Dear Dr. Sokol, My name is Tim Gray and Im writing form Maplewood New Jersey. My biology class was encouraged to check out your blog and it is very helpful in explaining what you and your colleagues are doing. If you dont mind I have a few questions for you:
1. It seems like and your colleagues all have different interests in what to be studying in Anartica. How do all of your research fields overlap? 2. Does the climate change have a huge effect on the glaciers, and if so how does it effect your research? What about the McCurdo Dry Valley make it so ideal for your research.
Hello Dr. Sokol, This is Mr. Novemsky's environmental science class at Columbia High School. We have a few questions to ask. My students want to know: 1. What is the most interesting thing that you have discovered? 2. Could the features that allow those organisms that you study to survive the cold help humans in cold climates? 3. If ice keeps melting, could McMurdo station be submerged? 4.Could you tell us a bit more about your daily routine, including what you do in your spare time? 5. Who sponsors and supports your research? 6. If someone wants to go do this research, how would we go about that? Thanks a lot for your time.
Hi Dr. Sokol, Fascinating blog! I've always wondered what it would be like to live, or just spend time in a place like Antarctica, so I'm glad my teacher suggested that we check this out. I'm also in Tim Grey's class from Maplewood, N.J. and had some questions as well. 1 . Has Kevin found that polar deserts and hot deserts similarly reflect the detrimental effects of climate change... or perhaps one more than the other? If so, which? I think many would presume that polar deserts would have more obvious effects, but it that necessarily the case? 2. If everyone in the United States were to do one thing to help the environment, what would you suggest they do? Start driving fuel efficient cars? Be more careful about water usage? Get solar panels? Switch to all organics? Something else? 2. Are serious storms a concern? Are they common? And can they come in really quickly while out researching?
Dear Dr. Sokol, Your blog is awesome! Really compelling and interesting and leaves me with a lot of questions about your current research. I am from a biology class in Maplewood NJ, in which my teacher told me to check out this blog and I am glad I did. I was hoping that you could answer a few questions for me. 1. Throughout your research, have you been able to find any significant differences or noticeable traits in the organisms you are studying, that allow them to survive in this harsh weather? 2. What types of climate changes typically occur in Antarctica? Are they always very drastic changes? 3. How do you guys organize you data? Do you base it off of the specific climate changes in each region? Thank you so much, and I am excited to continue reading about your research and time in Antarctica!
HI Dr. Sokol, Love the blog! It is really interesting to see scientists describing their research as they undertake it, especially when it is in a place as fascinating and harsh as Antarctica. This blog has helped me get a sense of what this kind of research looks like, and I really appreciate scientists who reach out to the general public about their research. I am in the same biology class as Emma, Sarah, and Tim, and I was hoping that you could answer a few questions. 1. How do you relate to other scientists doing research elsewhere in Antarctica? For instance, are there techniques and methods that you can benefit from that come from say, the research being done in places like Lake Vostok? Even though dry valleys and submerged lakes are clearly different, they are both undisturbed environments requiring great caution, and I was wondering if some of the concerns are the same? 2. As the climate warms and glacial melts in the Dry Valleys become more frequent, how do you expect the organisms you are studying to respond? Will more and more become active, or are there some that are suited to this cold that will die out? 3. What kind of infrastructure exists in Antarctica. If someone had a serious medical problem while doing research, are there sufficient resources nearby? If not, how would they be evacuated? I would imagine there are procedures in place, but I was curious as to what they are. Thank you so much for taking the time to blog about your research and answer questions, and I look forward to reading more about your research and experience.
It has been really fascinating to read about the research that you and your team are currently conducting in Antarctica. As a strong activist in the climate change world, I am very glad to see that you have been having success compiling all your work, and that your research will provide valuable information on climate change patterns in the antarctic. I recently finished some research on carbon sequestration in photoplankton and microalgae, and the quantification and change in biomass due to ocean warming patterns.
My question for you relates the the biotechnological procedures you are using to observe these microscopic organism you are studying.
