News - University of Arkansas
The GLOBE Program is Pleased to Host the Tenth Year of the International Virtual Science Symposium
The GLOBE Program is pleased to host the tenth year of the International Virtual Science Symposium (IVSS)! First hosted in 2012, the IVSS is an opportunity for GLOBE students to share their research with other students; teachers; and Science, Technology, Education, and Mathematics (STEM) professionals. The IVSS encourages students to formulate research questions, engage the scientific method to answer those questions and, most importantly, share their research. These are essential skills to have when moving forward into STEM fields, and The GLOBE Program is proud to have encouraged students to develop them for 10 years.
GLOBE Implementation Office (GIO) Director Dr. Tony Murphy said, “The IVSS had occurred once or twice before I became the director at GIO. Then there was a break for the art competitions to occur. We were considering the option to alternate the IVSS with the art competition, but decided that it was best to have the IVSS. The reason I favored the IVSS is that when I was in middle school, I submitted a project to the Irish National Science Competition, which was an environmental project about an island in Killarney National Park. Thanks to that personal research project experience, I could see the value of these kinds of events and how they can impact the interests and possible careers of students. Having this opportunity available to students on a global scale is an incredible event. After 10 years, it is time to celebrate this great milestone in the program's history.”
Since 2016, over 1,300 projects have been submitted to the IVSS. Each year, students have inspired the GLOBE community with their hard work and dedication. The IVSS has received projects from as many as 29 different countries in a single year, which also shows the diversity of students participating. The IVSS now accepts projects in Arabic, Croatian, English, French, Spanish and, for the first time this year, Thai. The GLOBE Program is dedicated to expanding the number of languages accepted, with the goal of making the IVSS accessible to everyone.
As the IVSS has expanded over the years, it has relied on volunteer judges to reach new goals and achieve new possibilities. Typically, the IVSS has the assistance of more than 150 judges worldwide. Without these volunteers, the IVSS would not be possible. With the goal of accepting projects in even more languages, the IVSS will continue to rely on volunteer judges to make science accessible to everyone. The GLOBE Program encourages teachers, STEM professionals, GLOBE International STEM Network (GISN) members, alumni and other interested parties to volunteer their invaluable time and expertise. (To sign up for this impactful opportunity, click here.)
With the support of the GLOBE community, the IVSS will continue to grow and expand. This year’s theme is “Global Connections: Investigating Earth as a System Together.” The theme encourages students to incorporate GLOBE’s Earth as a System Protocol Bundles (which are available here) and to think of ways to collaborate with other students from around the world. The 2023 IVSS will continue the tradition of advancing science communication and research skills in GLOBE students. In the coming years, GLOBE will continue to seek new, cutting-edge ways to improve the IVSS for the entire GLOBE community.
Dates to Keep in Mind for the 2023 IVSS:
- Reports Accepted: 01 January through 10 March 2023
- Due Date for Student Reports: 10 March
- Judging Webinar: 29 March
- Judging Period: 30 March through 09 April
- Feedback and Virtual Badges Shared: Earth Day, 22 April
- Drawing for Stipends: Earth Day, 22 April
To learn more about the 2023 IVSS, click here.
If you have any questions, please contact globehelp@ucar.edu