Support for LAist comes from
Become a sponsor
Audience-funded nonprofit news
Donate
Stay Connected

LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network.

Audience-funded nonprofit news
Listen
Donate
Podcasts Take Two
Shutdown puts scientists' Antarctica research on ice
solid orange rectangular banner
()
Take Two Logo
Oct 10, 2013
Listen • 4:40
Shutdown puts scientists' Antarctica research on ice
The effects of the U.S. government shutdown have now reached the most remote outpost in the world. This week, the National Science Foundation announced it's shutting down its science program in Antarctica.
As part of the U.S. Antarctic Program, a scientist adjusts a UV monitor at the South Pole's McMurdo Station, one of three of its Antarctic stations, in this undated photo.
As part of the U.S. Antarctic Program, a scientist adjusts a UV monitor at the South Pole's McMurdo Station, one of three of its Antarctic stations, in this undated photo.
(
AP Photo/National Science Foundation
)

The effects of the U.S. government shutdown have now reached the most remote outpost in the world. This week, the National Science Foundation announced it's shutting down its science program in Antarctica.

The effects of the U.S. government shutdown have now reached the most remote outpost in the world. This week, the National Science Foundation announced it's shutting down its science program in Antarctica.

Only a skeleton crew will be allowed to stay, to maintain the facilities there. This as the spring research season has just begun. Hundreds of scientists, studying everything from penguins to climate change, are now asking themselves, what's next?

One of those scientists is Dawn Sumner, geology professor at UC Davis. She joins the show to talk about her work, and what the shutdown means for her team.