Dr. Chad Higdon-Topaz
Date/ time: Monday, October 10
Abstract
The Division of Polar Programs at the National Science Foundation supports a wide range of research and research facilities in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. The polar regions are among the most remote and poorly understood areas of our planet. These regions exist near the freezing point of water, where small changes in environmental conditions can lead to large, and sometimes unexpected, outcomes. NSF seeks to expand fundamental knowledge about polar climate, biogeochemical, and human systems, and about the interaction of these unique and rapidly changing systems with the wider Earth system. Research also focuses on the unique ecology, adaptation, and evolution of polar organisms. In addition, NSF supports research utilizing the unique Antarctic polar environment as an observational platform for astronomical and astrophysical observations of the Universe. Societal drivers for polar research and future research priorities will be discussed.