FLCC student researches sea ice, dreams of work in Alaska

Alexa Henehan, an environmental science student, presented research on the effects of glacier and sea ice loss at the SUNY Undergraduate Research Conference.

Alexa Henehan of Victor, an environmental science major, was among 57 students from across the State University of New York selected to give an oral presentation at the SUNY Undergraduate Research Conference on April 14.

Alexa, a 2022 Victor High School graduate, was one of five community college students who gave oral presentations at the event at SUNY Maritime in the Bronx. She spoke on “The Effects of Glacier and Sea Ice Loss on Arctic Communities.”

Alexa developed her project in an English composition class with Mark Worrell, assistant professor of philosophy and rhetoric/composition. She took a break from finals to answer a few questions about her experience.

Why did you focus on the Arctic?

“During the fall semester I was in an environmental science class with Professor John Bateman. He had showed us some documentaries, but one stood out more to me than the others. It was called “Chasing Ice” and followed the research of James Balog on an assignment with National Geographic. He was able to capture images of glaciers receding over time and the change from when he began to when he concluded was so stark it was terrifying. This documentary and Balog’s research gave me the inspiration for my own project.”

Why is this topic so important to you?

“I have always been a nature lover. I find everything in the natural world completely fascinating, from the molecular level all the way up to how everything connects. The Arctic is a place that, in my mind, is incredible. It’s unbelievably beautiful but also so dangerous and extreme. I want my future kids to be able to experience the absolute awe that nature can give you. I don’t want my kids to grow up in a world without polar bears, narwhals, or penguins.”

What did you learn while working on my project?

“I learned a lot about where the Arctic currently stands in terms of stability. In my research I compared historical statistics regarding sea ice extent with more recent data to find that this vital habitat is at a record low and is continuing to decrease at an incredibly rapid pace. We are likely going to lose all sea ice cover by 2060. If we lose the habitat, we also quickly lose its inhabitants like polar bears and walruses, although some may try to adapt and find new ways to survive.”

Talk about working with Dr. Worrell and other faculty.

I really enjoyed working with Dr. Worrell on this project. He is a great person to bounce ideas off of and is always pushing me to dig deeper and polish my work better. I also really enjoyed the meetings that I had with other faculty. I did some practice runs of my presentation, and they were all incredibly supportive and gave good constructive criticism for my public speaking skills.

Talk about your overall FLCC experience.

“I love how much the school has to offer, like last semester I took a wilderness camping class and got to go up to Tupper Lake in the Adirondacks. That trip is something I’ll probably never forget. The atmosphere is incredibly friendly and inviting no matter what classroom you enter. The staff is all wonderful and incredibly supportive. I originally decided to come to this school to save money and because I heard their environmental science program was good, and I definitely agree after being here for a year.”

What are you plans after FLCC?

“After I graduate, I plan to transfer to SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse to continue into forest ecosystem sciences. I’m not sure exactly where I want to end up after all my schooling, but one of my dreams is to live and work in Alaska, maybe in Katmai National Park. I hate the idea of sitting at a desk for the rest of my life so wherever I end up, my office will definitely be outdoors.”