July 2021 GLOBE News Brief |
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Over 200 Million Measurements Now Entered in GLOBE Database! |
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“Did you know that the GLOBE Database reached another milestone in May – when it reached 200 million measurements, and during the pandemic to boot! I would like to thank everyone who has, over the last 25+ years, had any involvement in helping the program reach this incredible marker,” GLOBE Implementation Office (GIO) Director Dr. Tony Murphy said. “This is one of the testaments to the community and the power and resilience it brings to a citizen science program like GLOBE, that includes ages 4-5 upwards. Well done and now onto the next one!”
The international GLOBE network has grown to include representatives from 126 participating countries and 131 U.S. Partners coordinating GLOBE activities that are integrated into their local and regional communities. Due to their efforts, there are tens of thousands of GLOBE-trained teachers representing schools around the world.
Congratulations on this significant milestone!
To keep up with the latest – and ever-growing – numbers for GLOBE schools/members, data, projects, and training, click here.
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GLOBE Mosquito Habitat Photo Challenge: 25 July – 25 August |
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The GLOBE Program would like to invite community members and citizen scientists from around the world to participate in the Mosquito Habitat Photo Challenge, which will take place from 25 July through 25 August. This challenge combines the use of GLOBE’s app, GLOBE Observer (GO), Mosquito Habitat Mapper (MHM) and Land Cover tools to document mosquito breeding habitats with photos.
GLOBE would like you to take photos of mosquito habitats, in either natural or artificial containers (using the MHM tool) and photos of the land around the habitat location (using the Land Cover tool). Photos submitted during this challenge will be used to create automated classification programs that can identify mosquito larvae and the environments they prefer. Such computer programs can help prevent outbreaks of mosquito-borne disease.
For more information on the challenge, click here.
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July 2021 GLOBE Annual Meeting Update:
Last Day to Register is 07 July!
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General Information – Late Registration
The 2021 GLOBE Annual Meeting is just around the corner! The theme of the meeting, which will take place from 12-16 July, is “Adapting to a Changing GLOBE.” There will be three session strands that describe the themes of the Community Sessions: Strand 1 – Responding to a Changing GLOBE; Strand 2 – A Welcoming GLOBE; and Strand 3: STEM, Teaching, and GLOBE.
The deadline for regular registration is today, 01 July!
The registration fee increases after 01 July, and last day to register is 07 July!
Optional sessions are still available for sign-up, which includes networking sessions and protocol training sessions. Meeting registrants will not be able to sign up for protocol training sessions after today, 01 July; so, if you would like to attend one of those, make sure to register today!
Community Sessions have been added to the meeting Agenda. (Please Note: Some of the sessions will have limited capacity. Sessions with capacities will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis.)
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Third Keynote Speaker: Dr. Assaf Anyamba |
GIO would like to introduce our third and final Keynote Speaker, Dr. Assaf Anyamba. Dr. Anyamba is a Manager and Principal Scientist with the Universities Space Research Association in the Biospheric Sciences Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. His research focus is on uncovering, monitoring, and understanding global biosphere dynamics associated with El Niño–Southern Oscillation from remotely sensed vegetation measurements; developing long-term data records of the biosphere; drought pattern analysis; applying remotely sensed data in agricultural monitoring; drought and famine early warning; and ecologically coupled disease outbreaks. His research supports various applications development efforts for partner Federal government agencies.
For more information on all three Keynote Speakers, click here.
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GLOBE Annual Meeting Social Media
“Story” about The GLOBE Program During the Annual Meeting
GIO would like to ask all student and non-student Annual Meeting participants to become "story sharers" during the week of the meeting. Members can make use of the story function on both Facebook and Instagram to share experiences with The GLOBE Program by answering the following prompts each day (in any order):
- "What does The GLOBE Program mean to me?"
- "Why do I love The GLOBE Program?"
- "This week at the GLOBE Annual Meeting, I learned ..."
- "If I could get better at one GLOBE thing, it would be…"
- "What I miss most about an in-person Annual Meeting is ..."
Be sure and tag The GLOBE Program on either Facebook (@TheGLOBEProgram) or Instagram (@globeprogram) in each story.
(If you do, GIO will be able to share your stories on official GLOBE program accounts.)
If you haven't followed The GLOBE Program on social media – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube – yet, be sure to do so in advance of the meeting to get the latest from the program and the meeting itself.
Use the Facebook Frame
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Claudia Caro Vera of GLOBE Peru is modeling our Facebook Frame for the Annual Meeting.
