Science Centres in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico connected to IPY scientists in the first of many live events starting today (March 17) at 1600UTC. Students were able to interact with and ask questions directly of the scientists using videoconferencing technologies. Andy Mahoney (Scott Base, sea ice), Russ Hopcroft (Alaska, zooplankton and the Arctic Ocean Diversity project), Martin Nweeia (Massachusetts, narwhal tusks), Irene Schloss (Quebec, plankton ecology) and Rachael Mueller (Oregon, physical oceanography) talked about their research and answered students’ questions about climate change, snow and ice, and polar organisms. Students at UNAM (Mexico) and the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry gave presentations on climate change and its impacts on local and polar environments. Students tested their knowledge about polar environments by answering questions posed by the scientists (e.g. What temperature does seawater in the Antarctic freeze at?) and by trying to identify exhibits of different polar animal skulls (provided by Science North, Canada).

Participants from Brazil, Germany and Croatia also joined the event via webcast and were able to ask questions using a text chatroom.

A big thank you goes out to Jennifer Oxenford at MAGPI, the technical guru who made it all possible. Thanks also go out to Kristi Skebo, Rhian Salmon and Nicola Munro for organizing the event.