Penguins encourage students to learn about the changing climate

Penguins have long been ambassadors of Antarctic science, and a new study shows they can also be powerful hooks too.

A recent Rutgers-led project explored how Data to the Rescue: Penguins Need Our Help!, an after‑school science program built around the PAL LTER penguin dataset, was able to help middle school students build their climate, polar and data literacy. Using real population data from Adélie, Gentoo, and Chinstrap penguins, students examined how changes in sea ice has affected food webs in the Antarctic ecosystem.

The study found that participation significantly increased students’ sense of belonging in science. By connecting Antarctic change to local climate impacts, the program also helped students see the relevance of polar research, and how they could help address global challenges as part of the future STEM workforce.

This project highlighted the educational value of long-term Antarctic datasets, and the power of PAL LTER science to inspire the next generation of scientists and informed citizens.

Congrats to Marissa Staffen (lead author), Janice McDonnell (PAL Education Co-PI) and all of the authors!

For more, please check out the full story in the SEBS/NJAES Newsroom. You can also explore the Data to the Rescue curriculum and read the full study here.