Directory

Start date:
Mid October
End date:
Early December
Locations:
Dry Valleys, Taylor Valley
Principle Investigator:
Mr. Greg Neri
State
Florida
Writer Gregory Neri will deploy to McMurdo Station for seven weeks to conduct background research, observations, and interviews for a novel aimed at students, grades 5 through 9. Neri plans to observe and interview scientists who are seeking answers to big questions through the study of Antarctica’s tiniest inhabitants, such as foraminifera, that shed light on life’s diversity and challenges, opening new windows into Earth’s early history and its possible future. The book will capture the sense of wonder and discovery that push scientists to venture into this extreme environment to search for the secrets of life that lie within. Neri will infuse the science of Antarctica with the story of a boy struggling in post-Katrina New Orleans. The boy receives a mysterious package from a black Antarctic scientist who died while diving under the ice. The scientist, who may be the father he never knew, left behind a series of journals, observations, and ideas that empower the boy to pursue his own love of science in a world that does not value his ideals. Neri will create a transformative novel that seeks to inspire and educate underprivileged students who lack meaningful access to impactful knowledge about science and nature.