By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

Sarah Treadwell, also known as “Space Case Sarah,” is a graduate assistant at UW-Whitewater in the Communication Department. She is the host of The Space Case Sarah Show with Kovi and Benjamin on iRoc Space Radio. Sarah is also a science writer for Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, lead production assistant for NASA’s Ask an Astrobiologist, and a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador. Her bio also says that she’s a “sidewalk astronomer, analog astronaut, and mom extraordinare.”

Sarah was honored to be selected to be the onboard communications officer on the JOIDES Resolution Expedition 399. The JOIDES Resolution (JR) is a research vessel that drills into the ocean floor to collect and study core samples. Scientists use data from the JR to better understand climate change, geology and Earth’s history. It is a part of the International Ocean Discovery Program and is funded by the National Science Foundation. The expedition will take place from April 7 to June 7, 2023. As part of Sarah’s outreach in preparation for this expedition, she is hosting a very interesting exhibit through the end of February at the Community Engagement Center, 1260 W. Main Street (the former Sentry building). The exhibit is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., and also on Saturday, February 18. Here’s a sneak peak of what it looks like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbnQIXIcync&t=56s

Sarah and UW-W science students are also taking field trip and group tour reservations, particularly for those interested in getting the full blown up boat experience (it requires a lot of hands on deck so to speak so they need a heads up for that).  Here is a link to Sarah’s website for group reservations. https://www.spacecasesarah.com/jr-exhibit-field-trips