Arctic Mammals: Science, Culture + Art

This course is a blend of marine biology, cultural anthropology, climate science and mixed media art - all rolled into one. The Arctic Ocean is home to many mammals that have fascinating adaptations to living in extreme conditions. Unusual marine species such as Narwhals, Belugas and walrus thrive in this harsh and ever-changing ecosystem. Students learn the unique biology and ecology of various marine mammals, and how they interact with one another. Humans have existed in this frigid Land of the Sea region for thousands of years. To survive, the Circumpolar peoples fostered kinship, lived in villages, created tools, and developed cultural knowledge and wisdom based on reading the elements and animal behaviors. Students get to glimpse a day in the life of teenage Arctic Dwellers from the past as well as the present.