Undergraduate Lunch and Conversation
Researching Earth's Changing Polar Ice Caps
with special guest
Dr. Waleed Abdalati,
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Friday, January 18, 12 noon - 1 pm
Room 2009, Ruthven Museums Building

Interested undergraduates are invited to an informal lunch with Dr. Waleed Abdalati, Head of the Cryospheric Sciences Branch of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Earth's cryosphere (from a Greek word, kryos, which means "cold") includes all of our planet's sea and freshwater ice, snow, glaciers, frozen ground and permafrost. Join the discussion to find out how scientists gather data about the crysophere, particularly the polar ice caps, and what the "hot topics" in crysopheric research are today.

Pre-registration is required for complimentary lunch. Call (734) 764-0480.

Teacher Workshop (grades 4-12)
Bringing Polar Research Alive
Thursday, April 17, 4:30 pm - 8 pm,
pizza dinner provided

Robin Frisch-Gleason, a 4th grade teacher in Ann Arbor, has recently returned from a geological research trip to Antarctica. She will share her research adventures and a wealth of hands-on activities highlighting the International Polar Year.

Free, but pre-registration is required. To register, call (734) 764-0480.

Polar Science Adventures:

Winter Family Reading and Science Program

Each year the Exhibit Museum collaborates with dozens of regional libraries to provide families with opportunities to read and explore science together. This year, learn about the fascinating frozen world at the ends of the Earth.

In addition to incentives for families to read together organized by each library location, the Exhibit Museum facilitates free hands-on workshops each month from January through March for children ages 6-11 with a parent or guardian. Workshops take place at each library and at the Museum.

The schedule of workshops at 43 libraries in southeastern Michigan can be found here: Download Schedule pdf

Sponsored by the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Pfizer, the James A. and Faith Knight Foundation, and the Speckhard-Knight Charitable Foundation.

Workshops at the Exhibit Museum
Workshops are free but pre-registration is required. Call (734) 764-0480.

Ice Worlds: Why are the Poles so Cold?
Sunday, January 20 at 3:30 pm

This workshop explores the North and South Poles, and explains why they are both so cold. Other questions answered include: What's the difference between seawater and fresh water? What's the difference between sea ice and land ice? From rock cores to ocean currents, we'll learn about the coldest places on Earth.

Frosty Life: Surviving at the Poles
Sunday, February 17 at 3:30 pm

This workshop will explore the difficulties of life at the poles. What animals live there and how do they survive? Find out how polar bears swim in ice cold water and whether you can keep a penguin egg off the ice.

Melting Away: Protecting the Poles
Sunday, March 16 at 3:30 pm

What will happen as the polar ice melts? This workshop explores land ice and sea ice and the effect of their melting. How will it affect polar animals? How will it affect people? What can we do right now to help?