June 2012
A monthly broadcast including upcoming educational programs, events, opportunities, and the latest resources from NASA’s Science Mission Directorate.
To Unsubscribe, e-mail ese_ed_newslist-unsubscribe@lists.hq.nasa.gov with ‘Unsubscribe’ as the subject.
Click here to see an archive of past newsletters.
New in this Issue
- Year of the Solar System – Resources for Got Life?
- GLOBE Great Global Investigation of Climate – Quarterly Intensive Observing Period (June 1-30)
- Transit of Venus Resources and Activities (June 5)
- Engaging Minority University STEM Professors in the Science of Climate Change Summer Workshop (Apply by June 8)
- 2012 Gregory G. Leptoukh Online Giovanni Workshop for Scientists, High School and Undergrad Educators (Sept. 2012)
- Mars for Earthlings – Faculty/Postdoc Workshop (Apply by Oct. 1)
- Climate Change PBL Modules Available for Classroom Pilot Testing – Middle and High School
Previously Broadcast
- Galileo Goes to Mars – Workshop for Teachers Grades 3-12 (Register by June 10)
- NASA G.I.R.L.S. Mentoring Program – Grades 5-8 (Apply by June 15)
- Teachers Touch the Sky Workshop – Grades 3-9 (Apply by June 15)
- Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Workshop for Grade 6-12 Educators
- NASA’s Multiwavelength Universe Online Professional Development for Educators (June 25-July 13)
- ESIP Teacher Workshop – Grades 6-12 (July 17-18)
- Mars Revealed: Evolving Technology, Advancing Science – A Workshop for High School Teachers (July 19-23)
- The Unknown Moon Institute: A Workshop for High School Teachers (July 25-29)
- ASP Annual Meeting – Communicating Science: A National Conference on Education and Public Outreach (Aug. 4-8)
- Planet Hunters – Help Find Planets Using Kepler Data
- IceHunters Invites the World to Find New Horizons Future KBO Destinations
- Lifelines for High School Climate Change Education
- Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) Ambassador in the Classroom
- A Day At Goddard: Opportunity for DC Metro Teachers – Grades 8-12
- BLiSS Sim – New iPad App
- T-Shirt to Bag Activity from Climate Kids
Programs & Events
New in this Issue
Year of the Solar System – Resources for Got Life?
The Year of the Solar System topic for July/August is “Got Life?” As humans, we gather perspective through our relationships with other people and with our environment. Similarly, as we study our solar system and worlds beyond, we search for the information about our relationship with the Universe – where else does life exist? To find resources and events relating to this month’s topic, please visit http://1.usa.gov/KGypKY.
GLOBE Great Global Investigation of Climate – Quarterly Intensive Observing Period (June 1-30)
(June 1-30)
The next Great Global Investigation of Climate (GGIC) Intensive Observing Period (IOP) will take place June 1-30, 2012. Students collect and enter temperature and precipitation data in the GLOBE database, and investigate how to classify local weather and climate. To learn more about the GGIC, and to download the Teacher’s Participation Guide, visit http://bit.ly/LfHjyf .
Transit of Venus Resources and Activities (June 5)
Transit of Venus Webcast
The Sun-Earth Day and NASA EDGE Teams will bring the Transit of Venus to the world from the summit of Mauna Kea in Hawaii. During a live webcast, the transit will be shown in high definition video through H-alpha, calcium-K, and White Light telescopes. Coverage will consist of video of the transit, interviews with scientists and Native Hawaiians, and question and answer sessions.
Resources are available on the website, including videos providing cultural and historical information about the transit. Other materials include bookmarks, wallpapers, and a flier that can be easily downloaded from the website. A Google map is also available to see where events are happening. For more information, visit http://1.usa.gov/H1raix.
Transit of Venus at the Cincinnati Observatory and Ault Park
5:00-9:00pm ET, $5 suggested donation at the Observatory
Watch the Transit of Venus at the Cincinnati Observatory and Ault Park! Observatory members will set up safe solar telescopes and demonstrate other creative ways to view this event. Looking at the Sun is dangerous, so please view with the professionals. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/LmgvPY.
