May
May 2017 GLOBE News Brief
May 2017 GLOBE News Brief
Join the ENSO Data Entry Challenge - 22 April through 22 July!
The GLOBE Program invites you to join the ENSO (El Niño Southern Oscillation) Data Entry Challenge. The goal of the challenge, which began on 22 April and runs through 22 July, is to involve students in the GLOBE ENSO Student Research Campaign.
El Niño and La Niña are the warm and cool phases of a recurring climate pattern across the tropical Pacific-the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (or "ENSO" for short). ENSO is one of the most important climate phenomena on Earth due to its ability to change the global atmospheric circulation, which in turn, influences temperature and precipitation across the globe. Considering the importance of this issue, the GLOBE ENSO Campaign has been formulated to engage students in determining where, and how much, El Niño affects local places and to put students in contact with their local environment.
The GLOBE Data Entry App is all about making data entry easy! After an initial download of forms, you can record your measurements in the field, and then choose to send your data to GLOBE when you have an internet connection. The app streamlines some aspects of data entry, and allows you to use your phone's camera to document your sites and measurements.
The data collected and entered into our system during the ENSO Data Entry Campaign will help us understand how these natural cycles impact us - and how we may impact them.
News
Thank You for Helping GLOBE Celebrate Earth Day 2017
If you missed the live YouTube broadcast from the GLOBE Implementation Office (GIO) in celebration of Earth Day 2017, then we'd like to thank you once again for helping GLOBE highlight the dedicated and passionate work of our community around the world. During the broadcast, GIO officially presented the top video for each region (selected by each Regional Coordination Office).
GLOBE, and NASA, also called upon our community to make Earth Day a "Cloud Observation Day" - using the GLOBE Observer App or GLOBE's enhanced Cloud Protocol - so that you could experience your own unique observations, and touch the sky, as part of your celebrations. We hope that you continue to use these amazing tools and continue to enter your data because the gathering of - and the ENTERING of -- professional and citizen science data is the heart and soul of The GLOBE Program.
2017 International Virtual Science Symposium Updates!
Check Out These Scientifically Intrepid Student Reports!
GLOBE community members are invited to check out the many well-versed and well-prepared reports submitted to the 2017 GLOBE International Virtual Science Symposium (IVSS). The students worked exceptionally hard on these projects and your feedback (comments and questions) is welcome. All projects are available here.
Live Drawing on 15 May!
The live drawing for student stipends ($1,000 each for two U.S. projects; $2,000 each for two international projects) to help offset the costs of attending the 21st GLOBE Annual Meeting and Student Research Experience will be held on 15 May at 9:00 a.m. MT (11:00 a.m. ET/3:00 p.m. UTC). Save this link to join the live drawing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IJwRj7d16w.
Badges and Feedback on 15 May!
On 15 May, badges for participating in the 2017 IVSS will be posted on school pages on globe.gov and feedback from judges will be sent to teachers.
Thank You for Participating!
The GLOBE Program, and the GIO, would like to thank everyone who participated in this year's IVSS. And even though the event is complete for the year, we encourage you to keep intrepidly venturing forth in your scientific endeavors!
The GIO would also like to extend a "Thank You" to all of the judges that helped make this event possible. We are very appreciative of our judges - and certificates will be emailed to participating judges on 15 May!
Keeping on the GLOBE ENSO Student Research Campaign? Read the Latest Blogs!
Is another El Niño on its way? Read the latest GLOBE ENSO Student Research Campaign blog, written by Dorian Wood Janney, and discover what our "amazing scientific instruments" are able to detect. Currently, scientists aren't even sure when the next big El Niño will happen - Summer or Fall? Read Brian Campbell's latest blog in search of answers to that question, "El Niño 2017: Tricky, Tricky."
Are you staying up-to-date on the exciting campaign? Throughout the GLOBE ENSO Student Research Campaign, regular guest blogs from scientists and teachers are being posted. In addition, there is information on the science of ENSO, 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!
GLOBE eTraining Program Celebrates One-Year Anniversary - Learn How; Learn Now!
Teachers - you no longer have to wait for a face-to-face workshop to become a contributing member of the GLOBE community. The eTraining Program (officially launched on Earth Day 2016), offers you a powerful portal where you can access the training materials you need to lead a classroom in data collection and lab procedures associated with a GLOBE protocol.
The eTraining Program also serves as an innovative introduction to the worldwide GLOBE community. There are now 46 eTraining modules available (including modules introducing The GLOBE Program and modules covering all four protocol areas) - awaiting the click of your finger!
Opportunities for Students
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 info to: communications@globe.gov.
NASA One-Stop Shopping Initiative
Eligible students can now access a portfolio of NASA internship, fellowship, and scholarship opportunities through a single portal and a single application. The 2017 Fall Session Internship Application dates are from 02 March through 31 May!
Opportunities for Teachers
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, "Train Like an Astronaut: Out of This World Activities for a Healthier Generation" is geared toward educators in grade levels K through 10. On Tuesday, 23 May (4:00 p.m. ET), join NASA in a variety of exciting physical and hands-on activities to encourage students to "Train Like an Astronaut." This program was developed in cooperation with NASA scientists and fitness professionals working directly with astronauts, the Train Like an Astronaut activities are a physical and inquiry-based approach to human health and fitness on Earth and in space. Students can participate in physical activities modeled after the real-life physical requirements of humans traveling in space.
Share Your STEM Stories with GLOBE
GLOBE is gathering stories of students, teachers, and alumni who have been influenced by their GLOBE experiences to pursue STEM education. We want to hear from:
- Current GLOBE students who intend to pursue further education in STEM;
- Former GLOBE students who are currently engaged in higher education in STEM areas or who have gone into STEM careers; and
- Teachers who have sought further training in STEM subjects, either through GLOBE training or through other professional development training, in order to enhance their capabilities as teachers or for new careers in STEM.