1. What types of procedures are you using to manipulate the DNA in certain organisms you study to make it easier to view. (PCR? Plasmid vectors?)
2. How extensive is you laboratory in terms of equipment? I understand that you are in Antarctica, but do you have all the equipment that you might find back home at Virginia Tech?
3. What types of methods are you employing in population measurement of micro-organism species? How do you quantify the movement of certain populations in response to climate change?
Thank you for you time! I am looking forward to what you have to say, and keep up the good work!
Dear Dr. Sokol, Reading your blog, as well as other questions students like me have asked you has been very interesting. Like other students have posted before me, I am from Maplewood, NJ and it was my AP Enviro teacher who got me interested in the work you are doing. I just have a couple of questions about what life is like for you in Antarctica and how your research is being used. 1. Does the intense weather conditions ever interfere with you research? 2. What do you do for leisure? 3. How do you think your research will benefit science? 4. You said in your blog that ten years ago the glaciers were at a level that they melted to in just weeks. Do you think the lake levels will return to what they were before this recent melt, or do you think they can freeze back just as quickly as they melted? 5. Will this recent melt affect your research in any way?
Dear Dr. Sokol I'm an AP Biology student from Maplewood New Jersey. I'm in the same class as Jonah, Chris, Emma, Sarah, and Tim . I've been following your blog for the past month and i have a couple questions to ask you 1) You've been going to Antarctica for a couple years now. How do you set yourself goals regarding your research?
2) How does climate change directly affect your research with microscopic organisms?
3) Have you ever had to change the way you approached an experiment or research topic because of Antarctica's extreme climate
Hi everyone, I think I have posted responses to everyone's questions on the main page. Sorry it took so long. My schedule has been a little hectic lately. Feel free to ask follow up questions, or message me if I missed something. Thanks for writing!
Dear Dr. Sokol,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Tim Gray and Im writing form Maplewood New Jersey. My biology class was encouraged to check out your blog and it is very helpful in explaining what you and your colleagues are doing. If you dont mind I have a few questions for you:
1. It seems like and your colleagues all have different interests in what to be studying in Anartica. How do all of your research fields overlap?
2. Does the climate change have a huge effect on the glaciers, and if so how does it effect your research?
What about the McCurdo Dry Valley make it so ideal for your research.
Thank you for your time
Tim
Hi Tim. Thanks for reading our blog! Keep an eye out on the main page. We'll post answers to the questions there as soon as we can.
DeleteHello Dr. Sokol,
ReplyDeleteThis is Mr. Novemsky's environmental science class at Columbia High School. We have a few questions to ask. My students want to know:
1. What is the most interesting thing that you have discovered?
2. Could the features that allow those organisms that you study to survive the cold help humans in cold climates?
3. If ice keeps melting, could McMurdo station be submerged?
4.Could you tell us a bit more about your daily routine, including what you do in your spare time?
5. Who sponsors and supports your research?
6. If someone wants to go do this research, how would we go about that?
Thanks a lot for your time.
Hi Mr. Novemsky et al. Thanks for the questions! We'll post a blog entry on the main page with answers.
ReplyDeleteHi Dr. Sokol,
ReplyDeleteFascinating blog! I've always wondered what it would be like to live, or just spend time in a place like Antarctica, so I'm glad my teacher suggested that we check this out. I'm also in Tim Grey's class from Maplewood, N.J. and had some questions as well.
1 . Has Kevin found that polar deserts and hot deserts similarly reflect the detrimental effects of climate change... or perhaps one more than the other? If so, which? I think many would presume that polar deserts would have more obvious effects, but it that necessarily the case?
2. If everyone in the United States were to do one thing to help the environment, what would you suggest they do? Start driving fuel efficient cars? Be more careful about water usage? Get solar panels? Switch to all organics? Something else?
2. Are serious storms a concern? Are they common? And can they come in really quickly while out researching?
Thanks so much!!
Dear Dr. Sokol,
ReplyDeleteYour blog is awesome! Really compelling and interesting and leaves me with a lot of questions about your current research. I am from a biology class in Maplewood NJ, in which my teacher told me to check out this blog and I am glad I did. I was hoping that you could answer a few questions for me.
