Polar Microbes

Explore the Microscopic Life of Earth’s Poles

 

Have you ever wanted to visit the Arctic or Antarctic see polar bears or penguins? In this course, you will learn that there is more to Earth’s polar regions than the animals you can see!

The microorganisms that inhabit our coldest and most remote regions – tiny bacteria, archaea and protists – have unique adaptations that allow them to live in these harsh places. They also play an important role in Earth’s carbon cycle. Students will learn what makes polar environments unique, how microbes have adapted to thrive in these environments and how these microbes help to regulate Earth’s climate. Students will have the option to construct a simple climate model using the open-source computer language R.

What You Will Learn

• Be able to distinguish the Arctic and the Antarctic by their unique physical, chemical and biological characteristics.
• Gain a thorough understanding of the microbial life present in polar regions.
• Understand how polar microbes contribute to the carbon cycle and help regulate Earth’s climate.
• Research and do a presentation on an interesting polar microbe and its potential application for human use.
• Know how to construct a simple climate model in the computer language R.

Return to the Sally Ride Science Junior Academy website here.
 

Note: Upon successful enrollment of a section, students will receive a confirmation email from our Student Services team. This email will include a link to an authorization form that is required to be completed within 72-hours of enrollment. 

In response to COVID-19 health guidelines, we have restructured our in-person Junior Academy workshops as online courses. Contact us at srs@ucsd.edu if you have questions.

Course Number: SIO-90031
Credit: 1.50 unit(s)

+ Expand All

6/20/2022 - 6/24/2022

$175

Live Online

Closed

• SECTION ID:

  164897

• CLASS TYPE:

  Synchronous web-based class meetings that are scheduled to meet online at published times (time/date).

• INSTRUCTOR:
  

  Connors, Beth

  Beth Connors is a marine microbial ecologist, with an interest in the microbiological components of global biogeochemical cycling and climate change.  She holds a dual BA in Marine Science and Biology from the University of California, Berkeley. As a certified SCUBA Divemaster, she has worked as a science diver in Tahiti, coastal California, and the Caribbean. Currently, she is pursuing a PhD from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, focusing on bacterial ecology along the Western Antarctic Peninsula.

• TEXTBOOKS:

  No textbook required.

• POLICIES:

  1st meeting mandatory.
  Early enrollment advised.
  No UCSD parking permit required.
  No visitors permitted.
  Pre-enrollment required.
  No refunds after: 6/13/2022.
  

• NOTE:

  This is a HIGH SCHOOL level course. Instructor will email student with Zoom information 24-hours in advance of start date. Please note this email will go to the student email on file, and not the parent email. The course runs the first two hours with an optional office hour the last hour. Supply list: No supplies are needed for this course.

DATE	DAY	START	END	LOCATION
6/20/2022	Mon	9:00 a.m.	12:00 p.m.
6/21/2022	Tue	9:00 a.m.	12:00 p.m.
6/22/2022	Wed	9:00 a.m.	12:00 p.m.
6/23/2022	Thu	9:00 a.m.	12:00 p.m.
6/24/2022	Fri	9:00 a.m.	12:00 p.m.