Transit of Venus at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
3:00pm-8:00pm MT, admission fee required
The New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science will host a special event in conjunction with the Transit of Venus. View the live NASA webcast from the planetarium, and participate in activities for the whole family. A talk will be given by Dr. Larry Crumpler, Museum Research Curator and Planetary Geologist, at 6:00pm MT. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/JRwszy.
Engaging Minority University STEM Professors in the Science of Climate Change Summer Workshop (Apply by June 8)
(Apply by June 8; Aug. 6-10, Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City, N.C.)
Elizabeth City State University has joined with the University of New Hampshire under the NASA Innovations in Climate Education (NICE) Program to empower faculty of education programs at Minority Serving Institutions to better engage their pre-service teachers in teaching and learning about global climate change through the use of NASA Earth observations sets. The workshops will provide the faculty with approaches to understand climate change and its impacts on terrestrials and ocean ecosystems. Faculty will conduct field work that emphasized place-based pedagogy. They will work with an ecological model in STELLA that utilizes authentic inputs from historical and future climate scenario parameters, with NASA satellite imagery data from the MODIS and SeaWiFS sensors, and have a discussion of the challenges and approaches to integrating all or some of the lessons into their courses. Faculty will receive travel support and at $500 stipend. For more information and to register, visit http://bit.ly/Kg2m5B.
2012 Gregory G. Leptoukh Online Giovanni Workshop for Scientists, High School and Undergrad Educators (Sept. 2012)
(Sept. 2012, Exact dates TBD)
In September 2012, the NASA Goddard Earth Science Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC) will host an online workshop focused on the use of the pioneering data visualization and analysis tool, Giovanni. The online workshop will be organized around four main themes: Earth system research utilizing Giovanni; Giovanni applications (air quality, disaster management, environmental monitoring, etc.); planned and desired augmentation of Giovanni; and educational use of Giovanni. The workshop will primarily consist of online author-led presentations coupled with real-time discussions about these presentations. Presentations and chat logs will be available online for review, for those not able to participate in live sessions. To indicate interest, please email Dr. James G. Acker, or visit http://1.usa.gov/M9Hyi7 for more information.
Mars for Earthlings – Faculty/Postdoc Workshop (Apply by Oct. 1)
(Apply by Oct. 1; Nov. 3, GSA Annual Meeting, Charlotte, N.C.)
Mars for Earthlings will be conducting its first faculty/postdoc half-day workshops at the Geological Society of America Annual Meeting. Registrants will receive ready-made teaching modules and materials to be utilized in undergraduate Earth and planetary science courses. Introductions and walk-throughs of Earth analogs to Mars and Mars-related software will be provided. With attendance, registrants will receive a voucher for the amount of their registration to the GSA bookstore. For more information on registration and deadlines, please visit http://www.geosociety.org/meetings/2012/courses.htm.
Climate Change PBL Modules Available for Classroom Pilot Testing – Middle and High School
The Exploring the Environment – Global Climate Change (ETE-GCC) project announces that five modules are ready for pilot testing: Global Temperatures, Ice Caps and Sea Levels, Human Health, Volcanoes, and Drought. These new modules present an updated theoretical approach to problem-based learning (PBL) that focuses on scientific inquiry, use of satellite imagery, and incorporating of teaching strategies recommended in the Next Generation Science Standards. ETE-GCC welcomes the insights and recommendations from middle and high school teachers who are willing to pilot test these problem-based learning activities. Pre-service teachers are also welcome to participate in the process as well.
If you would like to participate in the pilot program, please sign up by sending an email to ete@cet.edu, or by requesting access to the site by selecting “Log In” at http://bit.ly/Mte7pL.
Previously Broadcast
Galileo Goes to Mars – Workshop for Teachers Grades 3-12 (Register by June 10)
(Register by June 10; Aug. 4-5; 8:30am-5:30pm; ASP Annual Meeting, DoubleTree Hotel Reid Park, Tucson, Ariz.)
In this workshop, participants will explore classroom-tested, standards-based astronomy activities, with a focus on the solar system. Participants will learn about the development of students’ understanding of science and science reasoning skills, which explore historical and multicultural perspectives on astronomy. Discussion will also cover how astronomy and space science fit into the new science framework and standards, and how to teach about recent developments in the exploration of the universe.