1. Throughout your research, have you been able to find any significant differences or noticeable traits in the organisms you are studying, that allow them to survive in this harsh weather?
2. What types of climate changes typically occur in Antarctica? Are they always very drastic changes?
3. How do you guys organize you data? Do you base it off of the specific climate changes in each region?
Thank you so much, and I am excited to continue reading about your research and time in Antarctica!
HI Dr. Sokol,
ReplyDeleteLove the blog! It is really interesting to see scientists describing their research as they undertake it, especially when it is in a place as fascinating and harsh as Antarctica. This blog has helped me get a sense of what this kind of research looks like, and I really appreciate scientists who reach out to the general public about their research. I am in the same biology class as Emma, Sarah, and Tim, and I was hoping that you could answer a few questions.
1. How do you relate to other scientists doing research elsewhere in Antarctica? For instance, are there techniques and methods that you can benefit from that come from say, the research being done in places like Lake Vostok? Even though dry valleys and submerged lakes are clearly different, they are both undisturbed environments requiring great caution, and I was wondering if some of the concerns are the same?
2. As the climate warms and glacial melts in the Dry Valleys become more frequent, how do you expect the organisms you are studying to respond? Will more and more become active, or are there some that are suited to this cold that will die out?
3. What kind of infrastructure exists in Antarctica. If someone had a serious medical problem while doing research, are there sufficient resources nearby? If not, how would they be evacuated? I would imagine there are procedures in place, but I was curious as to what they are.
Thank you so much for taking the time to blog about your research and answer questions, and I look forward to reading more about your research and experience.
Dear Dr. Sokol,
ReplyDeleteIt has been really fascinating to read about the research that you and your team are currently conducting in Antarctica. As a strong activist in the climate change world, I am very glad to see that you have been having success compiling all your work, and that your research will provide valuable information on climate change patterns in the antarctic. I recently finished some research on carbon sequestration in photoplankton and microalgae, and the quantification and change in biomass due to ocean warming patterns.
My question for you relates the the biotechnological procedures you are using to observe these microscopic organism you are studying.
1. What types of procedures are you using to manipulate the DNA in certain organisms you study to make it easier to view. (PCR? Plasmid vectors?)
2. How extensive is you laboratory in terms of equipment? I understand that you are in Antarctica, but do you have all the equipment that you might find back home at Virginia Tech?
3. What types of methods are you employing in population measurement of micro-organism species? How do you quantify the movement of certain populations in response to climate change?
Thank you for you time! I am looking forward to what you have to say, and keep up the good work!
Stay warm!
- Jonah
Dear Dr. Sokol,
ReplyDeleteReading your blog, as well as other questions students like me have asked you has been very interesting. Like other students have posted before me, I am from Maplewood, NJ and it was my AP Enviro teacher who got me interested in the work you are doing. I just have a couple of questions about what life is like for you in Antarctica and how your research is being used.
1. Does the intense weather conditions ever interfere with you research?
2. What do you do for leisure?
3. How do you think your research will benefit science?
4. You said in your blog that ten years ago the glaciers were at a level that they melted to in just weeks. Do you think the lake levels will return to what they were before this recent melt, or do you think they can freeze back just as quickly as they melted?
5. Will this recent melt affect your research in any way?
- Kristin
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDear Dr. Sokol
ReplyDeleteI'm an AP Biology student from Maplewood New Jersey. I'm in the same class as Jonah, Chris, Emma, Sarah, and Tim . I've been following your blog for the past month and i have a couple questions to ask you
1) You've been going to Antarctica for a couple years now. How do you set yourself goals regarding your research?
2) How does climate change directly affect your research with microscopic organisms?
3) Have you ever had to change the way you approached an experiment or research topic because of Antarctica's extreme climate
Hi everyone, I think I have posted responses to everyone's questions on the main page. Sorry it took so long. My schedule has been a little hectic lately. Feel free to ask follow up questions, or message me if I missed something. Thanks for writing!
ReplyDelete