it fit?
A spall is a small fragment, or chip. This spall was probably caused by ice fracturing the rock. A human chip would have another little mark or two. I still enjoyed the find.
The real highlights for...
Everyone was geared up for a drippy day, four-wheelers loaded, heading out for the field, except me. An odd sensation, I felt like I was going to miss something. My task for today was to get everything ready for the Live from IPY Event. I didn’t think it would take that long.
Lots of emails, a bunch of instant messaging, and a professional help from the IT guys, Brad and Dorin, and we were in business. Not only did we have the projector up and running, we also had the platform, HorizonWIMBA, ready to go. Progress noted, the next innovation was to get multiple computers up so folks could ask questions while we shared stories. Got them going, registered them, still going strong. Quick dial up the 800 number, get the teleconference going, in business all around. WAIT, don’t forget to mute...
We were back out in the field today. Things started out looking fine, a little cloudy but warm, in the low 40’s. A good sign? Not, really. Drizzle and rain fell for the better part of the day, as the temperatures dropped down into the mid-30’s, with a little more of a kick to the breeze. We got lots of gravel moved, that was a good thing!!
This little Chef’s Choice is to get enough material up for today to get folks excited about the work and to get ready for the big Live From IPY event for tomorrow. If you are in Chester, feel free to stop by the school. Nice PR from my dear wife, Julie.
Join either online or just stop by CAES for dessert, some activities, and a conversation with scientists and researchers.
I was going to get some overall shots of the status of the driftwood feature...
Sunday is Go-For-a-Walk Day. If the weather is even close to acceptable, the Kelley family will head out for a walk somewhere, usually the road or the possibly a trail, one way or another, we get out for some fresh air. Today was no different here in Barrow. I was up early, out the door with coffee in hand, and off to explore the tundra.
The tundra boardwalk lessens the impact of the scientists and the researchers who make multiple trips back and forth across the area. The overall length of boardwalk and protective matting is probably about 2.25 miles.
As has been mentioned before, the tundra is not bold and in your face like mountains or forests. The tundra is sneaky, you have to look close, get down on hands and knees, to notice the beauty. If you drive or walk by, or are in a hurry,...
This journal entry is about a scientific procedure known as necropsy, or the medical examination of a dead animal. The text and pictures that follow may be offensive to some. I hope you find it informative.
I walked down past our lab today and into another lab, the Necropsy Lab. A nice lab with lots of stainless steel sinks and counters. A faint odor is present, hard to describe, a little like a dissection lab, with a slight hint of dead animal.
Necropsy is the same as an autopsy except it is done with an animal. The goals are the same, to investagte the animal and learn more about how it lived, how it's body was working, and how it died.
I meet Greta Krafsur, a student at Colorado State University, who is very busy up here at Barrow Arctic Science Center conducting necropsies on...
The winds were finally dying down, the snow and ice had stopped falling, everything in sight was crusty. I heard over the radio, "Roger that, we (the Nuvuk AP) will be heading out to the Point today.” Super, a workday in the field!!
The trail had snow in all the valleys, the ridges, were all covered in ice. The four wheelers handled in all well. Ahead, the tents were still up. Further examination when we got there showed a little shifting of the fly, and a fair of amount of accumulation inside. Of course, a quick snowball fight sent many folks scrambling for cover.
The blowing wind finds cracks and holes in the supply tent. Fortunately, everything was still inside and not scattered over the site.
Next stop was the Driftwood Feature. On the way over, the site looks a bit tortured, not...
Three days of cold temperatures, biting winds, and stinging sleet. Forget about 24 hours of sun, it does no good if you never see it.
Quick weather summary:
Max temperature since Tuesday = 1C 34F
Min temperature since Tuesday = -1C 30F
Max. wind gust = 44MPH
Average wind speed, last 24 hours = 25.6MPH
Needless to say, we were in the lab today as were most of the other scientists. Fortunately, there is a wonderful group of smiling, laughing, joking, people around here who do not let the present conditions do anything other than induce merriment.
I worked on Live From IPY stuff all day. No great stories there, I think the presentation will be exciting, it got good reviews from the critics in #268.
