UMaine Extension program featured on Science Friday
Science Friday, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the public’s access to science and scientific information, recently posted about a University of Maine Cooperative Extension 4-H program that connects youth with a graduate student conducting fieldwork in a remote location. This fall, the Follow a Researcher™ program will take place in Antarctica with Lynn Kaluzienski, a Ph.D. student in UMaine’s Department of Earth and Climate Sciences and Climate Change Institute. Kaluzienski will conduct field research and gather data to better understand changes occurring in the Ross Ice Shelf — the largest ice shelf in Antarctica, according to the post. Using data she collects, Kaluzienski will develop a model to make predictions about the future of the Ross Ice Shelf and its effect on sea level rise, Science Friday reported. Using technology and social media, Follow a Researcher™ connects K–12 classrooms with research as it is being conducted around the globe. The program gives students a glimpse into a scientist’s world by providing live expedition updates and facilitating communication between the youth and scientist through weekly Twitter chats and videos. The Maine Department of Education also wrote about the program.