In addition to an opportunity to "story" about your experiences with The GLOBE Program and about the annual meeting itself, there will also be a custom "Facebook Frame" that members can add to their profile picture to show their support and excitement for the program.
To find, and add, the frame to your profile image search for: "GLOBE Meeting 2021."
For more information on Facebook Frame, click here.
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BE with GLOBE – Zooniverse
As part of the 2021 GLOBE Annual Meeting, GIO will again be hosting a “Benefit the Environment” or “BE with GLOBE” volunteer event. The acronym of GLOBE is “Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment,” and this optional time will highlight the “Benefit the Environment” part of the acronym. During the meeting, participants will be encouraged to sign up with Zooniverse, an online platform for people-powered research.
GIO will identify several projects that benefit science and our understanding of the environment (like counting penguins or checking images for pollinators). We would also like to highlight a GLOBE project! Participants can help NASA scientists identify cloud types, cloud cover, and events like dust storms and smoke plumes in sky photographs. (NASA GLOBE CLOUD GAZE is a partnership between NASA GLOBE Clouds and Zooniverse.) The resulting detailed information, or metadata, will validate GLOBE Cloud observations. So, BE with GLOBE and practice your cloud observations skills and help NASA study our skies.
For more information on the 2021 GLOBE Annual Meeting, click here.
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GLOBE’s Annual Meeting Student Experience Focuses on
Games, River Otters, and Art
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Several GLOBE students, randomly selected out of an impressive pool of high-scoring 2021 International Virtual Science Symposium (IVSS) projects, will partake in GLOBE’s Annual Meeting Student Experience and Student Showcase.
The Student Experience will give the students a chance to interact with other like-minded and hard-working students from around the world. They will play games, learn about river otters from experts at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC), and create art with talented botanical illustrators.
During the Student Showcase, the students will present their IVSS research projects to Annual Meeting attendees in a lightning-talk style format. Up to three students from each selected project will be able to participate free of charge, thanks to a generous contribution from a community member.
For more information on the GLOBE Annual Meeting, click here.
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Keeping Up with GLOBE’s New Student Vloggers? Share in Their
GLOBE Stories
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Have you been following along with GLOBE’s 12 new Student Vloggers (video bloggers)? Vlog-style videos are filmed, in part, “selfie-style” in order to help you journey along with them as they explore and engage in the world of GLOBE.
The GLOBE Student Vloggers have been meeting monthly with GIO to learn tips and tricks in filmmaking and storytelling for their weekly YouTube vlogs. During the meetings, they have the opportunity to present to each other and share about themselves, their cultures, and any video editing tips they have learned while making video content. In addition to their vlog content, the students have been tasked with creating Instagram stories.
To watch the most recent episode, click here (If you haven’t already, subscribe to
GLOBE’s YouTube Channel).
To follow GLOBE on Instagram (to view new weekly content from GLOBE’s Student Vloggers), click here.
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Join 20 July Webinar: “At Ease with the Trees: Preparing for Student Investigations and Research Projects with the Trees Around the GLOBE Student Research Campaign Team, Session I” |
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The Trees Around the GLOBE Student Research Campaign Webinar: “At Ease with the Trees: Preparing for Student Investigations and Research Projects with the Trees Around the GLOBE Student Research Campaign Team, Session I,” will be held on Tuesday, 20 July, at 12:00 p.m. EDT (04:00 p.m. UTC).
During this special webinar, participants will be able to work directly, via breakout discussions, with the Trees Around the GLOBE Student Research Campaign team members to focus on several specific research topics for future student projects. These include:
- Land Cover and Land Cover Change for Student Research;
- GLOBE Tree Height Comparisons with ICESat-2 and GEDI;
- GPM Precipitation Data and How It Affects Trees; and
- What Can We Do to Support Your Plans for Student Research?
During this highly interactive webinar, each participant will choose which breakout discussion they want to attend. (If there are two breakout discussions that you would like to attend, we will also be having Session II on Tuesday, 10 August, at 12:00 p.m. EDT/04:00pm UTC, where we will repeat the special breakout discussions.) Participants will also learn about some specific NASA Missions, including Landsat 9, GEDI, ICESat-2, GPM, and ECOSTRESS; each with a vital alignment to trees and land cover. If you are not able to make it to the annual meeting or want focused preparation time with the Trees Team, this is the webinar for you.
If you are interested in joining the webinar, please send an email to Campaign Lead, Brian Campbell.
To learn more about the Trees Around the GLOBE Student Research Campaign, click here.
