Beyond STEAM: Integrative Inquiry in the Antarctic

In the U.S. Antarctic Program, NSF-funded scientists--most from universities--perform basic research in geosciences and other disciplines at research stations or field camps throughout the continent and the Southern Ocean. Scholars in the humanities, as well as support specialists from various fields, work closely together with the scientists. Mutual dependence for everything ranging from transportation to meals is typical. Anecdotal evidence is that participants benefit in their professional and personal lives from the close associations in both the work and the domestic proximities that are normal. This Commentary describes the work of some individuals who have advanced understanding of Antarctic topics in collaborative approaches.