In May 2010 Dr. David Klein, Professor Emeritus with the Institute of Arctic Biology at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, visited Sci-Port: Louisiana's Science Center on 7 and 8 May to present several programs on changes taking place on the top of the Earth.
On Friday Dr. Klein met with middle and high school students to discuss arctic ecology as it relates to climate change. That evening he presented 'An Evening in the Arctic' to the community in Sci-Port's SWECPO Demonstration Theater. He discussed changing arctic ecology and compared and contrasted many of the characteristics of Louisiana's ecology to arctic ecology. In addition, Dr. Klein spent some time discussing the recent Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico and some lessons learned from the Exxon Valdez incident in Alaska.
The next morning he offered an Educator Training. Dr. Klein presented hands-on activities, expert training and background information on arctic ecology and the indigenous people of that region. Educators left ready to implement many new activities in their classrooms. In the afternoon visitors of all ages joined Dr. Klein to look, listen and learn about the plants, animals and indigenous peoples of the arctic and subarctic region. Hands-on activities centered on understanding the Arctic were available for all to explore.
Dr. David Klein retired as Senior Scientist and Professor Emeritus at the Alaska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). He had been with the Coop Unit and a faculty member in the Biology and Wildlife program at UAF since 1962. He is now Professor Emeritus with the Institute of Arctic Biology, UAF. His research interests are in arctic ecology, plant-animal interactions, adaptations of arctic terrestrial mammals, arctic grazing systems (reindeer and caribou habitat relations, indigenous people relationships), northern development and associated environmental impacts and their mitigation, and winter ecology in the Arctic and Subarctic. He has made significant contributions to understanding the ecology, management, and conservation of large mammals and arctic and subarctic ecosystems, working primarily in Alaska, but also Canada, Siberia, Greenland, Svalbard, and Scandinavia.
Sci-Port: Louisiana's Science Center is a 92,000 square-foot science and entertainment center featuring 290 hands-on exhibits, a Space Dome Planetarium, IMAX Dome Theatre, demonstration theater, daily changing programs, gift shop and cafe.