Registration is $75, and includes the new Universe at Your Fingertips DVD, which contains a collection of 133 classroom-ready activities. A certificate of participation will be awarded to participants, for proof of professional advancement. For more information and to register, visit http://bit.ly/IbX6is.
NASA G.I.R.L.S. Mentoring Program – Grades 5-8 (Apply by June 15)
(Apply by June 15)
NASA is looking for the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators. Women@NASA has created a mentoring project that offers a one-of-a-kind experience for middle school girls. Participants will get to explore the possibilities of a career in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The project will feature one-on-one mentoring from women working at NASA, and participants will complete online lessons with their mentors while virtually connected through Skype or Google Chat. The mentoring project will take place over a five-week period during the summer. For more information and to register online, visit http://bit.ly/IbUh0V.
Teachers Touch the Sky Workshop – Grades 3-9 (Apply by June 15)
(Apply by June 15; Aug. 6-10, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.)
During the summer of 2012, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory will hold a one-week workshop for teachers grades 3-9. Teachers will learn about hands-on activities that are based on current projects in astronomy and space science at JPL, focusing on NASA’s current Dawn Mission to the asteroid Vesta. The integration of the lesson into curricula will be discussed, and a field trip to JPL’s Table Mountain Observatory is included. Teachers will also have the opportunity to meet and discuss their work with JPL scientists. For more information and to register, please visit http://1.usa.gov/IrhOsK.
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Workshop for Grade 6-12 Educators
Science teachers are invited to attend a free workshop focused on lunar science, exploration, and how our understanding of the Moon is evolving with the new data from current and recent lunar missions. Participants will learn about recent discoveries, reinforce their understanding of lunar science concepts, gain tools to address common student misconceptions about the Moon, interact with lunar scientists and engineers, and learn how to bring LRO data to their students using activities aligned with National Science Education Standards and Benchmarks. Where possible, workshops will include either a tour of a science facility or field trip that will help participants better understand mission operations or geologic processes relevant to the Moon. The workshops will be held on the following dates:
- June 18-22 – Morehead State University; Morehead, Ky. (application deadline May 20)
- June 25-28 – Lunar and Planetary Institute; Houston, Texas
- July 30-Aug. 3 – Museum of the North – University of Alaska; Fairbanks, Alaska (application deadline June 24)
For more information and to register, please visit http://bit.ly/xFXw59.
NASA’s Multiwavelength Universe Online Professional Development for Educators (June 25-July 13)
(June 25-July 13)
Explore NASA resources in a combination of online synchronous and asynchronous formats to understand how astronomers use their knowledge of light to investigate the universe. Participants have the opportunity to obtain academic credit through Sonoma State University (1 credit for EDUC 490 or 1.5 Continuing Education Credits). For more information and to register, visit http://bit.ly/GTMM1t.
ESIP Teacher Workshop – Grades 6-12 (July 17-18)
(July 17-18; Madison, Wisc.)
The Federation of Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP) invites teachers to attend a 1.5 day workshop on Earth science education, with an integral strand dedicated to climate change education. Participants will be able to choose from several breakout sessions demonstrating ways that Earth science tools and data can be used in science classrooms. Educators for grades 6-12 are eligible to receive a $200 time and travel stipend. After the workshop, teachers are invited to stay for the ESIP conference plenary and poster reception. To register for the workshop, please visit http://bit.ly/HpPqFT. To learn more about the ESIP summer conference, please visit http://bit.ly/H4x4AP.
Mars Revealed: Evolving Technology, Advancing Science – A Workshop for High School Teachers (July 19-23)
(July 19-23; Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston, Texas)
High school teachers, both those currently teaching high school and those preparing to teach, are invited to attend this week-long workshop investigating Mars science and exploration. Topics include a comparison of Earth and Mars geologic features, Mars’ volcanic and aqueous mineralogy, spectroscopy, Mars exploration, and the relationship between science and technology. Workshop registration is free, and participants will receive a $700 stipend upon completion of the workshop. For more information and to apply, visit http://bit.ly/H9Albf.
