Teaching
On a regular basis I teach Introduction to Ocean Science (Geol 104), Paleogeography,
Paleoclimatology, Paleoecology(Geol 322 - with Paul
Loubere), plus upper level and graduate courses in Invertebrate
Paleontology, Micropaleontology (with Paul Loubere), Scientific Writing
and Presentation, and seminar courses in diatom paleoecology and biostratigraphy.
I also direct internships in plaeontology at the Burpee
Museum of Natural History.
An anecdotal observation on recent Antarctic climate change
At Cape Evans, about 20 miles north of McMurdo Station, Antarctica, is the hut built during Robert Falcon Scott's "Terra Nova" expedition (1910-1913), prior to his ill-fated run to the South Pole. This hut was later used by members of Ernst Shackleton's disastrous attempt to cross the Antarctic in the British Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition (1914-1917).
Everyone knows the story of the "Endurance" where Shackleton and his men (and pets) became trapped in crushing sea ice in the Weddell Sea, and their astounding story of survival. But few know of the hardships that befell the Ross Sea party, who arrived on the "Aurora" and were tasked to lay depots for Shackleton's anticipated crossing. There were losses of both men and dogs in this effort. The remains of one of the dogs can be seen outside of the hut today. The photo (left) shows the hut in 2006, nearly buried in snow. There have been dramatic changes during the last 20 years, since my first visit to the hut. In 1986 the dog was preserved in typical "polar mummification" style. For more than 60 years the upper torso and skull of the dog remained in its permanently frozen and dried state. Warming conditions and increased snowfall has led to dramatic degradation. The remains, once mummified (see photo from 1986, below, left), are now almost completely rotted (photo from 2006, below, right), though it is not clear that these pictures are of the same dog.
