Water, one of the most essential elements to our survival, makes up approximately 71 percent of Earth’s surface and two-thirds of the human body. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the quality of the ecosystems this imperative resource is obtained from. Participation by GLOBE students in the U.N. sponsored World Water Day allowed GLOBE students from 67 schools in 14 countries to investigate water sources in their local areas by engaging in learning activities such as The pH Game, Water Detectives, Hydrology Site Definition and conducting the GLOBE pH Protocol, among others, and, to gather data for long-term research projects. “We are proud of the science investigations and data collection by GLOBE Students in the first GLOBE-sponsored World Water Day event. Students collected water quality data on five continents and we are thrilled to hear of their investigation findings. It is so exciting to see students have the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than just their school,” stated Dr. Donna Charlevoix, Director of the Science and Education Division for the GLOBE Program Office. The week-long campaign took place 22-26 March 2010, and consisted of the collection and entry of hydrology data as well as the analysis of worldwide water issues. In addition to investigating the potential problems with Earth’s water supply, participating groups collaborated to celebrate local water resources. GLOBE encourages positive actions such as stream clean-ups, watershed restoration, and public outreach activities, during this annual event, and all year long. Highlights from all six GLOBE regions follow.

GLOBE Africa’s 4th Annual Regional Meeting, held in Dakar, Senegal 25-26 February 2010, brought together GLOBE Leaders to discuss ways to strengthen the GLOBE Program in Africa and further prepare GLOBE students for success after they graduate from high school.

Over 20 representatives from 13 countries met at this important event (Benin, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Namibia (via Skype), Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda). The opening ceremony included remarks by M. Ibrahima Ndour, Directeur de l’enseignement secondarire et general/Ministère Education; Dr. Altine Ndao Traorer, Coordonnatrice de la Cellule d’Education et de Formation Environnementale/Ministère de l’Environmennement; M. Mamadou Bâ, GLOBE teacher in Lycée Seydina Limoulaye moderating the opening session; and English translations provided by M. Mamadou N'Diaye, GLOBE Master Trainer.

The Concours Général, a national student achievement test administered annually for the past 30 years in Senegalese national territory, functions as a nationwide “General Contest” for high school students. During their last two years of high school, students between the ages of 17 and 20 prepare for this test to compete in the areas of biology, mathematics, physical chemistry, languages, history, and geography. Each year in May, His Excellence, the President of the Republic of Senegal, presents awards to students who achieved the highest scores on the Concours Général, in turn recognizing the educational establishment the student attends. Lycée Seydina Limamoulaye, a GLOBE High School in Dakar, Senegal, consistently excels in this competition, taking first place in the number of overall students ranked for the past three years.