NSF Center for Oldest Ice Exploration (COLDEX)

COLDEX is a multi-institution collaboration to explore Antarctica for the oldest possible polar ice samples and analyze those samples to understand the evolution and future of Earth’s climate system. It also creates and delivers novel educational and professional development programs for teachers, faculty and early career scientists, develop and implement programs to help make polar science more diverse and inclusive, and transfer scientific knowledge to stakeholders and the public. COLDEX is funded by the NSF Science and Technology Center Program and supported by the NSF Office of Polar Programs. COLDEX research includes exploration of interior East Antarctica using radar and novel “rapid access” tools to find locations to collect a continuous 1.5 million year ice core, roughly doubling the length of the existing continuous record. COLDEX will also collect and analyze much older ice along the Antarctic ice sheet margin, conduct ice sheet modeling to help understand the history and distribution of the oldest ice, and develop new laboratory capabilities for analyzing and dating old ice. COLDEX aims to broaden participation in polar science by both recruiting members of underrepresented groups in STEM to join all of our programs, and a targeted effort to develop a more inclusive scientific culture. COLDEX is also organizing professional development workshops for early career scientists, specialized technical workshops, and a research scholarship program. These activities are open to individuals from COLDEX participating institutions and other colleges and universities.