Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center

The Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center(BPCRC) at The Ohio State University – named in honor of Admiral Richard E. Byrd, America’s most famous polar explorer – is recognized internationally as a leader in polar, alpine, and climate research. There are ten research groups at BPCRC, along with a Library, Archival Program, the Polar Rock Repository, and a team of support staff. Research at the Center focuses on the role of cold regions in the Earth’s overall climate system, and encompasses geological sciences, geochemistry, glaciology, paleoclimatology, meteorology, remote sensing, ocean dynamics, and the history of polar exploration. The program will consist of an overview of the research conducted and brief history of the Center as an OSU institution, and a tour of the facility, including a look at field equipment, the ice core freezer, and polar rock repository.

Laura Kissel, the Polar Curator for the BPCRC Archival Program since 1996, will give a brief presentation about her role in the Polar Archives. Her primary responsibilities involve assisting students, scholars, and other researchers in using the many collections held by the Polar Archives that document the history of polar exploration.  Laura is very active in education and outreach opportunities, working with the Center and the OSU Libraries to promote the collections. This can include public programming events such as lectures, tours, and exhibits. Laura has a B.S. in Human Ecology from The Ohio State University, and a Master’s in Library and Information Science from Kent State University.

The BPCRC tours will be guided by Jason Cervenec and Stacy Porter.  Jason, Education and Outreach Director for BPCRC, earned a B.S. in Biology and M.Ed. in Secondary Science Education from The Ohio State University and began his career as a high school science teacher where he taught for more than a decade. Stacy, a postdoctoral researcher with the ice core paleoclimatology group, received her Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences from The Ohio State University.

WHEN: Wednesday, August 15
9:30-10:00 am: networking & light refreshments
10:00-10:30am: presentation by Laura Kissel
10:30-12:00pm: tour of Byrd Polar Center

WHERE: Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center
Ohio State University
1090 Carmack Rd.
Columbus, OH 43210

REGISTER here by Monday, August 13