February 2020 GLOBE News Brief

Trees Challenge 2020: Make Every Tree Count 01-30 April

In April, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and the 25th anniversary of The GLOBE Program, GLOBE Observer is hosting a month-long citizen science challenge. Volunteers are invited to measure the height of as many different trees as possible throughout the month using the Trees Tool in the GLOBE Observer App. The individuals, schools, and registered teams that measure the most trees will be recognized as top observers in the challenge.   Trees Challenge 2020 Training Webinar   A training webinar on 19 February, 2:00-3:30 p.m. EST (19:00-20:30 UTC) will introduce a package of resources to support informal educators and GLOBE schools. The package includes information about trees and NASA science, connections to local tree science relevant to your community, ideas about how to manage a Trees Challenge, learning activities, and other resources. (The webinar will be recorded and provided for reference on the challenge website, https://observer.globe.gov/trees-2020 .)   To register for the webinar, click here . To learn more about this challenge, click here . To learn more about the GLOBE Observer App, click here .

News

Join Upcoming Community-led “GLOBE Water Bodies Intensive Observation Period”  (23 March-17 April)

The GLOBE community is leading a “GLOBE Water Bodies Intensive Observation Period” (IOP) from 23 March through 17 April. All GLOBE countries are invited to join in this data collection and research endeavor. During the IOP, participants will identify a water body close to their schools or towns, and collect and enter data using GLOBE hydrosphere protocol bundles: Water Quality Bundle, Rivers and Lakes Bundle, and Ocean Bundle.    Schools that participate can earn virtual badges, and have them displayed on their school profile. Regional Coordination Offices will issue a GLOBE certificate of appreciation to each school that participates in the IOP. To learn more about the IOP, click here . For additional information, check with your Regional Coordination Office or contact Mark Brettenny at: mark@globe.africa.org .

Deadline to Register for GLOBE’s 25th Anniversary Annual Meeting is 26 June! Book Your Room by 18 June!

Registration for GLOBE’s 25th Anniversary Annual Meeting, which will be held from 12-16 July, in Washington, D.C., USA, is open. The theme of the meeting is: “Reflecting on the Past, Looking to the Future.” The deadline to register is 26 June.   Due to limited capacity, student registrations for the meeting will only be available for students selected via the GLOBE International Virtual Science Symposium (IVSS) drawings (39 students) and the U.S. Student Research Symposia (18 students).   Book Your Room   The meeting and room block are located at The Mayflower Hotel, Autograph Collection. The standard non-smoking room rate with group discount is $225 USD per night. This rate remains the same during the dates of our annual meeting for one to four people per room. The deadline to reserve a room on this room block is: 18 June, 6:00 p.m. EDT.  Rooms in this block are limited, so please make your reservations early. The discounted rooms that are part of this block may run out prior to the room block deadline.   Call for Presenters   Presentation applications are now being accepted for the 2020 GLOBE Annual Meeting. There will be a poster session on 13 July for students and community members. There will also be oral presentations for community members on 14 July and 16 July. If you would like to give an oral or poster presentation, please submit the form (see link below) for each one.   For more information, and the link to the form , click here .  To keep up with meeting information, including hotel and area information, the agenda, speakers, and the student experience,  click here . If you have questions about the meeting, please contact: meetings@globe.gov .

