Summary

A LEARNZ virtual field trip to Antarctica, Offshore

Darren the LEARNZ Field Trip Teacher.

Meet Darren, your LEARNZ Field Trip Teacher

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Inquiry Topics: Antarctica, electricity, emissions, energy, energy transformation, environmental impacts, Offshore, renewable energy, sustainability, wind, wind power

Cool Wind Farm - Term 4, 2009

What you will do

For over 100 years people have been going to Antarctica in order to perform scientific research. Living and working in such an extreme environment has many challenges, not least having suitable energy sources. Over time the sources of energy, and energy needs, have changed as both technology has improved and environmental awareness has increased.

Learn how the energy needs of the first scientists were met 100 years ago. Discover how New Zealand's Scott Base energy needs have changed, and have been met, over the past 50 years. Visit a modern field camp to meet scientists and learn how they produce the energy needed to not only survive, but also to perform research.

Follow the development of the world southernmost wind farm on Ross Island, Antarctica. Explore wind and the process that converts it into electricity. See how the electrical energy generated by wind power will be transported to, and used by, Scott Base in the future.

Where you will go

Head south to the coldest, windiest continent on Earth, Antarctica. Travel back in time 100 years to Cape Evans to visit Scott's Hut, used by the Terra Nova Expedition (1910-1913) led by Robert Falcon Scott to look at the energy needs of early scientists. Spend time at both Scott Base and at a modern field camp to see how energy needs have changed since the time of Scott's expedition. Step into the future to see how the Ross Island Wind Farm will operate to meet Scott Base's energy needs.

Curriculum

Science: Physical World Levels 2-8

What Now

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