Lindbergh H.S. Grad Looks Forward to New Discoveries as Part of Polaris Project

As Peter Han prepares to spend the next month in the Siberian Arctic, he's fully cognizant of the fact that limited space and storage during transport means he's only allowed to take 44 pounds of personal belongings. Like packing for a backpacking trip, Han has been meticulous in choosing what his essentials are, and what he can leave behind when he embarks on the prestigious research expedition called The Polaris Project, funded by the National Science Foundation. 

There is an indulgence, however. "Most of my weight is photography gear," he said. 

As much as Han looks forward to working with world renowned scientists to look further into the state of the ecosystem and implications of climate change, he's equally excited about the chance to share that work with the masses.

"If you say 'Arctic,' everyone has an idea in their head of what it is," Han said. "It affects us and we interact with it in ways you can't imagine if you don't go there to look at it. ... It's one of the clearest places to reflect climate change and you can see the early symptoms."

The entire project focuses on the carbon cycle, Han said, tracing carbon dioxide to see where it goes and how it changes the land and water. "I'd like to work with tracing how it flows from the land into the water," he said. 

But first, participants will engage in a few rounds of 'science speed dating' to meet the principal investigator they'd like to work with and form a project plan moving forward.

In Han's video application for the Polaris Project, he indicated a passion for the tundra since childhood. The interest came from growing up in Minnesota and specifically, canoeing. In 2012, Han embarked on a canoeing expedition on the Ballie, Back and Thelon Rivers with five other young men. He shared, "Now that I've been to the Arctic, I know this is where I will focus my life."

Han graduated from Lindbergh High School this past June and in August will start school at State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF). He plans to major in conservation biology - focused on environmental science with an emphasis on healthy ecosystems.

Meanwhile, as he prepares to leave for Russia this week, Han shares what he's most excited for as a participant on the Polaris Project:

"It's the same thing that draws me to science that draws me to traveling outside - it's really discovery," he said. "This is primary original research people are doing. There is this chance we could discover something new and bring new knowledge to the world. That would be the most exciting thing for me."

Han sets off for Russia July 2 and will be in the Arctic until July 28. Those interested in following his progress can log on to http://www.thepolarisproject.org/blog.