2020 IVSS Update: Student Reports Accepted through 10 March 12 February Webinar!

GLOBE is excited to host the 2020 GLOBE International Virtual Science Symposium (IVSS), which is an extraordinary way for primary through undergraduate students from all GLOBE countries to showcase their GLOBE-related research. Reports, which are being accepted in multiple languages, can be uploaded through 10 March.   All students who submit a project to the IVSS will receive feedback from judges and  virtual badges  on their school page. In addition, each project that receives a four-star student research badge, plus a minimum of two optional badges, will be eligible for a drawing to receive a stipend to attend the 25th Anniversary GLOBE Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., USA in July.   The stipends are as follows: North America: Two projects will receive $1,000 USD Africa: One project will receive $2,000 USD Asia and Pacific: One project will receive $2,000 USD Europe and Eurasia: One project will receive $2,000 USD Latin America and Caribbean: One project will receive $2,000 USD Near East and North Africa: One project will receive $2,000 USD    (Note that only students selected through the IVSS and the U.S. Regional Student Research Symposia will be able to attend the 25th Anniversary GLOBE Annual Meeting.)   Judges Needed: GLOBE is looking for judges who can read in English, Croatian, Arabic, Spanish, or French. Volunteers are STEM professionals, teachers, graduate students, and other interested community members who will assess student research projects. Please forward this information to relevant listservs, colleagues, peers, and other people who may be interested! (A one-pager is available to help recruit judges.) To sign up to judge, click here . February Webinar!   On Wednesday, 12 February, at 3:00 p.m. EST (8:00 UTC), Sarah Parsons from the GIO Education Team, will talk about the GLOBE IVSS 2020: what's new, how to submit a report, and looking to find those who are interested in judging projects this year; and GLOBE Partner Angela Rizzi from NASA LaRC will talk about How My NASA Data can support GLOBE investigations.   To register for the webinar, click here .   Timeline/Important Dates: Informational webinar: 30 October 2019 (To view the recorded webinar, click here.) Reports accepted: through 10 March Judging webinar: 30 March (12:00 p.m. EDT) Judging period: 30 March – 06 April Feedback and virtual badges shared: 22 April Drawing for stipends: 22 April   For more information on the IVSS, including instructions for uploading research, click here . If you have questions about the IVSS, please send an email to: ivss@globe.gov .

Join the 18 February Trees Around the GLOBE Campaign Webinar: “Trees Around Greenbelt, Maryland: Exploring Past and Present Imagery, From a Scientist’s Perspective”

The Trees Around the GLOBE Student Research Campaign webinar “Trees Around Greenbelt, Maryland: Exploring Past and Present Imagery, From a Scientist’s Perspective,” will be held on Tuesday, 18 February (3:00 p.m. EST/8:00 p.m. UTC).   During the webinar, Dr. Christopher Shuman (University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, scientist) will be will highlighting historical imagery from aerial photographs, as well as more recent satellite imagery and ICESat-2 (Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite-2) data from the Greenbelt, Maryland, USA, area. There will be some discussion of benefits and limitations to these data. This information will serve to show students and educators how to use imagery from their local environments/locations to assist in research projects and local programs. To join the webinar,  click here . To learn more about the Trees Around the GLOBE campaign, click here .

Join the 06 February GLOBE Mission Mosquito Webinar: “What to Do With Your Mosquito Data?”

On Thursday, 06 February, at 5:00 p.m. EST (10:00 p.m. UTC), GLOBE Mission Mosquito will be hosting a webinar, “What to Do With Your Mosquito Data?” During this webinar, participants will hear from Dr. Becky Boger as she takes everyone on a journey using map tools and data portals to create context for the data that is being collected.   To register for the webinar, click here . To learn more about GLOBE Mission Mosquito, click here .

Join 11 February Urban Heat Island Effect-Surface Temperature Field Campaign Webinar: “Let’s See What is Making Your Neighborhood SO HOT!”

Join the Urban Heat Island Effect (UHIE)-Surface Temperature Field Campaign Webinar #3 on 11 February (8:00 p.m. EST): “Let’s See What is Making Your Neighborhood SO HOT!”   During the webinar, Dr. Kevin Czajkowski (from the University of Toledo, Ohio, USA) scientist for the campaign, will review the GLOBE December data from the campaign, and will discuss the reasons for the differences in surface temperature. Angie Rizzi, NASA Educator, will show how to obtain satellite data from the My NASA data website, and will import the data to an Excel spreadsheet. Tracy Ostromfrom (GLOBE Mission EARTH, UC Berkeley) will link the latest poster on the science process to the GLOBE Student Research Poster template, which is used in all GLOBE competitions.   The campaign is focused on looking at the impact urbanization has on the Earth’s surface temperature and how the surface temperature changes the dynamics of the Earth’s atmosphere. The campaign is now studying these impacts in seasons: October, December, and March – during which time participants will collect and submit the following data: cloud data, air temperature, and surface temperature. To register for the webinar, click here . To learn more about the campaign, click here .