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Join 08 July GLOBE Mission Mosquito Webinar:
“Mosquito Habitat Photo Challenge”
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The GLOBE Mission Mosquito (GMM) webinar, “Mosquito Habitat Photo Challenge,” will be held on Thursday, 08 July, at 02:00 p.m. EDT (06:00 p.m. UTC). This webinar is being held in connection with the Mosquito Habitat Photo Challenge, which will take place from 25 July through 25 August.
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Article Highlights How Mosquito Habitat Mapper Tool Helps
Fight Mosquito-borne Disease
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Image: Jimmy Chan/Pexels
A recent article (01 June 2021), “AI, Citizen Science Helps Fight Mosquito-borne Disease,” written by Amy Lupica and published in Our Daily Planet, highlights innovative new tools designed to help fight mosquito-borne diseases, including The GLOBE Program’s app, GLOBE Observer (GO) Mosquito Habitat Mapper (MHM).
“Mosquito season is here, and with it, worry about diseases like Zika and West Nile. At the same time, it’s tricky to track and monitor mosquitos and the diseases they spread,” Lupica said in the article. “But a new approach using artificial intelligence could finally help researchers better understand how and where the insects are making people sick. A coalition of organizations, including the University of South Florida and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), has created new AI-powered tools to fight mosquito-borne disease and danger.”
“The new tracking tools can fit in the palm of your hand; volunteers can help collect data by downloading one of three mobile apps:
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Mosquito Alert, which monitors adult mosquitoes using photos and monitors bites and breeding grounds;
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iNaturalist, which monitors larval and adult mosquitoes with photos, and is a social platform for sharing biodiversity observations used by thousands of organizations and researchers; and
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GO: MHM, which monitors larval mosquitoes and habitats through photos and is supported by NASA through The GLOBE Program.
“Just by downloading an app, every local outdoorsman, or part-time indoorsman, can help reduce the risk of future disease outbreaks and support public health,” Lupica said in the article.
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Recording of GIO Webinar “Presentations with Accessibility in Mind”
Now Available
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Did you miss – or would you like to view again – the webinar hosted by GIO on 03 June, “Presentations with Accessibility in Mind”? If so, it is now available on GLOBE’s YouTube Channel.
During the webinar, Rosalba Giarratano, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS), a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies from the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP), shares best practices and tips for making presentations accessible for more audiences.
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Recording of GIO Webinar “GLOBE Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Pride Month” Now Available |
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On 22 June, GIO hosted a webinar, “GLOBE Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Pride Month.” During the webinar, Trevor Brown from NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in the Climate Change Research Initiative (CCRI) program, discusses his research, how he teaches GLOBE, a personal story on the importance of using pronouns, and how to make scientific spaces more inclusive for the LGBTQ+ community.
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As always, GLOBE continues to work to ensure that your “use” of the website, and associated apps, is as user-friendly as possible. This month, look for a new ability to search for data by GLOBE “Team” in ADAT (or Elasticsearch). There will also be an improved way for teachers to access and use student accounts, plus enhanced capabilities.
In addition to the above-mentioned enhancements, progress has been made toward implementing the following items:
- GLOBE’s data entry process will soon give users a new option: all GLOBE atmosphere protocols will be available in The GLOBE Program’s app, GLOBE Observer (GO). Trained and approved GLOBE members (those who already have access to the Data Entry app) will be able to submit atmospheric measurements (such as temperature and rainfall), as well as bundle data directly using the GO app. Future work will move other existing sphere protocols into the app.
- The GO app’s Mosquito Habitat Mapper (MHM) tool will receive an update. The update will include: an updated dichotomous key with updated visuals; reduced text for increased accessibility for non-English speaking populations; and maintenance to keep compatibility with newer systems, maintain performance, and GLOBE connectivity.
- For people who participate in SciStarter, there soon will be an ability to log participation in the GO protocols on their SciStarter dashboard account. (SciStarter, a GLOBE Partner, provides a database of thousands of vetted, searchable projects and events through an online citizen science project directory.)
- In time for the 2021 GLOBE Annual Meeting, the team will deliver an update to how trainees and mentor trainees are brought into the GLOBE system. (This update will only affect Country Coordinators, Regional Coordination Offices, and GLOBE partners.)
If you have any questions, or need assistance with any of these enhancements, contact the GLOBE Community Support Team (CST) at: globehelp@ucar.edu.
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GLOBE Argentina Students Win Junior Water Prize Using
GLOBE Protocols
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The GLOBE Program would like to congratulate GLOBE Argentina students Marianela P., Lucio M., and Juan W., of the Science Club Huechulafquen, who have been awarded the Stockholm Junior Water Prize 2021 for their work: "Characterization of the larval habitat of mosquitoes in Northern Patagonia."
