The biology department at Iowa State is in the final stages of planning a field trip to Antarctica slated for this December.

The trip, scheduled for Dec. 9-23, will include several landings on the Antarctic Peninsula to view the wildlife and research stations of the icy continent.

The trip’s leader, Carol Vleck, assistant professor of zoology, has conducted research in Antarctica for the past two summers.

“There are lots of things to see, and the tour is designed to show the natural history of the area,” Vleck said.

Travelers will have the opportunity to look for whales, visit penguin and seal colonies and travel as far south as the Antarctic Circle, she said.

The cost of the trip will range from $3,700 to $4,400, depending on the number of participants.

The price includes airfare between New York and Ushuaia, Argentina, hotel accommodations in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Ushuaia and 10 nights on board a ship of the Marine Expeditions Tour Company.

The cost also includes most meals, taxes and fees. Other expenses such as the airfare to New York and layover costs in Ushuaia still are under negotiation.

“Because we are getting a group discount, this will be the cheapest way most students will ever have to travel to this area. A chance like this does not come around very often.” Vleck said.

To ready themselves for the trip, students planning to go to Antarctica will take a one-credit seminar course next fall, in which they will learn the biology of the continent and surrounding oceans. The seminar also will discuss the hole in the ozone layer and global warming as well as the politics of the Antarctic Treaty. The trip will be worth two or three credits.

So far, seven students have signed up for the trip, but Vleck said at least three more students are needed for the field trip to occur.

The trip is open to all majors, and the application deadline is Friday.