The Unknown Moon Institute: A Workshop for High School Teachers (July 25-29)
(July 25-29; Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston, Texas)
High school science teachers, both those currently teaching high school and those preparing to teach, are invited to this free 35-hour, 5-day institute investigating the Moon. Topics will include the lunar pole environment and the search for water on the Moon, exploration of the Moon, spectrometry, the Moon’s formation and geologic evolution, and more! For more information and to apply, visit http://bit.ly/H9zxTI.
ASP Annual Meeting – Communicating Science: A National Conference on Education and Public Outreach (Aug. 4-8)
(Aug. 4-8; Doubletree by Hilton, Tucson, Ariz.)
The 124th annual meeting of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific welcomes education and public outreach perspectives from astronomy, space, Earth and biological sciences, journalism, film, and social media, with a particular focus on effective communication of science and scientific ideas. There will be professional development sessions, hands-on workshops, special interest group meetings, talks, panels, poster papers, tours and lots of time for networking. Special hotel rates have been arranged for participants. For more information, please visit http://bit.ly/vSpJa6.
Planet Hunters – Help Find Planets Using Kepler Data
Planet Hunters is a citizen science project where site visitors can help to sieve through data taken by the NASA Kepler space mission. These data consist of brightness measurements, or “light curves,” taken every thirty minutes for more than 150,000 stars. Users search for possible transit events – a brief dip in brightness that occurs when a planet passes in front of a star – with the goal of discovering a planet. The project’s first paper, Fischer, et al. 2011, ‘Planet Hunters: The First Two Planet Candidates Identified by the Public using the Kepler Public Archive Data‘ was published in September, and two more papers have recently been submitted: Schwamb, et al. 2012, ‘Planet Hunters: Assessing the Kepler Inventory of Short Period Planets‘ and Lintott, et al. 2012, ‘Planet Hunters: New planet candidates from the first year of analysis.‘ So far, over 10 million light curves have been classified by more than 100,000 users. To join the hunt, visit http://bit.ly/xh9kit.
IceHunters Invites the World to Find New Horizons Future KBO Destinations
The world is invited to help discover a potential new, icy follow-on destination for NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft through the IceHunters website. New Horizons is currently en route to make the first flyby of the Pluto system, and is then capable of making additional exploration of bodies still farther out in the Sun’s Kuiper Belt. Through this citizen science project, the public can help scientists search through specially-obtained deep telescopic images for currently unknown objects in the Kuiper Belt. Along the way, they will also discover variable stars and asteroids. For more information, visit http://www.icehunters.org/ or visit the project blog at http://blogs.zooniverse.org/icehunters.
Lifelines for High School Climate Change Education
Lifelines for High School Climate Change Education is a project to establish professional learning communities (PLCs) of high school teachers aimed at implementing effective teaching of climate change in existing courses. PLCs are identifying the best resources to use, comparing course outlines, and are hearing/seeing webinars by climate scientists, both live and as archived presentations. PLCs are having real-time telemeetings, as well as asynchronous communication through shared websites, wikis, and other techniques to achieve the most effective ways to communicate without petroleum-fueled travel. If you are interested in joining a Lifeline PLC, or forming a PLC (becoming a PLC Leader) please visit: http://www.lawrencehallofscience.org/gss/lifelines/.
Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) Ambassador in the Classroom
Let NASA take over your classroom for the day! Teachers in the DC Metro area and southern Pennsylvania are eligible for a visit from an SDO educator or scientist. Your students will learn about solar clocks, Earth’s place in the solar system, electricity and magnetism, the electromagnetic spectrum, and the Doppler effect. Visits are free, include all supplies for the activity, and can be customized for each teacher. Register at http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/epo/educators/ambassador.php.
A Day At Goddard: Opportunity for DC Metro Teachers – Grades 8-12
Teachers in the DC Metro area are invited to bring their students to NASA Goddard Space Flight Center for a day spent learning what it is like to work for NASA. Field trips include a meet-and-greet at the visitors center featuring a scientist and engineer, a demonstration of the Science on a Sphere program, a tour of the satellite testing facility, and an inquiry-based science lab activity. Programs are highly customizable, teacher-friendly and are designed for grades 8-12. Contact Aleya Van Doren with your desired date and class information to reserve your spot. Slots fill up quickly, so register today!