Download the template here. Need assistance? Send an email to help@globe.gov.
Upcoming 2017 GLOBE Teacher Training Workshops
Upcoming GLOBE teacher training workshops include:
- Myrtle Creek, Oregon, USA (Tri-City Elementary): 06 May (open to all teachers)
- Oakland, California, USA (OUSD Bio9): 20 May (restricted to teachers in the region)
- Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA (NM STEM Symposium): 01 June (open to all teachers)
- Denver, Colorado, USA (MULTI Summer Institute of Metropolitan State University of Denver): 05-09 June (potential restricted attendance)
- Huntington, West Virginia, USA (Huntington High School): 06 June (open to all teachers)
- Pearlington, Mississippi, USA (INFINITY Science Center): 08 June (open to all teachers)
- Pearlington, Mississippi, USA (INFINITY Science Center): 09 June (potential restricted attendance)
- Pierre, South Dakota, USA (GLOBE Learning Expedition South Dakota): 13-16 June (restricted to teachers in the region)
- Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA (UND Clifford Hall): 27 July - 01 August (open to all teachers)
- Pierre, South Dakota, USA (South Dakota Discovery Center): 07-08 August (open to all teachers)
- Reading, Pennsylvania, USA (The Nature Place): 11 August (open to all teachers)
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
Be sure to follow us on social media! Just click on the icons below.
The Deadline to Register for the 2017 GLOBE Annual Meeting is 05 July!
The deadline to register for the 21st GLOBE Annual Meeting and Student Research Experience is fast approaching - 05 July. After that date, there will be a $100 fee for late registration. The deadline to book your hotel room is also 05 July.
The event, and the adventure, will take place in New Haven, Connecticut, USA (30 July-03 August) at the campus of Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU). The theme of the Annual Meeting is "Coastal Resilience in Urban Environments." Check out GLOBE's one-stop-shop for:
- Updated information
- Registration fee information
- Accommodation information
- Ground transportation information
- Student Research Experience information
- Student Research Exhibition information
- Exhibitor Information
- Liability forms
Remember -- use #GLOBE21 to follow all of the happenings on social media. It's almost time to connect in Connecticut! See you there!
GLOBE Community: You Can Now Blog On the GLOBE Website!
As a vital part of the GLOBE community, you are invited to blog on the GLOBE website. Respectfully voice your opinion, ask questions, share tips and tidbits - and make meaningful connections with members of the community today!
The GLOBE Community Support Team (CST) has recorded a demonstration video on how to create a blog post, including how to add images and "tags" to your text. (If you prefer, you can follow along with the set of instructions by clicking here.) As always, if you have questions about this tool, send us an email at help@globe.gov.
PBS Series "Crowd & The Cloud" Explores Citizen Science - Highlights GLOBE
According to the new PBS Series, Crowd & The Cloud, "There's a revolution happening in science. And, now more than ever, you can be a part of it." This four-part public television series, which premiered in April, explores the potential and the challenges of this new revolution - citizen science.
The series, hosted by former NASA Chief Scientist Waleed Abdalati, takes viewers on a global tour of the projects and the people on the "front lines" of this transformative adventure in how science is done, and shows how anyone, anywhere, can participate.
The series also highlights the work of The GLOBE Program:
- Episode 3, Viral vs Virus includes GLOBE and explores the GLOBE Mosquito Larvae Protocol and the GLOBE Observer Mosquitoes Habitat Mapper.
- Episode 1, Even Big Data Starts Small explores the GLOBE ENSO campaign.
In the United States, the series aired on PBS in April 2017. Now the entire series is available for streaming. Here, you can discover the world of citizen science by watching the episodes, joining a project, and learning more about the series.
Where Will the Next Generation of Scientists Come From? Recent Article in Environmental Biophysics Looks to The GLOBE Program
In an article published on 10 April, Environmental Biophysics interviewed former GLOBE Chief Scientists, Dr. Dixon Butler in search of an answer to "where will the next generation of scientists come from."
Providing in in-depth overview of The GLOBE Program, including the impact the program is having in schools worldwide, why the program uses "kids" (students) to collect data, whether GLOBE data can be used by scientists, and the future of The GLOBE Program, Dr. Butler explains that many scientists may indeed come from the ranks of those learning science, and the scientific approach, from GLOBE.
"Young minds," Dixon says in the article, "need to experience the scientific approach of developing hypotheses, taking careful, reproducible measurements, and reasoning with data. Inquiries should begin early and grow in quality and sophistication as learners progress in literacy, numeracy, and understanding scientific concepts. In addition to fostering critical thinking skills, active engagement in scientific research at an early age also builds skills in mathematics and communications. These kids will grow up knowing how to think scientifically. They'll ask better questions, and they'll be harder to fool. I think that's what the world needs, and I see the environment and science as the easiest path to get there."
Click here and read the entire article.
05 June is World Environment Day - Citizen Scientists Play Crucial Role in "Connecting People to Nature"
Anniversaries
Congratulations to the eight GLOBE countries celebrating anniversaries of successful GLOBE implementation during the month of May:
Turkey - 22 years
05 May 1995
United Kingdom - 21 years
01 May 1996
Mongolia - 20 years
06 May 1997
Denmark - 20 years
29 May 1997
Iceland - 20 years
30 May 1997
Spain - 19 years
05 May 1998
Guinea - 19 years
14 May 1998
Ukraine - 18 years
27 May 1999
News Brief Archive
All past issues of the GLOBE News Brief are available in the online Archive.
