Now that I have completed one full week at a remote arctic research facility, I understand a great deal more about the mindset of its inhabitants and some details of the culture.
First of all, I would like to give a HUGE thanks to the staff here at the station. They are constantly finding ways to improve the quality of life and are definitely the oil that keep this engine running smoothly.
Secondly, I must express the escalating excitement I hold from spending only a short period of time working alongside scientists of all levels of experience and education. It is extremely encouraging to witness and be included in a collaborative effort and collective mind. I have enjoyed working hard every day to further my knowledge and ultimately contribute to mankind.
That being said, the intent of this post is to provide a greater insight into the social constructs of being in camp, as well as some finer details of our scientific goals.
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| It never occurred to me how large this state really is, especially since they always shove it in the corner with Hawaii. |
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| This is one of the places I get to work at twice a week. The project I am working on has four different field sites, and while the weather is not always this nice, I do enjoy being outdoors. |
When we arrive at a field site, we tend to several experiments. The goal of the project I work on is to understand how early or late snowmelts effect the plants, insects, and birds of the tundra. Different people are responsible for experiments that correspond to these different levels in the food chain, but we are ultimately a team and help each other often.
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| In addition to assisting with any given experiment, my assignment is to catch insects on the tundra. To do this, I dig a hole deep enough to make a plastic cup flush with the ground and pour a bit of ethanol in it. (the ethanol sends them to bug heaven but preserves their worldly bodies) |
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| Once a week I set up 30 of these "pitfall" traps, and 48 hours later I collect them and bring them to the lab for identification. I was surprised to see how much the lab resembles an actual university science facility! |
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| It's easy to get carried away working at Toolik, especially after observing the dilligence of my fellow researchers. However, it's nice to have a view like this to take a break to. That guy on the roof is called a ptarmigan, or more commonly an "arctic chicken". |
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| These guys also hang out around camp. Known as arctic ground squirrels, they are slower (and plumper) than their tree-dwelling brethren. |
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| Lemon butter chicken with fresh mashed potatoes and my own creation from the salad bar. The food here is impeccable. As if having every meal prepared for you isn't good enough... |
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| How we keep our beer cold. (On the rare occasion we have time to enjoy one) |
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| So it's not ALL work and no play- the wood-fired sauna is a great weeknight reprieve, and on Saturdays we have a bonfire until the wee hours of the morning. (this photo was taken well after midnight!) |
While hard work is a staple at the station, so is eating well and enjoying the company. I have already met so many insightful people and have been amazed at their willingness to lend a helping hand to any task. I have learned so much in my first week, and I'm looking forward to what the next "sunrise" brings!
