![Award winning photograph of snow fences in the Arctic village of Kaktovik. Credit (University of Texas Marine Science Institute, Ted Dunton). b2ap3_thumbnail_Ted-Dunton-Photo-at-Kaktovik-AK.jpg](/images/easyblog_images/1402/b2ap3_thumbnail_Ted-Dunton-Photo-at-Kaktovik-AK.jpg)
The Beaufort Coastal Lagoons project examines the linkages between watersheds and the coastal Beaufort Sea to specifically answer the question: “How much carbon from land run-off and erosion is being incorporated into arctic estuarine food webs?” This research project enables the scientists of the University of Texas Marine Science Institute to also impart their knowledge to local Alaskan Inupiat students through the Summer Oceanography Program, where Kaktovik students ages 3-17 are immersed in a combination of field, laboratory, and classroom activities to stimulate their interest in science. Students have the opportunity to explore a range of disciplines including local ecology, environmental chemistry, climatology and more. Both the educational and research programs strive to increase and transfer knowledge of the Arctic coastal ecosystem.