Science Department Visitors Connect Students with the Arctic Circle

Parker was incredibly fortunate this week as the Science Department hosted Dr. LeeAnn Fishback and Stephanie Bishir for three fun, fact-filled days of scientific discussion. Dr. Fishback—a climate field scientist from the Churchill Northern Studies Centre in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada—and Bishir—a wildlife biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service—visited Parker to share their research and collaborate with students and faculty on the topic of climate change.

Beginning on Monday, the Science Department hosted a professional development day with Dr. Fishback and Bishir. In the morning, all interested faculty joined the Science Department for an in-depth discussion on Dr. Fishback and Bishir’s research and ways to incorporate the topic of climate change into our faculty’s curriculum. In the afternoon, the faculty joined Dr. Fishback and Bishir at Lincoln Park’s North Pond for a hands-on demonstration of some field sampling techniques Dr. Fishback uses in the arctic tundra.

Continuing their visit on Tuesday, Dr. Fishback and Bishir settled in for a full day of meeting with students and faculty. After a breakfast and discussion with Lower School faculty, the two visiting scientists gave a Mini-Morning Ex for students in 1st and 2nd grades. During this presentation, Dr. Fishback discussed climate change and provided information on animals it affects. Dr. Fishback gave these young students information in ways they were directly able to understand and appreciate. For example, seeing 20 students lined up in a row allowed students to grasp just how heavy a polar bear was, and having 2nd grade teacher Kathy Wild raised up on another teacher’s shoulders helped them understand how tall the animal actually could stand. As the day progressed, Dr. Fishback and Bishir continued meeting with students, from the entire 9th grade to Zaremba’s chemistry students to a class of 5th graders, discussing climate change in ways that resonated with the age present. These two scientists ended their day by adding their expertise to a Climate Policy Teach-in with members of the History Department, discussing climate change and the policies that affect this issue.

On the final day of their visit, Dr. Fishback and Bishir began their morning meeting with members of Parker’s administrative team before speaking with science teacher Leslie Webster’s Upper School Advanced Chemsitry class. Their visit culminated in an extremely special Morning Ex experience.

Dr. Fishback and Bishir began this Morning Ex sharing some personal history with the audience on how they began to study the arctic and climate change before providing general information on this topic. Next, the students present were in for a treat when Dr. Fishback brought in some of her friends from Polar Bears International via a special Live Google Hangout, directly connecting our students with the arctic tundra! Polar Bears International’s Chief Scientist Dr. Steven Amstrup, Director of Conservation Outreach and Staff Scientist Alysa McCall and Director of Field Operations BJ Kirschhoffer, live from one of the organization’s Tundra Buggies, spent time explaining their work with polar bears, how their work impacts and reflects the climate change discussion, what a tundra buggy was and, finally, answering the NUMEROUS questions our students posed.

We want to thank Dr. LeeAnn Fishback and Stephanie Bishir for spending so much time with our students, faculty and staff! The depth of their climate knowledge, real-world professional experience and dynamic ability to tailor information in an age-appropriate way left a resounding impression on our community. Further, we are extremely thankful that Dr. Fishback was able to connect our students with Polar Bears International! The discussion with this organization working at this moment in the tundra to protect polar bears and reduce humanity’s impact on the climate was the perfect endcap for our students.

Click here for photos from their visit.