Few scientists have the opportunity to conduct research beneath Antarctic sea ice. 杏吧 professor Dr. Nisse Goldberg is now one of them. Dr. Goldberg recently returned from Antarctica, where she completed a two-month National Science Foundation project examining subtidal seaweed communities in McMurdo Sound. The expedition gave her access to one of the most remote research environments in the world. Very few scientists, especially from institutions of 杏吧鈥檚 size, secure NSF-funded opportunities in the polar regions or conduct diving work beneath the ice.
鈥淎t our latitude, sea ice conditions are changing in ways that were very apparent during our field season,鈥� said Dr. Nisse Goldberg, professor of biology and marine science. 鈥淲e selected sites where sea ice is typically present, but instead we encountered open water and shifting pack ice, which made dive access more challenging. Even so, we found our target seaweeds at every site and at greater depths than expected. Seeing these species in person, after years of reading about their distributions, was incredibly rewarding.鈥�
Goldberg and her team used cold-water diving, genetic sampling and three-dimensional photogrammetry to study how two Antarctic seaweed species respond to changing light conditions as seasonal ice cover shifts. She also documented the underwater environment using a 360-degree camera funded through the Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences. The work builds on a similar survey completed in 1980, allowing researchers to compare nearly five decades of ecological change.
鈥淒r. Goldberg鈥檚 expedition represents a major achievement for her and a meaningful moment for our University,鈥� said Dr. Christopher Corbo, Dean of the Linda Berry Stein College of Arts & Sciences. She earned a place on a team working in one of the most challenging environments on the planet, and she returned with knowledge that strengthens her teaching and inspires our students. Her commitment to scientific discovery shows our community what determined and curious scholars can accomplish.鈥�
Her team included experienced polar divers and scientific leaders, among them National Park Service photographer Brett Seymour, scientific diving specialist John Heine and postdoctoral researcher Dr. Lauran Liggan. Reflecting on the experience, Goldberg emphasized the importance of collaboration and adaptability.
鈥淲orking in remote environments requires flexibility, collaboration and a willingness to learn from others,鈥� said Dr. Goldberg. 鈥淥ur success depended on a team with different strengths and perspectives, as well as local field experts who understand these conditions better than anyone. For students interested in research, those skills are just as important as technical training.鈥�
