Phone: 703.292.7414
E-mail: ksilverm@nsf.gov

Cooperative programs between the National Science Foundation and America's two major scouting organizations, Girl Scouts of the USA and Boy Scouts of America, sponsor a national competition every two years to select a scout for participation in the United States Antarctic Program.

The goal is to acquaint the boy or girl scout with a variety of science disciplines and with career opportunities in polar research and operational support. The scout, through scouting publications and sites on their home pages, shares his or her Antarctic experience with the many other members of the two scouting groups. Inclusion of a scout in the USAP began when Paul Siple joined Richard E. Byrd's expedition 70 years ago.

For the 2005-2006 field season, Benjamin J. Pope of Newton, Massachusetts has been selected. Ben has completed the freshman year at MIT where he is majoring in Mechanical engineering and boasts a 4.9/5.0 GPA. Ben has played the trombone for 10 years, participates in varsity soccer at MIT, and has earned many awards including selection as a 2004 US Presidential Scholar, one of 12 selected for a 2-week study visit to China. He enjoys outdoor activities and traveling.