News Brief
December 2016 GLOBE News Brief
The GLOBE Data Quality Challenge (28 Nov - 04 Dec) Is On!
Only a few more days to get this right! The GLOBE Data Quality Challenge began on 28 November and will run through Sunday, 04 December. Why a Data Quality Challenge? Because we need our community members - you - to compare the site locations associated with your account and to make sure, 100 percent sure, that they are correct. Data entry is about quality as much as quantity!
BONUS! In addition to helping ensure the accuracy of the data, everyone who has confirmed and edited their site information will get a virtual participation badge to share on their profile after the challenge period. Have questions? Contact our Community Support Team at help@globe.gov!
News
Are You an Official GLOBE ENSO Student Research Campaign Member?
Join Today!
Are you an OFFICIAL MEMBER of the GLOBE ENSO Student Research Campaign? If not, you are missing out on vital updates and potential collaboration with other GLOBE schools from around the world. The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) campaign is designed to engage students in determining where, and how much, El Niño affects local places and to put students in contact with their local environment. CLICK HERE TO JOIN TODAY!
Did you know that approximately 50,000 automated and non-automated measurements are uploaded by students, teachers, and automated systems every week? You might think that is a lot of data, and it is, but the Earth is a really big place and we need as much data as we can get in order to understand how our planet works.
The data that is being uploaded for the GLOBE El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) campaign come from six GLOBE protocols. These protocols help us figure out how the ENSO phenomenon is affecting local environments so that we can understand the global environment. The protocols are:
- Precipitation
- Air Temperature
- Surface Temperature
- Soil Temperature
- SMAP Soil Moisture
- Biometry - Canopy and Ground Cover
Click here for the new GLOBE ENSO Campaign ePacket! This ePacket will introduce you to the campaign, highlight how you can get involved, and show you how to collaborate and take the data collection to the next level.
2017 International Virtual Science Symposium Updates
The 2017 GLOBE International Virtual Science Symposium (IVSS) K-4 (Lower Primary) Research Projects Webinar will be held on 07 December 2016 at 10:00 a.m. MT (12:00 p.m. ET). During the webinar, Lynne Hehr, Lynne Vaughan Reeves, and Julie Malmberg will present tips and strategies for helping K-4 students complete research projects for the 2017 IVSS. Click here to join the webinar!
The 2017 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 mathematics) professionals who are part of the GLOBE International STEM Network (GISN).
Did you miss the informational webinar? Hosted by Dr. Julie Malmberg (GIO) and Matt Silberglitt (WestEd), the webinar is now available online. Watch it today! This webinar covers the badges, instructions, and guidelines for the science symposium. The slides are also available to download here!
IVSS Timeline:
- Informational Webinar: 19 October 2016
- Rubrics posted: 04 November 2016
- K-4 (Lower Primary) webinar: 07 December 2016, 10:00 a.m. MT (12:00 p.m. ET)
- Reports accepted for submission: January 2017 to 03 April 2017
- Reports and presentations due: 03 April 2017
- Judging and comment period: 23 April to 29 April 2017
- Scores and badges announced: 15 May 2017
Still looking for a mentoring scientist? Numerous scientists have volunteered to help! Look through the list here! And, of course, if you need additional assistance, please contact the GLOBE Community Support Team at help@globe.gov.
Habla Español? GLOBE Community Support Team Welcomes New Member
The GLOBE Community Support Team (CST) welcomes a new team member: Jorge Arias. Jorge is a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina. With his strong background in technology, his fluent Spanish, and his love of the outdoors, Jorge is a great addition to the GLOBE Implementation Office.
Estoy muy contento de formar parte del grupo de soporte de GLOBE. Estaré a su disposición para ayudarle en todo lo que pueda.
-- Jorge Arias
Have a question in Spanish? Just send us an email at help@globe.gov.
Share Your GLOBE-Related STEM Learning Activities
Do you do STEM activities as part of your GLOBE curriculum or trainings? If in the U.S., GIO is especially interested in activities that have been aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). If so, we'd like to hear about it - and share it with our larger community! Please email resources and links to help@globe.gov.
Are You a GLOBE Star?
GLOBE Stars are stories of projects, people, and extraordinary activities being conducted around the world in connection to GLOBE. GLOBE Stars are the bright lights that spark our imagination and inspire us with news of GLOBE at work in the world. We want to hear about the Stars in your community. Send your story of people, projects, or activities to share on the GLOBE website. (For guidelines and a downloadable template for submitting a Star, click here!)
Some of GLOBE's recent Star stories include:
- Teachers, Trees, and Trainings in Sri Lanka
- GLOBE Training in Trinidad and Tobago
- Brazil Conducts Its First Train the Trainer Workshop
- Lake Victoria Exhibition Succeeds in Engaging Youth in Hands-on Research
- Science, Math, and GLOBE in Bermuda
- GLOBE Estonia Celebrates 20 Years
And so many more...
Register as a GLOBE Alumnus!
If you have participated in GLOBE as a student, we encourage you to register to become a member of the GLOBE Alumni Organization. GLOBE Alumni assist with local implementation of The GLOBE Program in schools and their communities. Alumni may work directly with the GLOBE Country Coordinator in their country or U.S. Partners in their state, as well as with teachers, students, and scientists who want to collaborate with schools in their local area.
Stay connected by joining the growing GLOBE Alumni Organization today.
● I'm interested, contact me.
Opportunities for U.S. Teachers
U.S. opportunities are often highlighted in the News Brief simply because we are more aware of them through our local media; however, if there are opportunities for GLOBE students and/or teachers in your region you would like us to highlight in the coming months, please send the information to: communications@globe.gov.
