Manville Teacher Selected For Arctic Research Expedition

MANVILLE, NJ — A Manville Middle School teacher has been selected for a national research fellowship in the Arctic.

Lauren Kurzius was named a Polar STEAM Educator Fellow: Arctic Field Cohort for the 2026-2027 program year. She is one of 12 educators and artists chosen nationally for this opportunity.

Kurzius will travel to the Arctic Circle from July 17 to July 29. She will conduct field research in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska.

Kurzius will collaborate with researcher Dr. Julia Guimond on a project titled "Drivers and Biogeochemical Implications of Saltwater Intrusion Along Arctic Coastlines."

The research will examine how sea-level rise and storm events push saltwater into land, a process known as saltwater intrusion.

While this process is understood in other climates, its effects on Arctic coastlines with underlying permafrost are less well-known.

Kurzius will help the team investigate how this intrusion changes porewater chemistry and greenhouse gas fluxes. This work aims to provide a baseline understanding of these environments.

ABIS Principal Michael Magliacano said that Kurzius will represent the Manville community on a national stage.

"This fellowship allows her to bring cutting-edge climate science directly back to our students, showing them that the world of scientific discovery is well within their reach," Magliacano said.

Polar STEAM is a program funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation. It facilitates collaboration between educators, artists, writers, and polar researchers. The program aims to expand understanding of polar regions through teaching, art, and the written word.

Polar STEAM is led by a team at Oregon State University.