Under The Ice

A first-person account of marine biologist Conlan and her adventures under the ice in the Arctic and Antarctic, two of the coldest and most hostile environments in the world. The lively text, accompanied by dozens of full-color photographs, will make this a useful and appealing introduction to marine biology and the activities of a contemporary working scientist. Not everyone would consider burrowing through six feet of ice in 97 degrees below zero to study the ocean bottom. But Conlan, a marine biologist with the Canadian Museum of Nature, considers it a dream come true. She describes diving in waters so cold breathing that regulators freeze, a pin prick in a glove can result in frost bite, and lips become so numb it's impossible to tell if the breathing apparatus is still in place. Conlan is a teaching scientist who has spent more than ten years studying the effects of man-made pollution on sea life—pollution ranging from old tractors to human waste. Captions for the photos are filled with fascinating information about everything from life forms to descriptions of the camps. When ribbon worms ate Conlan's leftover spareribs, for instance, "Their bodies distended into rectangles around the ribs." An excellent memoir to stimulate interest in science careers, demonstrate the scientific method in action, and support efforts to protect the environment. (Nonfiction. 10-14)