June 30

Conference News: June 30

GLOBE conference kicks off with glory

Students, teachers and scientists from more than 20 countries gather in Helsinki

"There are GLOBE people and there are other people, GLOBE people's eyes light up at the mention of the word," with these words from the US Ambassador Day Mount the first international GLOBE conference was officially opened. The GLOBE Program (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) provides opportunities for students to further improve their environment while learning about science. With more than 20 countries in attendance from all corners of the world, the Congress Hall at the Paasitorni Conference Centre was turned into an international forum of environmental studies for the GLOBE Learning Expedition.

Al Gore's Address on video: "Rededicate yourself to GLOBE"

Keynote speakers included Mr. Pekka Haavisto, the Finnish Minister of the Environment; Ambassador Day Mount, and various GLOBE special guests. The ceremonies also included a performance by Henna Tahvanainen, a 13 year old student playing the Kantele, a traditional Finnish instrument, and students from Eno Elementary School performing the song, "We Have All The Instruments".

A video taped message to all the GLOBE students from the Vice President of the United States, Al Gore, was also presented. In his address to the attendees Mr. Gore said, "The GLOBE conference is a great opportunity to make new friends and research partners, as well as rededicate yourself to GLOBE." The opening ceremony was the beginning of the chain of events that will take place during the conference which began on Tuesday June 30th and will end on Saturday July 4th.

Conference authors: Maria Leppälä, Marna Palmer and Matt Trautman

Internet Café introduces GLOBE students all over the world

Café connects the rest of the countries with Learning Expedition

Internet Café provides the means for all GLOBE students around the world to participate in GLOBE Learning Expedition. Internet Café is the easy way to travel and meet new people around the world. David Brown, Director of Internet Café, explains many of the features of the Internet Café. The main purpose of the Café, he says, is to try to include everyone, not only the students here at the conference, but also those unable to attend. To do so, the Internet Café includes a GLOBE website with pictures from the conference, the GLOBE newspaper and electronic postcards. Web chats, which allow students in different countries to communicate, are also available on Friday and Saturday with Germany, Croatia, Japan and the United States.

Eye to eye communication

Video Conferencing will be used during the week to allow students in Finland to communicate with students in Germany. Video Conferencing enables the students to see each other, even though they may be hundreds of miles away. Students in Arizona will also be making use of Internet Café this Friday. GLOBE students in Arizona will submit their research and answer questions from students here in Finland. Two Egyptian students, Amir and Ahmed from Tarek Ibn Zead School, say that it's important to have a computer to work in GLOBE because without it, students are unable to keep contact with students in other countries. Tyrone Williams from the Mississippi School of the Deaf thinks that the Internet Café is a lot of fun and also allows him to learn more things about the web. Internet Café is the way to bring everyone here to Finland. It's also the interactive way to keep in touch with family and friends.

Conference authors: Satu Kangas and Kristin Marsh