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Lesley Urasky

About

Lesley Urasky's picture
Expeditions: Glacial History in Antarctica
Occupation: Teacher
Organization: Rawlins High School

Lesley Urasky's love of nature began when her parents took her into the mountains when she was just six days old! Since then, she has received a bachelor's and a master's degree in Geology from the University of Wyoming and has spent time working in the oil, gas, and mining industries in the Rocky Mountain region. Ms. Urasky currently teaches science at Rawlins High School, in Rawlins, Wyoming. Throughout her 12 years of teaching she has taught numerous subjects, including geology, astronomy, and AP Biology to name a few. She has also been an adjunct faculty member in Geology at both the community college and university levels.

While teaching in Texas, she and five of her students were selected to participate in NOAA's First Student Summit on Ocean Issues in Washington, D.C, presenting their plan to mitigate estuary degradation in Texas to various federal agencies and National Geographic. It was here, that she met Dr. Sylvia Earle, National Geographic's Explorer-in-Residence, who remains a motivating figure in her desire to study our planet's natural resources. Ms. Urasky hopes that her experience with PolarTREC will help show her students that science is an adventure that can take you to new and exciting places both physically and intellectually.

In her free time, she enjoys whitewater rafting, camping & hiking, snowshoeing, and traveling to exotic places.

Lesley Urasky's Content

Title Forum Posted
How challenging can this be?
Antarctic Seafloor Ecology May 5, 2010 - 1:20pm
Title Reply Post date
Re: [PolarTREC] Thoughts about people wanting to donate things.
What a great, generous idea!  I can't think of a single thing that could be donated - the very warm clothing is provided by the United States Antarctic Program.  As for daily clothing, people can bring multiple pieces of luggage that altogether weighs no more than 150 pounds.  Also, many...{read more}
January 31, 2011 - 6:13pm
Re: [PolarTREC] brave

Well, thank you for the compliment!  I'm not so sure about the brave part . . . maybe a little crazy to enjoy camping in the cold, but there was never any danger involved.<

{read more} 		January 31, 2011 - 6:13pm
Re: [PolarTREC] Morgan Harshbarger
Morgan,
 
It wasn't too hard to pack everything I needed once I came to terms with the idea that I wouldn't be able to have clean clothes every day.  I planned for a new set of clean clothes once a week and then timed changing them so that I had a "present...{read more}
January 31, 2011 - 5:43pm
Re: [PolarTREC] daylight
While I was in Antarctica, the sun was up 24-hours a day.  Instead of the sun traveling across the sky and setting each day, it circled around the horizon. 
 
On February 20, 2011 the sun will set for the first time in a long time in McMurdo.  On February 20, the sun...{read more}
January 31, 2011 - 5:58pm
Re: [PolarTREC] how were the sites (kaitie Merritt)
Kaitie,
 
I don't think I can pinpoint just one breath-taking view.  They were all so awe inspiring, whether I was on the ground looking up at the mountains or looking down on them from an airplane or helicopter.  If I had to pick just one, I think it would be the...{read more}
January 31, 2011 - 5:58pm
Re: [PolarTREC] Life?
No, we didn't see any insects.  There are many species of insects in Antarctica however.  There are also spiders.  The majority of these live somewhere on the Antarctic Peninsula because the climate is more mild there.  Some insects have been found as far south as 85 degrees.
{read more} 		January 31, 2011 - 5:58pm
Re: [PolarTREC] Sustainable Antarctica?
Michael,
 
The United States Antarctic Program (USAP) is slowly becoming more sustainable.  In 2008, a joing project between McMurdo Station and the New Zealand station of Scott Base began a wind farm project.  While I was there, they had three turbines located on Crater...{read more}
January 30, 2011 - 2:13pm
Re: [PolarTREC] Beardmore Glacier History?
Jeff,
 
I took those pieces of advice as well.  I did remember to take time for myself, especially on Christmas and New Year's days.
 
The team and I did spend a lot of time discussing those earlier expeditions and the importance of the Beardmore...{read more}
January 30, 2011 - 2:43pm
Re: [PolarTREC] snow trench

Deb,

I was surprised at how comfortable the snow trench was.  I was very warm in the night and it was very quiet.  Some of those who slept in tents said they were awakened by the tent flapping in the wind when it came up in the middle of the night, but I didn't even hear the wind! ...{read more}

January 30, 2011 - 11:43am
Re: [PolarTREC] Scott's Story
Michael,
 
Thank you for the nice compliment.  I've been fascinated with the early exploration of Antarctica for a long time and have read many of their accounts.
 
As for modern exploration, the scientists are very well supported.  Most of the...{read more}
January 30, 2011 - 11:58am

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