Meg Littrell, an education researcher and evaluator at the CIRES Center for Education, Engagement, and Evaluation (CEEE), studies place-based education, science learning, and transformative experiences. Littrell has a PhD in Cognitive Psychology — and when she was an undergrad, she also studied French Language. She loves to perform with improv comedy teams and says, “every show is a different adventure.” Littrell also sews and enjoys making things for her friends and family. She’s a cat lover, and she grew up in Louisiana in a Cajun family.

Last week, CIRES hosted its largest event to date: Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW), an international gathering of nearly 1,000 participants focused on sharing Arctic research and planning for the future. Coverage by Colorado Public Radio featured interviews with CIRES researchers, including Fellow Mark Serreze, Director of the U.S. Arctic Observing Network Sandy Starkweather, and NSIDC Deputy Lead Scientist Twila Moon. The summit also included the Polar Early Career World Summit (PECWS) from March 22–24, organized by the Polar Science Early Career Community Office (PSECCO)—a CIRES-based initiative housed within the Center for Education, Engagement & Evaluation (CEEE). PECWS brought together early career researchers, Indigenous scholars, and professionals from across the Arctic and Antarctic to network, shape future polar research priorities, and contribute to the planning of the 5th International Polar Year (2032–33). As part of the Navigating the New Arctic (NNA) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)—another program supported by CEEE—six undergraduate students from Alaska attended both ASSW and PECWS. The students worked alongside research mentors on projects involving co-produced data and presented their initial findings on Friday, March 28. They also participated in the NNA-CO annual meeting earlier in the week, where community members were invited to attend student presentations, offering feedback and building connections. Thanks to the teamwork between CEEE, NNA, and PSECCO, Arctic Science Summit Week wasn’t just about sharing research—it also became a space for learning, collaboration, and uplifting the next generation of Arctic researchers.