GLOBE Community Members: Please Log In to Your Account or Enter Data Prior to 10 February to Avoid Account Deactivation

Collaboration is important to the enduring efforts of The GLOBE Program, and enhances the ability of our community members to learn about their environment and share their findings. The best way to share and collaborate is to log into GLOBE and join the various discussion boards, write a blog, update your profile, and/or enter a measurement. GLOBE wants our community members to be active within the program; therefore, we are requesting that you log in to the GLOBE website consistently.    GLOBE will be deactivating accounts for those that have not signed in to  globe.gov  or who have not sent in data during the past two years. In order to avoid your account being deactivated, please log in or enter data before 10 February, and continue to do so at least once every few months.   If your account becomes deactivated and you wish to reactivate it, please contact your Country Coordinator via your country's page from  https://www.globe.gov/globe-community/community-map   or contact  help@globe.gov .

February U.S. SRS Teacher Watercooler Meetups

U.S. GLOBE Teachers: Join the GLOBE Professional Learning Community (PLC) and hear how other GLOBE teachers use GLOBE with their students during Teacher Watercooler meet-ups in February:  06 February (Thursday, 8:00 p.m. EST): During the watercooler, Sesilynn Schleusner, a GLOBE teacher with the Alaska Boys and Girls Club in Metlakatla (Alaska, USA) will discuss her experience at the Northwest Student Research Symposium (SRS): preparing students, challenges and solutions to attending, and highlights of the event. To register for the watercooler, click here 12 February (Wednesday, 3:00 p.m. EST): During this watercooler, Sarah Parsons from the GLOBE Implementation Office will be talking about the GLOBE IVSS 2020: what's new, how to submit a report, and looking to find those who are interested in judging projects this year; GLOBE Partner Angela Rizzi from NASA LaRC will talk about How My NASA Data can support GLOBE investigations. To register for the watercooler, click here. NOTE: If you are a teacher and would like to write a blog post or present at a virtual Watercooler (15-20 minute presentation) describing how you have helped students prepare for the Student Research Symposia (SRS) or have facilitated one particular step of the student research process, contact Haley Wicklein at hwicklein@gmail.com for more information.    Student Resources   For links to student resources, including a suggested timeline for completing projects in time for the SRS events, steps in the scientific process, a guide to asking questions, and additional links and tutorials, click here .   2020 United States Regional SRS Schedule.   The schedule for the 2020 SRS:  Northwest Region: 23-24 April (Fairbanks, Alaska) Pacific Region: 01-02 May (Moss Landing, California) Midwest Region: 01-03 May (Madison, Wisconsin) Southeast Region: 07-09 May (Little Rock, Arkansas) Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Region: 08-10 May (Avon, Connecticut) Southwest: 15-17 May (Austin, Texas)   For more information on the U.S. SRS, click here .

Teachers: Join the GLOBE Clouds Contrail Investigations Pilot Project – Read this Blog!

Teachers: Have you read the latest GLOBE Community Blog: ”Your Data in the Research Community: GLOBE Clouds Contrail Investigations Data at 2019 AGU Fall Meeting” by Marilé Colón Robles, lead for the GLOBE Clouds Team at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia?   “Special observations of airplanes and contrails are being collected by a select few as part of a pilot project the GLOBE Clouds team has been working on for a year,” Robles said. “The project asks students to use an app that tracks aircrafts, then note if the airplane is or is not creating a contrail. The airplane tracker app suggested notes the height of the airplanes, giving the opportunity to note the altitude of the contrails if present.”   “The GLOBE Clouds team was able to present a first look at the data collected by students at Alpena Elementary/Middle School (Mr. Roger Rose teacher), Treadway Elementary (Dr. Caryn Smith-Long teacher), Lexington School for the Deaf (Jillian Anderson teacher), University of Toledo (Dr. Kevin Czajkowski professor), and Montverde Academy (Dr. Caryn Smith-Long teacher).”   If you and your students would like to participate in the pilot project, you can leave a comment by visiting the blog , or by contacting NASA GLOBE Clouds Project Scientist Marilé Colón Robles .

The GLOBE Zika Education and Prevention Project Update

The GLOBE Asia and Pacific Regional Meeting, co-hosted by the Regional Coordination Office and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, was held in Hyderabad, India, in mid-January.

