News Brief
August 2016 GLOBE News Brief
GLOBE Annual Meeting and Student Research Exhibition Climbs to New Heights in Estes Park, Colorado, USA
In July, more than 200 participants from 31 countries, including GLOBE students, teachers, scientists, U.S. Partners, and International Country Coordinators, climbed to new heights to help celebrate the GLOBE community in Estes Park, Colorado, USA, for the 20th GLOBE Annual Meeting and 4th Student Research Exhibition.
News
New GLOBE eTraining Protocols Now Available
Several new GLOBE eTraining materials have now been added to the GLOBE Website. GLOBE eTraining provides the opportunity for new and existing GLOBE users to complete science protocol training at anytime, anywhere.
New Training materials include: Soil Infiltration, Soil Bulk Density, Soil Characterization, Soil Moisture Gravimetric, Selecting and Defining a Soil Characterization Site, Hydrosphere, Salinity Using a Hydrometer, Salinity Using the Titration Method, Dissolved Oxygen Using a Meter, Dissolved Oxygen Using a Kit, Nitrates, Mosquito Larvae, and Alkalinity.
Want to get started with eTraining today? A summary document about GLOBE eTraining is available for download. In order to make sure that these resources improve over time, the GLOBE Implementation Office would like your input, including corrections, connections, and additional content ideas. Please complete the eTraining Community Feedback form (which is located on the left menu bar on the Protocol eTraining page).
Comment Period on Scoring Rubrics for 2017 GLOBE International Virtual Science Symposium Open through 31 August
The scoring rubrics for the 2017 GLOBE International Virtual Science Symposium (previously called the International Virtual Science Fair) are open for comments through 31 August 2016. The 2017 International Virtual Science Symposium ( IVSS) takes place online, and K-16 students from any GLOBE country may participate. GLOBE students use the GLOBE data they entered into the database and should collaborate with scientists, including STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) professionals who are part of the GLOBE International STEM Network (GISN).
Every project that is submitted will be hosted on the Student Research Reports section and students will receive virtual badges to reward them for their work. There is no limit to the number of entries per student or per school, and there is no limit to the number of students per project.
IVSS Timeline:
- Rubric comment period 01 August 2016 - 31 August 2016
- Reports and presentations due by 03 April 2017
- Scores and badges announced on 15 May 2017
If you would like to review the rubrics, please provide your feedback to Dr. Julie Malmberg.
Are You Up-to-Date on the GLOBE El Niño Field Campaign? Catch Up Today!
Did you miss the most recent GLOBE El Niño Field Campaign blogs: "See the Latest NASA ENSO Images HERE!" (03 August) or "El Niño at the 20th GLOBE Annual Meeting" (21 July) or "El Niño/La Niña 2016!" (07 July)? Catch up on all of the campaign blogs today.
If you were unable to attend all of the GLOBE El Niño Field Campaign webinars, you can link to a recording and catch up today. You can also now register for the next webinar "El Niño Student Campaign Refresher and Update," which will take place on 21 September at 8:00 p.m. ET (12:00 a.m. 22 September UTC).
Want to share your El Niño story? Visit the El Niño Story Maps page. Remember, throughout the campaign, regular guest blogs from scientists about how they study El Niño and teachers doing data collection with their students are being posted. In addition, there is information on the science of El Niño, how to participate in the campaign, analysis tools, numerous resources, and engaging discussion opportunities on the webpage. Keep checking back to discover what's new with the campaign!
Opportunities for Students
United Nations' International Youth Day Event is 12 August 2016
The United Nations' (UN) International Youth Day is celebrated on 12 August every year in order to recognize the efforts of the world's youth in enhancing global society. The goal is to promote ways to engage youth in becoming more actively involved in making positive contributions to their communities.
The theme of International Youth Day 2016 is "The Road to 2030: Eradicating Poverty and Achieving Sustainable Consumption and Production." This year's Youth Day is about achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It focuses on the leading role of young people in ensuring poverty eradication and achieving sustainable development through sustainable consumption and production.
Opportunities for Teachers
GOES-R Launch Workshop for G6-12 Teachers
A 2-day teacher workshop and launch viewing of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites - R Series (GOES-R) will take place at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) from 04-05 November 2016. The GOES-R launch is currently scheduled for 04 November. (If the launch date changes the workshop dates will shift accordingly.) Currently, only U.S. citizens can attend. If you are interested, click here and register!
