Behind the Science: The PSC Support Staff

Behind the scientific work that is done at the Polar Science Center, there is a staff who takes care of all the details to ensure that the department operates smoothly. With a wealth of experience and knowledge, the support staff of the Polar Science Center plays a critical roll in the everyday functioning of the department.

Suzan Huney Polar Science Center Administrator	I became the Polar Science Center's administrator fourteen years ago. I brought to the job financial management and supervisory skills.  I had negotiated multi-million dollar grants and contracts. But words like lead, albedo, synthetic aperture radar, halocline and surface energy budget were not part of my vocabulary.  After hundreds of proposals read and edited, I have learned something of the language of science.  It is beautiful and intriguing.       I appreciate the dedication and vision of the Polar Science Center's oceanographers, mathematicians, physicists, and atmospheric scientists. I have witnessed their drive to understand the polar physical systems.  I admire the leadership they contribute to large-scale observation and process study programs. I am proud to contribute administrative support to important research projects like the Surface Heat Budget of the Arctic Ocean (SHEBA) project, where the Canadian ice breaker Des Groseilliers was frozen into the Arctic ice pack on purpose so year-long measurements of clouds, air, snow, ice, and ocean could be made; or the North Pole Environmental Observatory (NPEO), which is in its fifth year to collect data needed to better understand how the world's northernmost ocean factors in global climate.       Though I never know what may unfold in the course of a day, be it a rush proposal or tracking down a lost shipment for one of our field projects, I know I have a dream job. I work with a great bunch of people.     Thank you Polar Science Center. Thank you Applied Physics Laboratory.
Beverly Pelto Polar Science Center Manager	I wish I had begun working here a long time ago rather than in the mid 90's. Assisting scientists whose research I really care about is exciting and a rewarding experience.     I joined PSC in 1995 as a program coordinator for the SHEBA Project Office and later for the SEARCH Project Office, coordinating the workshops' logistics and developing related websites. These activities and others gave me the opportunity to meet many polar researchers and get a glimpse of the complexity of gathering and interpreting scientific data to determine if it relates to global climate change. These scientists, and particularly those from PSC, are a terrific group of people. Not only are PSC's scientists interesting and lots of fun to be around, but they are reasonable and intelligent, making them wonderful to work with.     Scientists, however, aren't the only staff members that deserve praise. Sue Huney's the best boss ever —a real motivator, supportive of the staff, and completely skillful in performing her duties. And I've had the distinct pleasure to mentor and supervise Mari Forster during the past year.
Mari Forster Polar Science Center Program Coordinator	In the year that I have been with the Polar Science Center I have learned a tremendous amount about both the administrative work and science that goes on here. I must admit that I understand the administrative side of things much better than the science, but I find both very interesting and my work here very fulfilling.     The daily events keep me challenged, whether it is arranging travel to remote areas in the Arctic, handling accounting paperwork or working with graphics for presentations, the work is always diverse and the learning never stops.     As Sue and Bev mentioned, the people here are wonderful and that is what makes the biggest difference to me. I believe in the work that is being done here and I think that it is important, but what makes me want to come to work are the people that I get to interact with here every day.