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Just how are climate change observations data collected and communicated? Over 40 years of consistent weather data from the Arctic Ocean has been collected through environmental sensors inside drifting ocean buoys by the International Arctic Buoy Programme (IABP). Sarah Johnson, Arctic Outreach Educator with the IABP, and climate change education specialist at Wild Rose Education will share her first hand experience from the Arctic collecting weather and sea ice data by deploying buoys on the sea ice 100 miles offshore from a helicopter. She will share stories of working with the local Indigenous people to get buoys deployed from Utqiagvik, Alaska (formerly Barrow), the work of dancing with the extreme dynamic daily weather in March and April while deploying buoys, and other real deal stories from the field... rather than the polished published science stories that typically leave out much of the colorful authentic details. She will also share how the geographic data is accessible to the public as well as the real challenges of ordinary folks and educators using big data sets. 

For more information about this project, check out: WildRoseEducation.com/Arctic

Sarah R. Johnson is a climate change environmental educator. As a freelancer she is focused on climate change, public lands, interdisciplinary watershed studies, geography, and teaching and learning through her small consulting business, Wild Rose Education. She designs and facilitates educator professional development workshops, public lands courses, Arctic STEM programs, and a multi-state regional climate change educator cohort. Sarah has created and facilitated numerous environmental education programs including the award winning Youth Water Leadership Program, and Project Learning Tree Canada's Climate and Forests curriculum (coming soon in 2023).

Sarah is also currently completing the Living School program through the Center for Action and Contemplation. Sarah has been based in western Colorado working to protect rivers and public lands through education since 2004 where she enjoys playing outside during all seasons, gardening, and making music.