Extreme Science: The U.S. Antarctic Program

Antarctica is the coldest, highest and driest of all seven continents.  It is one and a half times the areal size of the continental United States, with the vast majority of its landmass covered in thick ice sheets. 

In the surrounding Southern Ocean, sea ice covering an area about equal to the continent in size freezes and melts annually.  The Antarctic continent and surrounding ocean are distinct in being governed through an international treaty system comprised of the Antarctic Treaty and the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctica Marine Living Resources. The Antarctic Treaty System emphasizes peaceful uses of the region with a particular focus on scientific research.  The National Science Foundation manages the U.S. Antarctic science program on behalf of all of government. The U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) continually evolves with the frontiers of science and takes advantage of opportunities for discovery afforded by the unique life and environments of Antarctica.  This talk will describe current USAP goals and highlights as well as the challenges of providing logistics support to make research possible in this remote and intrinsically inhospitable region.

Kelly Kenison Falkner, Ph.D., is the Director of the Office of Polar Programs of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF).  She also serves as Director of the U.S. Antarctic Program, which NSF manages on behalf of all of U.S. government in accordance with Presidential Memorandum 6626 and the terms of the Antarctic Treaty System.  A member of the Senior Executive Service, Dr. Falkner oversees an annual budget of about $450 million covering scientific research and logistics programs in both the Arctic and Antarctic.

DETAILS: This program will be free and open to the public. Advanced registration encouraged.

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