Of Blogs and Quarks and Polar Expeditions

Well, frumps, yesterday I had a moment out here in the blogosphere that I simply must share with you all.   It was one of those life-affirming, “ain’t human beings swell, sometimes” moments that make our weird , wacky world worth staying with a while longer.

Certainly, these little epiphanies are not peculiar to the blogosphere, they’ve been going on for eons.  The difference, I think, is that “new media” and “social media” have put us in touch with people that we most likely would never have met in the usual course of our lives.   In addition, that contact takes place “at a remove,” in a far less self-conscious manner.   It allows us – in a new, immediate and unprecedented way – to reveal things about ourselves and learn things about others without all of the “face to face” social rigamarole that can, in some cases, effectively prevent us from ever really knowing one another.

Now, I’m not going all “Pollyanna” on you – I don’t consider the blogosphere a New Utopia (far from it).   What I’m saying is that we now have a new option for social intercourse that we can use (and abuse) and it’s exciting.   Well, I could rattle on about this until I lose all of you . . .

Straying back to the point – yesterday’s uncommonly sweet discovery had to do with learning about a person who is quietly going about her business, doing the thing that she is passionate about, and doing a world of good while she’s at it.   I found Danielle Lee because I was doing my morning cyber-roaming and one thing led to another as it so often does on the Internet.

Eventually, I found myself at Quark Expeditions (of all places).  Here’s what Quark is about:

“Quark Expeditions has been the leader in polar adventures since 1991. We are Arctic and Antarctic specialists, with the largest fleet of polar expedition ships in the world. Our guests cruise in Zodiacs and, when they sail aboard our icebreakers, participate in aerial sightseeing in our onboard helicopters.”  (I didn’t sign up)

Seems the folks at Quark have made it a habit to keep a blog on each of their expedition cruises and they’ve decided to hold the following contest:

Blog Your Way to Antarctica Contest

“You could be the Official Quark Blogger and sail for free to Antarctica, February 20 to March 3, 2010.To earn your chance to win, post your entry, and convince the world that you have the right stuff to be  Official Blogger. If your entry earns the greatest number of votes, you and a traveling companion could be off for the adventure of a lifetime. We are looking for raw talent, with natural enthusiasm that pops out when their post is read. A keen sense of observation is required but blogging experience is not necessary. To enter or vote for your favorite entry visit the Blog Your Way to Antarctica site.”

Well, I ask you, who isn’t interested in the kind of people who would compete for such a thing?   So I clicked into the contestant’s page and read a few of the contest entry posts.   They were all well-written, enthusiastic and persuasive, as one might expect.   However, one entry kept pulling me back . . . and that’s how I met Danielle Lee.   I was pretty well-captivated by Danielle’s down-to-earth style and straightforwardness, so I clicked over to her personal blog which is called Urban Science Adventures! ©. 

It turns out that Danielle is completing her doctoral studies at the University of Missouri – St. Louis.  She is a biologist specializing in Animal Behavior, Mammalogy, and Ecology in preparation for a career in Science and Science Outreach.  Her blog is focused on environmental science, environmental education, and ecology.

“Science Outreach” is one way of saying what Danielle is up to – what it doesn’t say is that Danielle is determined that inner-city kids will learn that there is fascinating life all around them – no “buses to the country” required.

Here’s how she put it in her entry for the Quark contest:

“Every living thing from microbes to lichens to squirrels, birds and trees are members of our urban communities. Every day these microbes, insects, fungi, plants, and animals struggle to survive in our human-crafted world claiming space, searching for food, avoiding predators, confronting disease, dodging injury from lawn mowers, cars and other types of human activity, mating, securing a home, and raising young. It’s a real treat to help a young person learn about the wildlife living in their backyards, neighborhood parks, empty lots, and public fishing ponds.”

As I said earlier, this is my kind of story.  Here’s a young woman, 35 years old, who is working away at making life better.   She’s not asking for help, nor TV coverage or attention.   She’s saying that this thing, this expedition, “would be an amazing dream come true” for her and she’d love to go as a working blogger.  I don’t know about you frumps but when I get an opportunity to “pay it forward” for someone like Danielle, I’m all over it.  You can vote for Danielle by clicking here and, while you’re at it, Danielle’s blog,  Urban Science Adventures! © was a finalist in the 2008 Black Weblogs Award.  She’s been nominated for this year’s award and could use your votes for that, as well.  You can get to the Black Weblogs Award site here.

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Tagged as: black weblog awards, blogging contest, danielle lee, ecology, quark expeditions, science outreach, university of missouri-st. louis