Here’s some photos...
This was a day that we didn’t experience from the outdoors. If it is possible, the weather was even more miserable than yesterday. Horizontal rain/ snow/ sleet, temperatures in the low 30’s, and a no good reason to go outside. In VT, this would have been a nap, sit by the fire, and soup day. Here in AK, it was a lab day with some folks cleaning artifacts with toothbrushes, paintbrushes, and picking stuff up with tweezers.
A collection of artifact cleaning tools from the lab. They are nice and soft to remove dirt without damaging the artifact. Today people were cleaning animal bones, rocks, coal, and collecting fish scales. Tony went looking for lemming bones.
I have been pounding away on the Live From IPY presentation as well as other general paperwork. A little slow, a lot of screen...
What a day!! We listened all night to the winds roar by and Hut #268 quivered. Cold temperatures and snowflakes made it easy to decide to stay in the lab today. We all quietly worried about the Driftwood Feature, will part of it be washed out to sea?
Snowflakes in July!!
I spent the day, working with PolarTREC, testing out the Powerpoint uploading procedure, and drafting the presentation for next week. The process of creating a presentation is both daunting and exhilarating. Similar to a written piece, one must follow a process. Brainstorm, draft, revise, revise, draft, revise, revise, conference, … I had a completed outline and then tossed half of it. The writer at work.
Today’s journal answers the question about what happens after the human remains are excavated, examined, catalogued...
Today was another Barrow-warm day. Upper 40’s, light winds, and foggy. Isaac, a bear guard, remarked, "There’s a warm wind blowing today.” That’s what we had, and over the course of the day, the winds swung from the south around to east-north-east. Large swells, rolling in, with waves pounding the coast. You could see the color of the waves taking on a gravel gray hue. It’s still blowing hard out there now. Check the weather update for the latest details.
The water has been relatively calm these last few weeks, a few icebergs lazily floating by, a few small waves. In the last few days, the waves have grown and are changing the spit of land. I can't help but think that things were calmer, in part, because of the sea ice that slowed the build up of larger, wind driven, waves. Tonight is...
It’s 5:10PM and today is summer in Barrow, AK. A glorious day, blue skies, turquoise water, sunshine rippling everywhere, and a more or less, lazy, Sunday as well. I’m sitting on the back deck of #268, looking good and doing some writing as usual.
A fine day here in Barrow, temperatures up in the 50's, light breezes. I got some work done on the deck and will soon head back there to get some reading in. This is summer in Barrow!!
Today’s journal is the Chef’s Choice, a collection of photos from the week that didn’t really fit anywhere else. The themes are Arctic Animals and Crazy People.
Arctic Animal Pieces
Scientists call the big arctic animals "mega-fauna”. Examples would be the whales, walruses, seals, and polar bears. Each of these animals played an important role in the food...
Quick Notes
1. If you see a journal that just doesn’t make much sense, send me a quick email or just wait until later in the day. I really try to proof read the journal carefully before posting but every once in awhile I am more than tired and something slips past me. Last night was one of those, falling asleep on the computer evenings. I edited this morning and the journal makes more sense.
2. Don’t forget to sign up for the Live From International Polar Year Event (Live From IPY) at www.polartrec.com . This event will include scientists, grad students, and me, all live from the Arctic!! No cost, free entertainment, all you need to a computer and a phone. No internet access, visit a friend’s house or just call in and listen.
3. NEWS FLASH: If you are in the Chester, VT area,...
Digging Update
Another busy day out at Nuvuk. The trench is being checked to determine if there are human remains or other interesting materials in it. The DriftWood Feature continues to be excavated, that’s where I spent most of my time today. We uncovered bone fragments, lots of wood fragments, one with an unknown bright blue color, a bunch of burnt wood fragments, lots of unusual rocks, and some possibly heated, brick red pebbles. Not as crazy as last Friday but still making progress on the site. We continue to expose wood pieces so this project will be going on for some time. Other folks worked on shovel test pits, checking to see if there are other burial sites coming up. I apologize for not taking more pictures, I get working, stay working, and don’t remember to stop and take...
