There are many pathways for exploring Antarctica and unlocking the secrets of the ice, from studying the depths of the marine environment to explorations of distant stars and galaxies. We have chosen to focus on the geography of the continent and its importance as a scientific laboratory by bringing you up to date information on current global change research. The information we have gathered is designed to compliment a wide range of topics whether you are studying the world's regions, learning about weather and climate, or just interested in environmental change.

	Explore Antarctica features general information about Antarctica and some of the research taking place there. Topics include the geography of Antarctica, early explorations and the importance of the continent for earth and space science.
	Ice Core Research offers an introduction to the ice core time machine and how scientists use ice core data to interpret global environmental changes. There is a special emphasis on results from previous ice core studies and what they tell us about past climates and future change scenarios.
	Scientific Expedition provides additional background on the International Trans-Antarctic Scientific Expedition. Find out who these explorers are and the kind of research they are doing.
	Expedition Headquarters is the most dynamic part of the site where we will follow this four year expedition by featuring regular reports from the team while they are in the field, images from their trip and results from their experiments. There is also an opportunity for you to get involved by sending messages to the team.

Every effort has been made to relate the activities and content of this web site to the National Science Education Curriculum Standards. You will find that the activities relate directly to several of the Unifying Concepts and Processes, especially:

• systems, order, and organization;
• evidence, models, and explanation; and
• change, constancy and measurement.

The Benchmarks for Science Literacy articulate the philosophy that guided us through the development of this site:

"When people know how scientists go about their work, reach scientific conclusions and what the limitations of such conclusions are, they are more likely to react thoughtfully to scientific claims and less likely to reject them out of hand or accept them uncritically. Once people gain a good sense of how science operates, along with a basic inventory of key science concepts as a basis for learning more later, they can follow the science adventure story as it plays out during their lifetimes."

We hope that you find this site useful and that you will return often to continue you own Antarctic adventure!