First Education Project of its kind will see 7 Irish Secondary Students travel to Antarctica to research global warming, climate change and wildlife.

Pat Falvey, Explorer/Educator is one of the world's great adventurers, having completed 62 expeditions successfully, including the South Pole and summiting Everest on two occasions in his quest to examine the depths of human endurance.

In February 2008 shortly after returning from the South Pole, Pat under his Corporate Social Responsibility Charter, founded the Beyond Endurance Adventure-Based Learning Experience (BE ABLE) Programme which seeks to use “adventure learning” to create awareness of global issues and to encourage active citizenship in young people. Science and technology are used extensively to demonstrate their utility in solving these issues and as potential career paths for students.  

The primary focus of the BE ABLE Programme is to empower the youth of today using adventure based learning projects like Transition Year Antarctic Voyage of Discovery  (http://www.TYACT2008.com) which combines real science/investigation and real adventure integrated in to the curriculum.  

Students are assisted both in the classroom and actually out in the real-world to seek out and find solutions to climate change and other global issues while utilising the very best of modern technologies including spatial technologies and with the help of professional scientists who act as mentors to the students for one year.  

Selected students will be offered a unique opportunity to work on the cutting edge of scientific research "in the field" by assisting highly skilled scientists on site in the Antarctic and in turn use the knowledge and experience gained to generate increased public awareness of the various issues investigated on their return to their classmates in Ireland. The first group of 10 Secondary Students (chosen from schools throughout Ireland including three from disadvantaged areas) will be travelling on the Voyage of Discovery to the Antarctic on November 6th 2008 for three weeks. 

ALLOWING THE CLASSROOM TO GO FURTHER THAN EVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE

It is rarely possible for teachers and students to travel to remote places to undertake valuable school field studies. Some places are just too far and time issues all reflect the difficulty in taking students outside the classroom. Beyond Endurance Education Project will take selected students on scientific expeditions to far flung locations such as Antarctica, to be followed by the Himalayas, Tanzania, Eastern Russia, Patagonia and the Arctic Circle, while communicating and working with students throughout the country who will learn from their Adventure Peers.

TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION COMBINED WITH GRIPPING ADVENTURE!

Students that remain in the classroom can participate in the TYACT Project in numerous ways using technologies supported by Microsoft Ireland who is the preferred Technology Partner for the Project. Activities such as plotting the journey that their fellow students take using Microsoft Live Maps and other Spatial Technologies will enable students to understand what is happening and where. Mapping Penguin colonies across the Voyage and plotting sea temperatures as they are relayed by satellite back to the classroom.  Data will be captured using GPS, sensing technologies, dataloggers, and digital microscopes and relayed to schools connected to the Project portal.

Ever wondered what it feels like to stand on Antarctic ice. Is it hard, soft or slippery? Students can ask one of their peers to actually find out. How cold is it – well students can ask them to take a temperature reading and record the result with their data loggers! How tall is an Adelie Penguin? Stand next to one and measure!

By logging on to Voyage blogs, podcasts and datastreams recorded and broadcast daily during the expeditions, students in classrooms across Ireland can begin taking positive action to reduce their carbon footprint and that of their fellow students on the Voyage and research questions for the Live Video Broadcasts. 

What is that Scientist doing on the iceberg? Just ask and they can tell you and show you as you sit there in the classroom. 

The Project Resources Portal will provide starting points including numerous class worksheets for research in to all things relevant to the Project and the scientific investigations being carried out and connecting everything to the relevant parts of the curriculum.

REAL SCIENCE – IT’S NOT JUST BOOKS!

There will be 6 innovative Scientific Research Investigations undertaken by Scientists on the TYACT Voyage of Discovery to the Antarctic. 

The Science Programme is coordinated under the direction of Dr. Sandra Riordan who ensures that all participating Third Level Institutions take on the role of mentors to the students and actively seeks to increase the number of Universities working on TYACT. Scientists from GMIT and LIT are working with the Programme team to develop proposals for TYACT and future Expeditions as well as sending out scientists to work on the Voayge of Discovery

Frederick T. bear

BE ABLE  also works with Primary Students using the innovative Adventure Bear, Frederick T. Bear who travels around the world on various expeditions in a bid to help save the planet and relays his experiences through his website, blog, podcasts, and on his return from each expedition - personal appearances to children in schools throughout Ireland.  

Children are encouraged to assist “Freddy” in his researches on Global issues such as Climate Change by following in “Freddy’s Footprints” a series of simple actions to improve the world around them. One simple action will be to turn off their TV for thirty minutes each day and do some simple but activities including walking, playing  and reading. Students of all ages will be encouraged and actively facilitated to record their "classroom adventures" using blogging and moderated social networking will be encouraged as an extension of the school learning community using online tools provided by the Project and some of its partners. 

Photos by Priory Studio, Dublin