The Zika Action and Impact Meeting occurred in the days immediately following the regional meeting, and had participation from 14 Country Coordinators, and four public health officials. They shared updates on their plans for the program over the next six months, and how to further integrate the program within their government programs. Some representatives also presented pilot projects from within their countries regarding new training ideas and projects. Staff from the U.S. Embassy in Delhi, India, also attended the Zika portion of the meeting.      To learn more about the Zika Education and Prevention Project, click here .

2019 YLACES Youth Environmental Science Medal Award Winner Announced

YLACES (Youth Learning as Citizen Environmental Scientists), an organization committed to advancing student engagement in science, announces Maura Duffy, Conservation Project Manager at National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, as the winner of its Fifth Annual Youth Environmental Science (YES) Medal.    Duffy has made a significant impact on environmental education in Baltimore and throughout Maryland through her work with the National Aquarium. She facilitates students’ participation in hands-on ecosystem monitoring and restoration activities both at the National Aquarium and in collaboration with external partners.   The YES Medal will be presented to Duffy at the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) Annual Conference, 07 February, at the Princess Royale Hotel and Conference Center, Ocean City, Maryland, USA.   The YES Medal is awarded annually in recognition of a significant contribution to youth learning as citizen environmental scientists. The Medal is presented with a grant to an organization of the recipient’s choosing to further the organization’s work consistent with the objectives of YLACES – to develop citizens with scientific habits of mind, utilizing the environment as a learning laboratory where students conduct inquiry-based research and contribute to a better collective understanding of our changing worlds.    About YLACES   YLACES assists and rewards the implementation of inquiry-based, experiential science education where students do science and contribute to understanding of our environment through recognition and financial reward programs.   Grants range from support for taking simple measurements to teacher professional development and working for pervasive inclusion of student research projects in science teaching.   For more information about the MAEOE Annual Conference, please visit www.maeoe.org . For more information about YLACES, please visit www.YLACES.org .

Opportunities for Teachers

(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 that you would like us to highlight in the coming months, please send the information to: communications@globe.gov . Thank you!)

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, “ NASA Commercial Crew Program: Mission and STEM Resources Overview ,” is geared toward educators in grades K-12. On Wednesday, 12 February (6:00 p.m. EST), the NASA EPDC at Texas State University presents a one-hour webinar. NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is the next phase in space transportation, enabling industry to provide safe, reliable and cost-effective access to and from the International Space Station and low-Earth orbit. Learn about the companies, the vehicles, the crew and the STEM classroom resources related to the Commercial Crew Program..

U.S. Teachers/Partners: 2019-2020 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching Application Cycle Open

The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) are the highest honors bestowed by the United States government specifically for K-12 science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and/or computer science teaching. Every year, PAEMST selects up to six finalists at the state level. Nominations close on 01 March; applications for teachers of grades K-6 are open through 01 May. Awards are given to teachers from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Department of Defense Education Activity schools, or the U.S. territories as a group (American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and U.S. Virgin Islands). Applicants must: teach science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and/or computer science as part of their contracted teaching responsibilities at the K-6 grade level in a public (including charter) or private school; hold at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution; be full-time employees of the school or school district as determined by state and district policies, with responsibilities for teaching students no less than 50 percent of the school's allotted instructional time; have at least five years of full-time employment as a K-12 teacher prior to the 2019-2020 academic school year during which science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and/or computer science has been a part of the applicant's teaching duties each of the five years; teach in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Department of Defense Education Activity schools, or the U.S. territories as a group (American Samoa, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and U.S. Virgin Islands); be U.S. citizens or permanent residents; and not have received the PAEMST award at the national level in any prior competition or category.  For more information, click here .

U.S./Canada K-12 Teachers: Deadline for Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Science Competition is 10 February

U.S./Canada K-12 Teachers: The Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision science competition encourages K–12 students to imagine what technology might be like in the future while learning the scientific process in an engaging, hands-on way . The deadline for submissions 10 February. (The competition is open to students enrolled in public, private, or home schools in the United States and Canada.) The ExploraVision competition for K-12 students engages the next generation in real world problem solving with a strong emphasis on STEM. ExploraVision challenges students envision and communicate new technology 20 years in the future through collaborative brainstorming and research of current science and technology. ExploraVision is a science competition that goes beyond the typical student science competition and into what it takes to bring ideas to reality. A teacher will sponsor and lead his/her students as they work in groups of 2 – 4 to simulate real research and development. A teacher will guide his or her students as they pick a current technology, research it, envision what it might look like in 20 years, and describe the development steps, pros & cons, and obstacles. Past winners have envisioned technologies ranging from a hand-held food allergen detector to a new device to help people who have lost limbs regain movement in real time. For more information on the competition, and to register, click here . Projects must be received online at Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision by 11:59 p.m. EST, 10 February. If you have questions, please contact  exploravision@nsta.org .

