PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (Oct. 18, 2023) – She’s on top of the world, not just because she is in her junior year at Prairie View A&M University. Kira McLeod, a nutrition major and Plano, Texas, native, recently represented PVAMU on a three-week arctic research excursion with Dartmouth College thanks to support from the Government of Greenland and the U.S. National Science Foundation. The trip took place through the Joint Science Education Project (JSEP), which convenes high school and university students and educators from Greenland, Denmark and the United States to study this rapidly changing polar region.
For Kira, this adventure of a lifetime was a long time coming. Initially, she was supposed to participate in the program during high school before pivoting to an online version due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When another chance to participate in person came along, she signed up to be part of a group that included 16 students from the United States, Denmark and Greenland and seven mentors.
As expected, visiting the Arctic Circle in person hit differently. A highlight included visiting the program’s research station at the Summit Camp on an ice shelf at 10,000 feet altitude.
“We got off the plane and were surrounded by white,” recalls McLeod. “On another day, we ate lunch outside with a view of a glacier. It was the most amazing thing.”
In addition to fueling her academic interest in improving access to nutrition for underserved communities, the trip introduced Kira to environmental issues affecting the planet. Together with students representing a variety of cultural backgrounds and academic disciplines, Kira studied ice, soil and local ecology critical to gaining an understanding of this region that is feeling the effects of climate change.
“Like tree rings, looking into ice cores provides a snapshot of the Earth’s climate history through all of the layers,” McLeod adds. “The ice tells a big part of that story.”
Kira also learned a lot about herself.
“It was eye-opening,” says McLeod. “The experience provided me with a deep appreciation for scientific research that is being used to benefit communities in Antarctica and around the world, including with regard to how we grow and consume our food in light of a rapidly changing climate.”
The JSTEP trip also introduced Kira to enjoying the outdoors. “We went on hikes all of the time, something I hope to do more of here in Texas.” In fact, she is starting a hiking club at PVAMU. Look for Kira on campus to talk about Antarctica, Texas weather and other topics of interest with the recent polar explorer.
By Sara Kaplaniak
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