Achievement

The core IGERT curriculum has been implemented. In "Introduction to Polar Systems" (Fall term 2009) trainees studied current polar science that has relevance to critical environmental issues and policies for the high latitude regions. They learned to view topics through the lens of individual disciplines and as crosscutting interdisciplinary problems. In "Polar Science, Policy & Ethics" (Spring term 2010) trainees are making connections between polar science and the human dimensions of rapid environmental change in the Arctic, examining different ways of understanding environmental change from the standpoints of western science and traditional knowledge information. Trainees worked in interdisciplinary teams to solve problems, prepare presentations, and discuss issues. IGERT students prepared interdisciplinary posters that will be modified and shared with students and the public in Greenland during summer 2010.