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, "Don't Count NASA Out of Your Math Classes: Scale of Discovery," is geared toward educators in grade levels PreK-12. This webinar will be presented on 12 December, at 6:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. PT). Participants will learn about hands-on standards aligned activities using scale to create a scroll of the universe exploring the inner planets, outer planets, and the asteroid belt. They will also use mathematical conversions and scale to make comparisons of planets and asteroids with various sized fruit while learning about the Dawn and New Horizons.
Teachers Connect: NASA LaRC 100 Webinar Using GLOBE Materials
News Brief Archive
All past issues of the GLOBE News Brief are available in the online Archive.
Tell Us Your Story! Register Now for 06 December ENSO Student Research Campaign Webinar
Register today for the GLOBE ENSO Student Research Campaign webinar: "Telling Your Story." The webinar will take place on Tuesday, 06 December, at 8:00 p.m. ET (1:00 a.m. UTC). In this hour-long webinar, the discussion will focus on the importance of sharing your story (as a teacher, student, or scientist) with others participating in the campaign. Details of Story Maps and H2yOu Project will also be shared.
U.S. Partner? Register Today for the January 2017 TTT/NARM in Arkansas
Registration is now open for the Train-The-Trainer (TTT) and the North American Regional Meeting (NARM), which will take place at the University of Arkansas (UA) Center for Math and Science Education in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
This year's TTT (09-10 January) will focus on a "Biosphere and Earth Systems" theme. The NARM (11-12 January) will focus on networking and learning from each other. (This year's NARM will include lightning talk sessions followed with networking time specifically for interactions with individual presenters for further discussion and collaboration.) Both of these meetings are open to all U.S. partnerships, Canadian partners, and GLOBE collaborators. (You can sign up to attend both the TTT and the NARM for a reduced fee of $100.)
Save the Monarch! Register for National Wildlife Federation Mayors' Monarch Pledge Webinar: 12 December
Last fall, the National Wildlife Federation (a GLOBE collaborating organization) launched the Mayors' Monarch Pledge, an effort to get mayors and other local government chief executives to commit to help save the monarch butterfly - a beloved species that has declined by about 90 percent over the last 20 years. Learn more here.
Register today for the National Wildlife Federation's Mayors' Monarch Pledge Webinar, "Planning Now for Spring Planting." This webinar will be held on 12 December at 1:00 p.m. ET. This webinar will provide mayors and municipal leaders with guidance about planning ahead for their community's spring 2017 native milkweed and nectar plant needs. Follow this link to register!
GLOBE CST Has Your Back!
Need help? GLOBE's CST has your back! The CST is available to assist you (Monday through Friday) at 1-800-858-9947. Inquires submitted on the weekend (Saturday and Sunday) will be answered as soon as possible on Monday. The CST is also available to schedule an online meeting, during which time they can share their screen to better help you learn how to use the website (please include, with your request, times and days that you are available to meet).
GLOBE Materials Are Available in Multiple Languages
Did you know that GLOBE materials have been translated into multiple languages? This includes the Teacher's Guide (Arabic, Chinese, French, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish), Elementary GLOBE (Arabic, French, German, and Spanish), and many GLOBE resources. Check it out today!
If you are interested in volunteering to translate materials for GLOBE, please send an email to help@globe.gov. Your assistance would be greatly appreciated!
But Volunteers Who Can Help Translate GLOBE Materials Are Always Welcome!
The GLOBE Program is seeking volunteers to help translate GLOBE Program materials. There is a particular need for French and German - but assistance in all languages would be greatly appreciated. If you would like to help, please send an email to help@globe.gov and let us know what languages you can translate.
Lands' End Apparel with GLOBE Logo Available through GLOBE Materials Shop
Need a gift for someone (or for yourself)? You can find a wide variety of Lands' End men's and women's apparel and promotional products through the GLOBE Materials Shop. Lands' End Business Outfitters is offering a storefront that is designed to make shopping easier - and will add the GLOBE logo to your purchases. Satisfaction guaranteed! You can see what's in store by:
- Going to http://shop.globe.gov/; and clicking on "Order GLOBE Apparel and Promotional Items" (bottom right column).
You can click on "Shopper Resources and Guidelines" for full instructions on how to order. Once you place an order, you will receive emails for savings on future orders (including free logo application and free shipping).
Upcoming 2016 GLOBE Teacher Training Workshops
Upcoming GLOBE teacher training workshops include:
- Nkambe, Cameroon (Government Bilingual High School Nkambe): 04-06 December (potential restricted attendance)
- Watsonville, California, USA (Elkhorn Slough Reserve): 10-11 December (restricted to teachers in the region)
- Douala, Cameroon (Lycee Bilingue Bonaberi): 11-13 December (potential restricted attendance)
- Vernon, Alabama, USA (Vernon/UA AMSTI): 04-05 January 2017 (restricted to teachers in the region)
- Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA (UA Center for Math and Science Education): 09-10 January 2017 (potential restricted attendance)
- Boulder, Colorado, USA (GLOBE Implementation Office): 13-17 March 2017 (TTT U.S. Partnership Bootcamp)
- Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA (UND Clifford Hall): 27 July 2017 - 01 August 2017 (open to all teachers)
Anniversaries
Congratulations to the 10 GLOBE countries celebrating anniversaries of successful GLOBE implementation during the month of December:
Burkina Faso - 18 years
18 December 1998
El Salvador - 21 years
11 December 1995
Germany - 21 years
08 December 1995
Greece - 21 years
12 December 1995
Guatemala - 19 years
05 December 1997
Maldives - 13 years
08 December 2003
Oman - 7 years
08 December 2009
Russia - 22 years
16 December 1994
Sri Lanka - 17 years
20 December 1999
Suriname - 19 years
23 December 1997
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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