Hi everyone! Like the previous posts have said, we had a mini 2009 Polaris Project reunion at the State of the Arctic Conference in Miami last week. It was great to see everyone again, and attending this conference made me really excited to go back to Cherskiy this summer.

Boyd, Blaize, Moira, Claire, Erin, and Travis have pretty much summarized was happened at the conference in their posts. It was exciting to listen to and meet scientists in the field, and I came home with new information, perspectives, and research ideas. I would like to add that attending the conference made me realize how important Arctic science is going to be in the coming years, both in terms of science and international policy. Approaching the Arctic from the perspective of a scientist, it’s sometimes easy to forget that the physical and ecological changes we are studying have profound consequences on the people living there and nations with economic, political, and security interests in the region. As we carry forward with our research, we should remember the social implications behind our science.

To introduce myself, my name is Joanne Heslop and I am a sophomore double majoring in ecohydrology and environmental studies at the University of Nevada, Reno. Watersheds and their soils are a nutrient source to lake ecosystems. The delivery of these nutrients to the lake could change rates of carbon cycling and methane production. This coming summer, I will be studying patterns in soil soluble nutrient leaching potentials within the Shuchi Lake watershed and how the addition to these nutrients to the lake could change carbon cycling rates.

Beautiful Shuchi Lake

New students should feel free to contact me with any questions on what to expect! I look forward to meeting the new students and seeing everyone again in July!