Jacquelyn (Jackie) Hams is an Assistant Professor of Earth Science at Los Angeles Valley Community College where she teaches Physical Geology, Introduction to Oceanography, Environmental Science, and Planetary Science to many first generation college students. Ms. Hams has a scientific background in environmental and subsurface investigations in terrestrial and marine environments and experience working with Fortune 100 companies as an Environmental Consultant and as a petroleum geologist. Ms. Hams holds a masters degree in Geology and enjoys sailing and outdoor photography.

Vicky Lytle is the Associate Director for Education at the Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets (CReSIS) at the University of Kansas. She leads the Center’s educational component, which collaborates with area schools to provide motivation and encouragement to students to pursue careers in science. This objective is achieved through classroom visits, development of curricular activities, and informal science activities and events. She is excited about establishing a long-term relationship with Ms. Hams to further CReSIS outreach activities and use polar research as a tool to engage students.

The research team will be working at the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) drill site, in western Antarctica. The WAIS divide sits on top of 3,485 meters of ice, thicker than nine Empire State Buildings stacked on top of one another! The WAIS is classified as a marine-based ice sheet, meaning that its bed lies well below sea level and its edges flow into floating ice shelves. The WAIS is bounded by the Ross Ice Shelf, the Ronne Ice Shelf, and outlet glaciers that drain into the Amundsen Sea.