Educator Spotlight: How Does Antarctica Measure Up?

The following post was written by 2015 Grosvenor Teacher Fellow Ellie Clin following her expedition to Antarctica. The Grosvenor Teacher Fellow Program is a professional development opportunity made possible by a partnership between Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic Education. I knew coming back from Antarctica wouldn’t be easy. When I returned to my classroom from my weeks in Antarctica as a Grosvenor Teacher Fellow, it quickly became … Continue reading Educator Spotlight: How Does Antarctica Measure Up?

Cute Rover, Cute Rover, Send Robo-Penguin Right Over

SCIENCE Scientists have built a rover that looks like a fluffy penguin chick, allowing it to sneak around Antarctic colonies and get close to individual birds without ruffling too many feathers along the way. (Los Angeles Times) Watch Nat Geo photographer Paul Nicklen play the part of robo-penguin to get amazing footage of these “Emperors of the Ice.” Teachers, scroll all the way down for … Continue reading Cute Rover, Cute Rover, Send Robo-Penguin Right Over

Creature Feature: Crittercam

Have you ever wondered what a shark sees as it swims through the ocean? What a manatee does in its free time? What penguins do when no one is looking? National Geographic scientists and engineers have come up with a creative way to answer these questions. Crittercam is a camera designed to be worn on the back of a wild animal. These innovative cameras do … Continue reading Creature Feature: Crittercam

Counting Penguins from Space

SCIENCE (No, the penguins aren’t from space.) Climatologist and explorer Alain Hubert relies on ground truth to aid satellite-based research at a newly discovered penguin colony in Antarctica. (National Geographic News) Use our resources to understand how researchers take a penguin head-count. Discussion Ideas Read the Nat Geo News article, then watch our terrific Wild Chronicles video on “Antarctic Penguins.” Both are about scientists trying to … Continue reading Counting Penguins from Space

Antarctica: “hot” tourist destination of 2010?

Yesterday, at a joint session of the Arctic Council and the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for tighter controls over tourism and other forms of pollution in Antarctica. Citing environmental and scientific research value, she urged greater global cooperation in preserving the continent.

Since 2000-01, visits to Antarctica have increased nearly four-fold,
with 46,000 visitors to the continent during the last tourist season.
The implications of this increase in tourism are, of course,
devastating to such a pristine ecosystem. And with the continued rise
in adventure tourism and nature-oriented travel, scientists and
preservationists are understandably concerned over the future of the
continent.

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A Jet Cruises over Antartica

Continue reading “Antarctica: “hot” tourist destination of 2010?”