For more than four decades, Florida International University biologist Steve Oberbauer has spent summers at Toolik Field Station—one of the world’s most remote research sites, located hundreds of miles above the Arctic circle. He’s witnessed the tundra soil breaking down, permafrost thawing and collapsing, and plants growing taller and flowering earlier in the season. Under his careful watch, he’s seen climate change become a full-blown crisis. While the arctic has changed a lot, Oberbauer has changed very little. The 64-year-old still resembles his younger self, who first traveled to Toolik in 1985 when he was 30. His curly hair is only slightly greyer. And he still wears a bright blue puffer jacket—an upgraded version of the one he bought more than 40 years ago for $20. Climate change remains a relevant and important story to tell. The story of climate change in the Arctic is perhaps one of the most important stories to tell, because what happens in the Arctic is an alarm call for the rest of the world. While the story about our warming world has been told—and will continue to be told—this story approaches it from a different, more human perspective. It explores how a man in a bright blue puffy jacket, who has changed very little, is the very best person to see the changes that are happening.
From the Judges
Great feature that describes the importance of the work and also the environment's isolation. Great use of narrative and descriptions.
