Huxley professor Andy Bunn traveled through Russia last summer passing through 11 time zones with 30 other American and Russian scientists to work along the Kolyma River and answer questions about arctic science as part of the Polaris Project. Two months later, Bunn stands in a crowded classroom full of students waiting to see pictures, watch videos and hear personal testimony about his trip to the Siberian Arctic.

The Polaris Project is funded by the National Science Foundation and involves seven American colleges. One Russian scientist and two Russian students, who work full time along the Kolyma River, also accompanied the scientists.

The project started in July and allowed early-career scientists to work across a network of forest reserves in Siberia to find out how much carbon is stored in the forests and how much of this carbon might potentially be released as carbon dioxide—a heat-trapping gas—as the planet warms, Bunn said.

Bunn said if permafrost soil thaws due to climate warming it will release carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere. This could provide powerful positive feedback to the climate system, which would in turn cause more warming and more thawing.

Bunn is an assistant professor at Western specializing in environmental process and energy, as well as climate science.

The Polaris Project's objective is to enhance undergraduate research and education at several U.S. and Russian institutions, according to its Web site.

The Polaris Project has been funded by the National Science Foundation for two years and will be funded for an additional summer. Bunn said he is hoping they will continue to provide funding in the future so the project can continue.

Bunn now brings real-life examples and testimony to his classroom lectures as he teaches students about the impact of climate change around the world.

 “It was cool to see his own pictures and hear his own stories that he had just gone through and was now going to teach us about,” said Western senior John Box, a student in Bunn’s climate change class. “It makes you really value his knowledge and expertise on the material.”

Box said he has enjoyed taking classes concerning both global change and climate change from Bunn because he is involved and passionate about what he teaches. He said he recommends taking Bunn’s classes because he knows he is learning the most current information available.

Box said having Bunn as a mentor and professor allows him to understand the fast past, ever changing science world.

Bunn teaches several courses at Huxley including introduction to global change, energy and the environment and climate change.

“The cool thing about Andy is that when he teaches he is able to put things in the most basic, non-science way so that it is easier for you to grasp,” Box said. “He is able to explain things to people who do not have the background in science in order for everyone to understand.”

Huxley junior Max Janicek was one of the two students who got to travel with Bunn to the Siberian Arctic this summer. He said Bunn was one of the main reasons he became interested in climate science. He said he feels privileged to be given the opportunity to travel and work first hand with Bunn, and felt he learned a great deal from simply watching Bunn work.

Janicek said he not only looks up to Bunn as an educational mentor but a real life mentor as well, and feels he can go to him in any situation.

“Andy is a tremendous resource to have as an undergraduate,” Janicek said. “He is super knowledgeable and presents things in an engaging way.”

Bunn credits his field work and hands-on experiences to his teaching philosophy. He said the Polaris Project was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him and the two Western students.  He said he believes his field research has shaped him into the person he is today.

“I get to teach from what I have seen and experienced,” Bunn said. “I show data that I have personally collected and get to give students first-hand examples that they would not have learned through a scientific document or textbook.”

For the last two summers, Bunn worked as part of the Polaris Project traveling to Russia but he said he has done field work every summer, all over the world.

Bunn said Huxley mandates students get out of the classroom and into the real world. Bunn said he feels fortunate to work at Western and in Huxley College because the college and university have a lot of big university resources, however he remembers the main objective is to teach and allow students to have a lot of opportunities to do hands-on work.

“I wish I could explain the importance of field research to every student,” Bunn said. “If they take charge of their own lives and be proactive they are going to be presented life-changing opportunities. Opportunities that move you from being a spectator to a participant in your education.”

Bunn said if he could have any wish he would like to offer the opportunity to do field research and be a part of the Polaris Project to every student.

He also said, scientifically, he would love to be in a million different places at once taking all different measurements at the same time.

“[The Polaris Project] is no walk in the park, but it is an amazing experience,” Bunn said.

Bunn will select two students to return to Russia with him next summer to continue their research. The selection will be based off an application process and open to all Huxley students.

Last year Bunn said they had anywhere from a dozen to 20 applicants. Applications are based off academic achievement, recommendations and essays articulating why students would like to go on the trip and how it could change their lives.

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