2023: E5: ITEX LIVE FROM ATQASUK, ALASKA!

Guests: Robert Hollister, Judy Hollister, Taylor Doorn, Jenna Boelkins, Scott Branham, Justin Blough

The International Tundra Experiment (ITEX) is a network of researchers examining the impacts of warming on the tundra ecosystems. Bob Hollister leads the Arctic Ecology Program with Grand Valley State University has been traveling to Atqasuk, Alaska since the 1990s. The O&E Team works with the Hollister team to host an annual BBQ event in June in the village, feeding 200+ residents. Bob is no stranger to the Meade River school, learning from the students and developing activities for them to learn about environmental science through plant identification. The ITEX project uses greenhouses, plots, and other studies to monitor tundra vegetation and flowers to observe how the warming climate has an affected the north slope. These sites are now among the longest continually monitored vegetation studies in the Arctic. In this episode, we are live from Atqasuk to learn about Arctic botany, how the north slope has evolved, and how unique Atqasuk is.

Find out more about their research at:

https://www.gvsu.edu/itex/