NSF Invites Media to Report on Arctic Research Cruise to Study Early Indicators of Climate Change

The National Science Foundation (NSF), through its Office of Polar Programs, is accepting written requests from professional journalists to join a research cruise in Alaskan waters as part of the Western Arctic Shelf-Basin Interactions project (SBI), which looks at possible indicators of climate change in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas.

Application Deadline: April 15, 2002

SBI is a part of the Ocean-Atmosphere-Ice Interactions component of the NSF's Arctic System Science program. The Office of Naval Research jointly sponsors the research. SBI's goal is to improve scientists' abilities to assess the impacts of global change on the physical and biogeochemical connections among the Western Arctic Ocean's shelves, slopes and basins. An accumulated body of research indicates that climate change will significantly affect the physical and biological links between the relatively shallow Arctic shelves and adjacent ocean basins.

For more information about SBI, see http://utk-biogw.bio.utk.edu/SBI.nsf

The journalists selected will go to sea for about one week of the cruise aboard a U.S. Coast Guard icebreaking research vessel. The ship is scheduled to depart from Nome, Alaska on July 17 and return to Nome on August 26.
U.S. media receive preference in selection.

Application: Applicants must submit no more than two typed pages -- no e-mails, please -- detailing specifically why they wish to cover this cruise.

A selection committee of Arctic program science and logistics personnel and media officers from NSF's Office of Legislative and Public Affairs (OLPA) will review all proposals and select the finalists. The committee looks for proposals that indicate an understanding of the nature and challenges of NSF's scientific enterprise in the Arctic and the desire to communicate that understanding to the public.

Proposals from print, television, and radio journalists, as well as from on-line news operations, are welcome. U.S. mass media that serve primarily language-minority audiences are also encouraged to apply.

Costs: Reporters or their employers pay for round-trip transportation to -- and accommodations in -- Barrow, Alaska. Reporters must visit NSF headquarters in Arlington, Va., at their own expense, for pre-trip planning. NSF furnishes cold-weather clothing solely for use in the field, as well as housing, transportation and food while on the cruise, at no cost to the reporters.

How To Apply: Contact NSF (by phone or by e-mail) as soon as possible to express interest and to obtain background materials. Freelancers must supply evidence of a firm commitment to publish or air their work on their prospective employer's letterhead.

Send the letter and any supporting materials (such as a limited number of clips or videotaped segments) to:

National Science Foundation,
Office of Legislative and Public Affairs
4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1245
Arlington, VA 22230
Attn: Peter West

For more information contact:
Peter West (703) 292-8070/pwest@nsf.gov