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Going south for the winter
Carol Vleck and a group of Iowa State biology students didn't tour
Antarctica for the warm weather
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Carol Vleck recently took a group of ISU students on a trip they'll never
forget. After two weeks in Antarctica, many of the students are already
planning to do what Vleck hoped they would: go back to conduct research.
"I would like to think some would like to go back to actually conduct
research or work there," the assistant professor zoology and genetics
said.
Alyssa Kunz, a senior biology major, can't wait to go back. She's applying
for a summer internship with Massachusetts's Woods Hole Oceanographic
Institute to continue arctic research.
"Before I went on this trip, I wanted to work in a zoo after graduation,"
Kunz said. "But I found out that isn't what I really want to do now.
I want to do research in Antarctica. I can't wait to go back."
Amy Bergdale, a junior biology major, is using her experience to educate
others about Antarctica. She has already given presentations to elementary
children in her hometown of Mason City.
The recent trip was Vleck's third time in Antarctica, where she researches
penguins. Her research chiefly deals with animals who live in extreme
environments including desert birds.
But this trip was more educational than research as she helped introduce
Antarctica to the other 13 travelers.
The Antarctica journey began long before the actual trip. As the latest
in a series of international field trips sponsored by the biology department,
participants attended a semester-long seminar where they learned everything
from the continent's early exploration to its biology, meteorology and
climate changes.
But the seminar couldn't prepare the students for what they saw first-hand.
"It was just unbelievable." said Terra Bailey, senior biology
major. "I have photos but it doesn't show it all. It's just so huge
and untouched that words can't do it justice."
Each student had his or her own reason for going. Kunz wanted to see animals
in their natural habitat, while Bergdale took the opportunity to observe
the Minke whale. Bailey wanted an adventure before she graduated. And
Joe Hynek, a senior computer engineering and biosystems major, wanted
to see a "frontier that man hasn't taken over yet."
The group spent five full days in Antarctica on an old Russian passenger
liner at the height of the summer after spending time in Argentina. While
in Antarctica, Vleck and the students got to explore the Gerlache Straits
and Nemayer Channel where they visited islands inhabited by millions of
penguins, cormorants and seals.
During their Antarctica stay, the group went ashore twice a day in Zodiac
boats. There they spent between two and three hours at each stop. During
their stops, the students observed the wildlife, particularly the penguins,
or did a little exploring on their own. A small group even swam in the
ocean at Deception Island that was heated by an active volcano.
"The wildlife was indifferent to you," said Jim Keck, a junior
biology and philosophy major. "Penguins have no natural land predators,
so they would wander around you without really giving you a second thought."
"I was surprised they (penguins)weren't bothered by our presence,"
Kunz said. "We would be snapping photos left and right and they didn't
react at all."
All in all, it was an adventure that few will ever forget.
"I really didn't know what to expect," said Travis Franck, a
senior computer science major. "It turned out to be a really great
opportunity."
Around LAS
March 6-19, 2000
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