Hello! My name is Juanita Ryan. I live in San Jose, California.
Once known as the "valley of heart's delight" because of its
endless acres of orchards and miles of fruit and vegetable fields,
San Jose is now known as the "heart of Silicon Valley". Computer
companies, start-ups, and hi-tech businesses now abound where
fields and orchards once grew.
I teach at Toyon Elementary School in East San Jose. I have
a self-contained 5th grade classroom, but I am also responsible
for teaching science to all three of our 5th grade classes.
This is great fun for me!
Several years ago I became a member of the American Institute
of Aeronautics & Astronautics (AIAA). Through this organization
my class and I have been able to work with scientists, researchers,
and engineers in the Bay Area.
They have provided us with classroom presentations and science
experiments, as well as field trip opportunities to
their places of employment. Most recently, my class has been
involved in the analyses of rocks from the Antarctic dry valleys.
These "real life" experiences with "real" scientists in the field
has served to peak my students' interest in science . . . and
my interest in Antarctica. I can't wait
to go!
Antarctic Search for Meteorites
Dr. Ralph P. Harvey of Case Western Reserve University
Meteorites offer information about the physical and chemical makeup of our solar system as well as insight into its earliest history. Antarctica provides a parcticularly rich environment for collection because the meteorites rest on the ice surface and thus are easier to locate visually. The cold, pristine polar environment creates a setting for collection of relatively unweathered and uncontaminated samples.
Since 1976, this team has recovered more than 10,000 meteorite specimens from locations along the Transantarctic Mountains. During the 2001-02 field season, ANSMET's field party will visit the Meteorite Hills region near the headwaters of Darwin Glacier. Check out http://www.webexpeditions.net/ansmet/ for the expedition Web pages. Systematic searching at this site began last season, and 740 meteorite specimens were recovered. This season will extend systematic recoveries to include regions only sporadically visited in the past.
Be sure to check out the images in the journal entries!
