Eighth Graders Voyage to Antarctica for Climate Science

Eight students from Baltimore's Patterson Park Public Charter School have embarked on an all-expenses-paid, two-week scientific expedition to Antarctica. The group, calling themselves the Polar Explorers, departed on November 15, 2026, traveling to South America before boarding a ship bound for the continent. Their mission includes observing penguin colonies, conducting thermal imaging, and building virtual reality simulations in collaboration with Towson University.

This initiative, conceived by teacher Sabina Sully, seeks to challenge narratives about who gets to explore and to highlight the interconnectedness of global climates, noting how changes in Antarctica impact regions like Baltimore. The students, who prepared for this journey through partnerships with local institutions like the National Aquarium and Maryland Zoo, were selected based on applications, recommendations, and interviews.

The expedition, concluding on November 28, 2026, aims to demonstrate that students from public schools in cities can achieve significant scientific endeavors. The students themselves express a desire to inspire their peers, emphasizing that even young individuals can contribute to significant change and pursue opportunities once thought out of reach.