Bowerlab: A Pioneer in Scientific Research and Innovation
Exploring the Southern Ocean and Antarctic Research :
In December 2006, the Bowser Lab unveiled the "Across the Southern Ocean" Cybergallery. This online exhibition features the work of New Zealand-based artist Claire Beynon, who collaborated with our field team in 2005. The exhibit, "Route Markings," opened in Dunedin, New Zealand, on November 24, 2006, and the companion website serves as a virtual gallery showcasing her work alongside several Antarctic artists. The project allows visitors to explore the fusion of art and science, offering a unique perspective on the polar environment through creative expression.
Additionally, we invite you to follow our field team's journey during a typical field season in the Explorers Cove Diary. This provides firsthand accounts of our daily activities, with contributions from Tina King and Bob Sanders, who share their personal experiences in the icy wilderness. Our fieldwork also includes the ROMEO project, which focuses on the remote observation of microscopic organisms in Antarctica, contributing to our understanding of the region's unique ecosystems.
Antarctic Research Projects and Discoveries
Our research extends beyond the creative arts and diaries, as we engage in groundbreaking scientific work in Antarctica. Supported by the NSF Antarctic Biology and Medicine program, we are using the diverse Antarctic foraminiferal assemblage to answer questions about the evolution of ancient forams and to explore their ability to utilize different trophic strategies. These studies are essential to uncovering the mysteries of life in extreme environments.
In addition to our scientific endeavors, we provide a wealth of information through the Explorers Cove Datastore, which contains data from our research sites in Antarctica. Our work, as featured in the Antarctic Sun, has attracted attention from many, including photographer Norbert Wu, who dove under Antarctic ice to document our camp and research efforts. We also provide practical advice on how to travel in Antarctica and share tales from the field, including those from the 19th-century explorer James Eights.
Science is useless unless it's shared, and most kids are born scientists. (What do you expect from a species that's asking "Why?" by the time they turn three?) We believe in getting people involved with science, no matter their age or experience level.
Skittle Core Exercise: Using forams to teach math.
Lectures: We're available to talk to your class.
Forams on the Hudson: We collaborate with the crew of the Half Moon, an educational replica of the first European ship to explore the Hudson River. Half Moon student crewmembers have helped us find foraminifera living in the Hudson River estuary.
James Eights: A 19th century Albany native, he explored the Antarctic and described a number of new species. Our James Eights Resource Pages introduce you to this scholar and artist.