Educational Resources
BLiSS Sim – New iPad App
BLiSS Sim is a free science education app developed by the Center for Educational Technologies at Wheeling Jesuit University. With help from NASA’s Bioregenerative Life Support System research, players engage in the challenges of supporting humans in space or extreme environments on Earth. Players learn how four plant types can be grown and harvested to supply human oxygen, water, and food needs. For more information and to download the app, visit http://bit.ly/JLyukh.
T-Shirt to Bag Activity from Climate Kids
Turn an old t-shirt into a handy reusable bag! With the leafy Climate Kids website banner ironed onto the front, and the Climate Kids “Leaps and Flutters” game ironed onto the back, your bag will double as entertainment at the beach or the pool. After the iron-ons are done, the rest of the project is very easy, with no sewing required. Please visit http://1.usa.gov/KTibNX for instructions and transfer art.
Calendar
June 2012
June 1-30 – GLOBE Great Global Investigation of Climate Quarterly Intensive Observing Period http://bit.ly/LfHjyf
June 4-8 – Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Workshop – Durango, Colo. http://bit.ly/xFXw59
June 5 – Transit of Venus Webcast http://1.usa.gov/H1raix
June 8 – Applications Due – Engaging Minority University STEM Professors in the Science of Climate Change Summer Workshop http://bit.ly/Kg2m5B
June 9-10 – Center for Astronomy Education Teaching Excellence Workshop http://bit.ly/rLp5cu
June 10 – Registration Due – Galileo Goes to Mars Workshop for Teachers http://bit.ly/IbX6is
June 15 – Applications Due – NASA G.I.R.L.S. Mentoring Program http://bit.ly/IbUh0V
June 15 – Applications Due – Teachers Touch the Sky Workshop http://1.usa.gov/IrhOsK
June 18-22 – Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Workshop – Morehead, Ky. http://bit.ly/xFXw59
June 25-29 – Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Workshop – Houston, Texas http://bit.ly/xFXw59
June 25-July 13 – NASA’s Multiwavelength Universe Online Professional Development for Educators http://bit.ly/GTMM1t
July 2012
July 9-13 – Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Workshop – Greenbelt, Md. http://bit.ly/xFXw59
July 17-18 – ESIP Teacher Workshop http://bit.ly/HpPqFT
July 19-23 – Mars Revealed: Evolving Technology, Advancing Science Workshop for High School Teachers http://bit.ly/H9Albf
July 25-29 – The Unknown Moon Institute Workshop for High School Teachers http://bit.ly/H9zxTI
July 30-Aug. 3 – Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Workshop – Fairbanks, Alaska http://bit.ly/xFXw59
August 2012
Aug. 4-8 – ASP Annual Meeting http://bit.ly/vSpJa6
October 2012
Oct. 1 – Applications Due – Mars for Earthlings Faculty/Postdoc Workshop http://bit.ly/JUR5uG
Acknowledgements
NASA Science Mission Directorate: Stephanie Stockman and Jim Lochner
Editors: Theresa Schwerin and Brandi Bernoskie, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES).
Writer: Morgan Woroner, IGES.
Contributions From: James Acker, NASA GSFC; Jayne Aubele, New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science; Kathryn Harper, Astronomical Society of the Pacific; Linda Hayden, Elizabeth City State UniversityJulia Kahmann-Robinson, University of Utah; Nancy Leon, NASA JPL; Dean Regas, Cincinnati Observatory; and Laurie Ruberg, Wheeling Jesuit University.
To SUBSCRIBE – e-mail ese_ed_newslist-subscribe@lists.hq.nasa.gov with ‘Subscribe’ as the subject.
To UNSUBSCRIBE – e-mail ese_ed_newslist-unsubscribe@lists.hq.nasa.gov with ‘Unsubscribe’ as the subject.
Manage your SETTINGS at http://lists.hq.nasa.gov/mailman/listinfo/ese_ed_newslist.
Questions or comments? E-mail them to esenewsletter@strategies.org
