Actvity Summary: This suite of short activities opens a window to both the scientific motivation and impact of a coring expedition, using an Arctic Expedition as a case study.


The question “Why Drill there?” is addressed at multiple levels, so students can experience the scientific rationale behind drilling the sea floor at a particular location. A subset of research results are also investigated and compared with the current scientific paradigm on Cenozoic climate evolution to demonstrate that science is an evolving process.


  • Standard B: Science as inquiry
  • Standard C: Physical science
  • Standard E: Earth and space science
  • Standard F: Science and technology

  • System and system models

  • Asking questions and defining problems
  • Planning and carrying out investigations
  • Analyzing and interpreting data
  • Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information

  • ESS1. C The history of the planet Earth
  • ESS2.B Plate tectonics and large-scale system interactions

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