I've been wondering about the social-political perspectives of the Arctic Ocean. I teach courses on public lands in the USA. I'm realizing how little I understand how oceans are managed administratively. So, I have looked into it and found this short video (watch below) that helps to explain the nuance and increasing complexity due to sea ice melting and navigation becoming easier. As you watch it, I'm curious to know what your new questions and curiosities are; please share a comment if you wish at the bottom of this page. 

So Much Preparation
With only just over six weeks left before departing for Utqiaġvik, Alaska the to-do list is growing. As you know I am not only an assistant scientist with the IABP team, I am also the public relations officer for this IABP AK Spring 22 Deployment mission. So here are a few things I have been working on and still have to do.
Public Relations Officer Duties

• Schedule Real-Time Science: Arctic Ocean Expedition community library programs in May to share out upon my return
• Draft official press release and send to numerous media outlets
• Draft outreach toolkit to send to the numerous professional networks I am part of to encourage them to follow along with this expedition
• Complete all the required PolarTREC programmatic learning documents
• Set up a NASA GLOBE Observer team/community to curate Land Observer observations from the Utqiaġvik area; and you will be invited to contribute observations from wherever you are as well
• Working with my science team to set up a live stream PolarConnect event from Utqiaġvik for all of you; save the date for, either April 5 or 6 at 9:00 am (mountain time); will confirm soon.

Learn How to Use Equipment

• Become very proficient in the craft of writing these journal posts
• Create a system for naming and cataloging photos and videos I take while in the Arctic
• Practice using my GoPro camera and devise a system for lowering it down the holes we auger in the ice to get footage from under the sea ice (varying depths)
• Practice using my iPhone to make short iMovies and use my new external microphone (watch for some videos to be posted soon)
• Practice manipulating .kml files in Google Earth along with other buoy data to understand the movement of the Arctic buoys so I can explain to all of you how the data is useful
• Practice using a Kestrel Weather Meter and how to log the data with this advanced 5500 model
• Devising systems to keep the batteries warm for all the electronics I'll be using (cameras, iPhone, etc.)

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Rigor 1951762 Risk Assessment / Planning Call was yesterday. Our team participated in a call with risk management leaders from the NSF along with local community expert liaison from Utqiaġvik, Alaska. Now we are messaging back and forth to ask more questions. After realizing a bit more about just how remote we will be when flying the local SAR (search and rescue) helicopter out on the drift ice, approximately 50 miles from land to deploy environmental sensor buoys, I have asked for more training. Specifically I need to learn more about the following: 

• Sea Ice Hazards
• Hazardous Wildlife Awareness at Arctic Ocean
• Working Around Helicopters and any necessary personal safety equipment
• personal/self rescue on the sea ice and what emergency equipment should be in my backpack on the sea ice

These are wilderness and expedition topics I do not have any practice or experience in; so I will be adding to my toolbox of skills which is pretty neat. 

I have been thinking about the unforeseen advantages of having had to wait two years living through Covid-19 to be able to join the International Arctic Buoy Programme  (IABP) science team on the Arctic Ocean sea ice. I was supposed to have deployed with them April 1, 2020 for nearly two weeks, and of course did not go due to stay-at-home orders.