Why Antarctica Matters

Thom Wilch, Ph.D. (Antarctic Geologist). Professor of Geological Sciences.

Antarctica is a mysterious and remarkable place. Almost completely covered by ice, it is the coldest, driest, windiest and most remote continent on Earth. The continent, its ice, and surrounding ocean are owned by no one but managed by an international treaty system that has set it aside for peaceful purposes—scientific research and environmental conservation.

Antarctic science continues to provide surprisingly important clues to understanding the dynamics of Earth’s natural systems and our universe. Thirty-two governments maintain more than 90 scientific research stations in Antarctica. Each year, more than 5,000 scientists and support personnel and 40,000 tourists travel to Antarctica. This course will examine what draws scientists and others to Antarctica, how they live and work there, how and why the continent is protected, and what we are learning from ongoing scientific research.

Specific topics will include: the geopolitics of Antarctica and the Antarctic Treaty System; environmental protection and science, tourism, and commercial activities; living and working in Antarctica; current research on the Antarctic Ice Sheet and climate change (ice dynamics, past ice and environmental history, the Thwaites Glacier initiative, and future sea-level predictions); and other current research in biology, geology, astronomy and astrophysics.

Thursdays 2:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. October 4, 11, 18, 23.

Location: TBD