Proceedings magazine is a communication tool for the Coast Guard's Marine Safety & Security Council. Each quarterly magazine focuses on a specific theme of interest to the marine industry.
Issue link: https://uscgproceedings.epubxp.com/i/149372
Scientifc Understanding Innovation in Education Preparing cadets for a changing Arctic. byLTVictoriaFutch MarineScienceInstructor U.S.CoastGuardAcademy Dr. Martha McConnell Polar Programme Manager TheInternationalUnionConservationNature In2012,inresponsetotheincreasedattentiontoward theCoastGuard'sroleinpolarregions,themarine sciencesectionattheU.S.CoastGuardAcademyhas preparedapolaroceanographyandpolicycourseto educateitscadetsonArcticpolicy,CoastGuardhistoryinthepolarregions,currentpolaroceanconditions,andthelinkagesbetweenpolaroceansand climate. Polar Oceanography and Policy Course Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the polar regions,academystaffmembersdesignedthiscourse togivecadetsafoundationinpolaroceanography andtointegratepolicyconsiderations,asCoastGuard missionsincreaseinthepolarregions.Thisallows cadetstounderstandthetransitionfromscientifc researchtoCoastGuardpolicydecisions. Thecourseconsistsofthreesubcategories: ■ Arctic and Antarctic environment: This section ■ ■ Cadet Josie Cartaya performs an experiment to test the insulating qualities of blubber versus fur or feathers. Photos courtesy of Dr. Martha McConnell at the Polar Programme for International Union Conservation Nature. 86 Proceedings Summer 2013 includes information on the polar terrain, sea iceformation,andthedominantbiologyineach region. Polar climate change: This section covers the AntarcticandArcticpaleoclimaterecordaswell asmodernclimatevariabilityobservations. Polar policy and Coast Guard missions: This sectionfocusesonthemainpoliciesthatgovernthe AntarcticandArcticandtheCoastGuard'srolein each locale. Understanding the Whole Picture One of the most challenging aspects of teaching a science-basedcourseistyingthetheoreticalscience toreal-worldapplications.Tobringtheclassbeyond informationaccumulation,instructorsinvitepolar scientistsasguestlecturersandassigncadetstwo projectsthattiethecoursematerialtocurrentworld issues. continued on page 88 www.uscg.mil/proceedings