Free NASA STEM Educator Webinars
The NASA STEM Educator Professional Development Collaborative (EPDC) is presenting a series of webinars open to all educators. All pre-service, K-12, and informal educators, as well as university faculty, are invited to join NASA education specialists to learn about NASA missions, activities, lesson plans, educator guides, and online resources that integrate NASA and STEM into the classroom.
An upcoming webinar, "Real NASA Data for Real Learning: Discovering New Planets," is geared toward educators in grade levels 6-12. This webinar will be presented on 11 August, 6:00 p.m. ET (3:00 p.m. PT). Participants will use real NASA data to explore how the Kepler Space Telescope searches for planets orbiting stars beyond our sun. Participants will also investigate how to use Kepler Telescope data and Kepler's 3rd Law to construct graphs and interpret data that determines if a planet, orbiting a star in another solar system, is Earth-like and a candidate to support "life". Other related NASA STEM missions and resources will also be explored.
Connect With Us
The GLOBE Program depends on you to let us know what is happening in your regions, countries, communities and classrooms. Send us news you would like to share with the GLOBE Community and we'll include it in next month's News Brief. Be sure to include photos, too.
Send your message to communications@globe.gov
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Why Should You Join the GISN? Meaningful Mentoring and Scientific Connections!
Why join the GLOBE International STEM Network (GISN)? As a GISN member, you can meaningfully connect with an international network of STEM professionals who work with GLOBE students around the world conducting science.
The GISN provides you with an exciting opportunity to inspire young minds and interact with the next generation. As a GISN member, you can access the GLOBE database, which extends over 20 years with data in most Earth system science research areas that can be used to supplement standard research data. As a GISN member, you can even propose your own Campaign!
GISN professionals contribute to science education in a unique way that can result in a lasting impression on student interest in science, as well as scientific literacy. Join this international network today! Teachers, students, and community members: connect directly with a GISN Member today!
Join the First Lake Victoria Learning Expedition in Africa this September
(18-24)!
The GLOBE Program, YLACES (Youth Learning As Citizen Environmental Scientists), GLOBE Africa Regional Coordinating Office (RCO), and GLOBE Kenya invite you to attend the first Lake Victoria Learning Expedition. The event will take place from 18 September through 24 September 2016.
The GLOBE Africa RCO will train, equip, support, and evaluate schools on the shores of Lake Victoria in water monitoring and will engage schools around the world in learning about the lake and in comparing measurements with data from other lakes.
For more information, please contact Mark Brettenny (mark@globe-africa.org) or Kristin Wegner (kwegner@ucar.edu). Join the Lake Victoria Learning Expedition today!
Want to Share Information about The GLOBE Program? Check Out These New One Pagers! "
Presenting about GLOBE at a conference? Want to get involved with GLOBE? The GLOBE Program has developed a new collection of GLOBE One-Pagers that can be distributed or added to GLOBE information kits, including:
Become a GLOBE Teacher
Become a GLOBE Observer
Become a Member of the GISN (GLOBE International STEM Network)
GLOBE eTraining
GLOBE Measurement Campaigns
GLOBE Schools and NASA Satellite Missions
GLOBE Countries
GLOBE Goals for Sustainable Development
GLOBE and USGCRP (U.S. Global Change Research Program)
GLOBE and the Peace Corps
GLOBE and UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization)
Upcoming 2016 GLOBE Teacher Training Workshops
Upcoming GLOBE teacher training workshops include:
- Antsiranana, Madagascar (Antsiranana): 08-13 August (restricted to teachers in the region)
- Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA (UND Clifford Hall): 08-09 August (open to all teachers)
- Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA (Kalamazoo Nature Center - Heronwood Station): 10-12 August (open to all teachers)
- Fredonia, New York, USA (SUNY Fredonia): 22 August - 16 December (restricted to teachers in the region)
- Palmyra, New Jersey, USA (Institute for Earth Observations): 24 August (potential restricted attendance)
- Prague, Czech Republic (TEREZA): 19-20 September (restricted to teachers in the region)
- New Delhi, India (Vishwa Yuvak Kendra): 19 September (open to all teachers)
Anniversaries
Congratulations to the eight GLOBE countries celebrating anniversaries of successful GLOBE implementation during the month of August:
Cape Verde - 16 years
09 August 2000
Gabon - 13 years
11 August 2003
Niger - 11 years
11 August 2005
Rwanda - 13 years
21 August 2003
Sweden - 21 years
23 August 1995
Ethiopia - 11 years
24 August 2005
Macedonia - 18 years
24 August 1998
India - 16 years
25 August 2000
News Brief Archive
All past issues of the GLOBE News Brief are available in the online archive.
