I am a Virginia teacher and I will be going to Antarctica on December 16, 1994, as part of a grant program sponsored by the National Science Foundation's Office of Polar Programs and Office of Teacher Enhancement. The grant program selected five teachers and five high school students to participate in five different scientific research projects taking place this year in Antarctica.

My project will take me to the actual South Pole and I will be working with the Center for Astrophysical Research in Antarctica, (CARA). The CARA scientists are using infrared telescopes to study the galaxies to unravel the origins of our universe. My project is to provide a telecommunications link between the scientists at the South Pole and you.

During the austral summer, October - February, the sun never sets at the south pole so there is lots of daylight to get things done. I will be helping CARA install new equipment to get ready for the long polar winter when most of their observations take place.

I will also post information files, activities and research information to help you become more familiar with both Antarctica and the work that CARA is doing there. My hope is that students from Kindergarten to 12th grade will find something of interest in this project and that everyone will participate in some way.

April Keck Lloyd