Between 2007 and 2013 the US National Science Foundation (NSF) are funding an educational research experience, (managed by the Arctic Research Consortium of the US) called PolarTREC, which enables K-12 teachers to improve science education by working closely with polar scientists for 2-6 weeks. Many NSF-funded scientists also contribute to education and outreach activities through a wide range of other initiatives.
From 2003 to 2010 the ARMADA Research and Mentoring Experiences for Teachers was an NSF-led program that allowed US K-12 teachers to participate in ocean, polar and environmental research alongside scientists . ARMADA master teachers were paired with leading scientists participating in lab, field or shipboard research and, inspired by their experiences, on return they mentored local teachers to integrate the research experience into the classroom, thus inspiring students with real and current science.
In December 2004 two students and two lecturers from West Nottinghamshire College in Mansfield, UK, completed a 9 day expedition to the South Pole as part of the College’s Outdoor Education Course. This was the first team from an educational institution to reach the South Pole and one member aged 18 was the youngest person recorded to have reached the South Pole.
A number of websites have been set up by Antarctic organizations, expeditions and educational institutions. Some informative, interactive websites full of classroom tools and links to resources to facilitate education on Antarctica may be found at such sites as NSF's web pages dedicated to Education and Outreach at the South Pole, Discovering Antarctica, the United States Antarctic Program (USAP) , and the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR). An example of a website set up by an expedition may be found at South Pole Quest.
This class of Year 7 students in Norway takes special interest in Antarctica on the anniversary of Amundsen reaching the South Pole. Their Norwegian flag reads "Greetings [to Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station] from 7c, Vigernes, Lillestrom, Norway. We celebrate 100 years 1911-2011." © Colin Harris, 2011, Environmental Research & Assessment