NSF Arctic Sciences Section and TREC Background, Goals, Hints for Success Renée Crain Assistant Program Officer

The Mission of NSF The mission of NSF relates developments in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) research and education to three categories: People Ideas Tools TREC Teachers and Researchers are People NSF is investing in to improve science education using arctic research as a hook and to foster new generations of scientists and scientifically engaged citizens.

NSF Evaluation Criteria What is the intellectual merit of the proposed activity? What are the broader impacts of the proposed activity? How well does the activity advance discovery and understanding while promoting teaching, training and learning? How well does the proposed activity broaden the participation of underrepresented groups? To what extent will it enhance the infrastructure for research and education, such as facilities, instrumentation, networks and partnerships? Will the results be disseminated broadly to enhance scientific and technological understanding? What may be the benefits of the proposed activity to society?

Arctic Sciences Section Mission To gain a better understanding of the Arctic's biological, geophysical, chemical, and sociocultural processes, and the regional and global interactions of ocean, land, atmosphere, biological, and human systems.

Arctic Research Project Locations

People of the U.S. Arctic

Important Research Areas ice-ocean-atmosphere fluxes and thermohaline circulation ice pack albedo affects permafrost temperature and thickness glacial melt, movement and landscape effects vegetation patterns, relationship with snow distribution wildlife population and movement paleohistory of the region models of climate, weather, predicting change plant herbivore interactions adaptations to extreme environments system feedbacks and function

Purpose of TREC Support the integration of research in education Teachers convey invigorating research experience to K-12 classrooms Teachers use research experience to develop inquiry- based activities for students (e.g., place-based) Teachers share with PIs the experience of K-12 educators, develop long-term relationships Improve outreach, education, broader impacts of arctic research projects—mulitiplier effect of teacher Volunteer PI sponsors increasing—interest, need

How to Succeed Be Flexible – roll with whatever comes –Plans change moment to moment, be prepared Research comes first –Be an excellent research assistant –Field work is different, challenging, rewarding Make sacrifices to meet goals –Sleep, fun, comfort, status/authority Bring something to the team –Readiness to lend a hand, humor, special skill/strength, positive attitude

Measures of Success From Different Perspectives: TREC Teacher –sense of accomplishment, learned about science and research, kept up journals and other materials, new ideas to bring back to classroom, new connections TREC PI –safety, met project goals, Teacher contributions/connections NSF OPP –TREC teacher outreach (journals, photos, articles, interviews, student classroom performance) –Improvement in student interest/involvement in (polar) science –PIs will host teacher in future (litmus test of success)

Thank You and Good Luck