Opportunities for Students

U.S. Sophomores/Juniors: 2020 Summer Internship Opportunity in STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) Program

The United States GLOBE program is accepting applications for a GLOBE intern at the STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) 2020 Summer High School Intern Program. This opportunity is open to U.S. GLOBE high school Sophomores and Juniors. Application deadline is 01 March.   Selected interns will learn how to interpret NASA satellite data and work with scientists and engineers at t he University of Texas at Austin Center for Space Research.  For more information on this internship opportunity, click here; h owever, USE the directions below to apply through U.S. GLOBE.   HOW TO APPLY: Submit your online application  by 01 March 2019. The application includes essay questions that you must answer as part of the application. (You may wish to answer the questions on a separate document and then cut and paste your answers into the online application.)   ESSAY QUESTIONS: Your essay question response should not exceed 500 words. Describe yourself and discuss each of the following as part of your essay. You are not limited to these areas: important academic or life experiences in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math); extracurricular activities that have influenced you in a positive way (include skills you deem valuable for an academic team research setting); your current academic path and career plans; ·how your experience in this program will impact your plans for the future; and share your prior experience in STEM opportunities. You must include in the application the name and email address of a GLOBE teacher who will submit your letter of recommendation. Prepare a short introduction video telling us who you are, where you are from, and how GLOBE activities have influenced you in a positive way, or given you skills that are valuable for an academic team research setting.    SUBMITTING A VIDEO: When submitting a video, remember that you are submitting a link (URL) to your video (such as on YouTube.com, youku.com, tudou.com, some other video hosting site, or your own website), not the video itself. Do not secure your video with a password. Instead, we recommend that you make the video unlisted.  The following descriptions apply to  YouTube.com, but should be applicable to other video hosting sites. YouTube has three privacy settings: Public, Priva te, and Unlisted. Public means anybody can find it and view it. Do not use this option. Private means it can only be seen by the you, and the people you select. The video doesn't appear in your channel or in search results. Viewers you select must have a Google account to log in and see the video, and the you must also know to whom to grant permission. Do not use this option. Unlisted means that anybody who has the link can view the video, but it doesn't appear in your channel or in search results. Use this option.   Please email your video link URL to Jennifer Bourgeault at  usglobecc@gmail.com  with the words  “SEES Intern Video 2020” and your last name in the subject line by 01 March.

U.S. Summer STEM Research Opportunities

U.S. Community: Now is the time that summer research programs are announcing their 2020 deadlines. Click here and browse by institution, disciplinary categories, or by geography.

Upcoming 2020 GLOBE Teacher Training Workshops

Some of the upcoming GLOBE teacher training workshops include:  Big Creek, Kansas, USA (Water is Life/Fort Hays State University): 12-13 February (open to all) Watsonville, California, USA (GLOBE Workshop, Grades 6-12): 28-29 March (open to all)  No training workshops in your area? Check out GLOBE’s protocol eTraining . (In order to enter GLOBE data, GLOBE users must complete the necessary training either by attending a GLOBE workshop or by completing the required online eTraining modules. Once your training is complete, you will be ready to start entering your measurements – and will be joining a community of thousands of teachers around the world!)

Anniversaries

Congratulations to the three GLOBE countries celebrating anniversaries of successful GLOBE implementation during the month of February:   Netherlands – 25 years 28 February 1995 New Zealand - 20 years 29 February 2000   South Africa – 23 years 17 February 1997

Connect with Us

Send us news that 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. Email us at:  communications@globe.gov .  Be sure to follow us on social media! Just click on the icons below.

News Brief Archive

All past issues of the GLOBE News Brief are available in the online .  (On the drop-down menu under “Category,” simply scroll down to “News Topics” and select “News Briefs.”)