The research was conducted during 2020 and 2021; the sampling was conditioned by the pandemic. (The research was suspended in March 2020, and was resumed in February 2021.) GLOBE protocols were used, and a majority of the information came from the GLOBE Mission Mosquito campaign, conducted within the framework of The GLOBE Program.
To view the video presentation, in Spanish, click here.
Multi-talented Marianela, Lucio, and Juan are also GLOBE’s Student Vloggers from Argentina! To keep up with their vlogging journey throughout the year, click here.
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Article Highlights GLOBE Students’ Research |
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Crestwood High School seniors Zeina J., (left), Sana T., and Itidal B.
A recent article, “Three Crestwood seniors chosen to present their findings on flooding at international science seminar,” written by Sue Suchyta for MediaNews Group, highlights the students’ findings on the effects of Rouge River flooding on tree growth.
The students, from Crestwood High School in Dearborn, Michigan, USA, are students of Diana Johns. They studied the possible effects of river flooding on soil parameters and tree growth along the Rouge River, as well as a control group. The study sought to understand the relationship between sediments, soils, and tree growth in a flood plain in order to better understand the impact of frequent flooding. The students’ findings, associated with GLOBE’s Trees Around the GLOBE Student Research Campaign, were presented through GLOBE’s 2021 IVSS.
“Doing research in the times of COVID is a little bit difficult,” Johns said in the article. “Besides making sure that their personal safety was assured, the continuity of things was a little bit difficult. I give them credit, because they are a perfect example of persistence and fortitude and all of those other good things that keep people going when they keep walking into walls.” The students managed to keep their morale up by having fun, including coming up with nicknames for the trees from which they took data.”
On Earth Day 2021 (22 April), the students were one of seven groups entered to win a monetary award for their school (based on earning a 4-star student research badge – the highest ranking possible – and at least two other optional badges).
Johns said that the legacy of their work will help future students at Crestwood High School. “What a cool thing, right?”
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U.S. Campers Will Collaborate, Connect, and Collect Data in
"GLOBE Goes to Camp" Pilot
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Members of the NASA Langley GLOBE Partnership (Hampton, Virginia, USA) will be spending the summer working with 12 summer camps in the "GLOBE Goes to Camp” Pilot. During this program, campers will have the opportunity to connect with NASA scientists as they take on the role of a citizen scientist collecting local environmental data. By participating in this NASA camp experience, campers will gain valuable STEM learning opportunities designed to bridge classroom learning with real-world application. |
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As part of the experience, campers will be able to collaborate with other campers from each of the different camps participating in the pilot, learning not only about their local data, but also gaining perspectives related to data being collected by camps across the United States. One of the goals of this pilot project is to establish NASA GLOBE Camps across the United States that can work together with the NASA Earth Science Education Collaborative (NESEC) and the GLOBE community to broaden access to GLOBE resources for all learners, while ensuring that the resources being developed by the NESEC team address the needs of local camp communities. Part of this endeavor will incorporate GLOBE training for the various members of the camp staff.
For information regarding “GLOBE Goes to Camp” contact Tina Harte.
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U.S. GLOBE Weekly Watercoolers Will Resume in August |
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U.S. GLOBE Teachers and Partners: There will be no Watercoolers during the month of July. Stay tuned for information on August Watercoolers!
Watercoolers, which start at 04:10 p.m. ET, are an informal opportunity to connect with other GLOBE teachers and partners to share ideas. Each week begins with a presentation from a teacher or partner, with time for questions and conversation following.
Sign up to Present
GLOBE Teachers and Partners: You are invited to share your experience and expertise. Please consider signing up to share how you are using GLOBE in your region.
To sign up to present at a Watercooler, click here.
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Keeping Up with GLOBE Star Stories? Read About Our Latest Star |
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Have you been keeping up with the latest GLOBE Star Stories? GLOBE Stars are stories of projects, people and extraordinary activities being conducted around the world in connection to GLOBE. These GLOBE Stars are the bright lights that spark our imagination and inspire us with news of GLOBE at work in the world.
Read our most recent Star Story:
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“GLOBE Ireland Air Quality Campaign 2021 Online Event Celebrates Work of GLOBE Students,” On 20 May 2021, GLOBE Ireland hosted an end-of-the-year celebratory event for the Air Quality Campaign. More than 200 people participated in the event, including primary school student classes and secondary school groups, teachers, GIO Director Dr. Tony Murphy, Irish EPA Director Laura Burke, Irish EPA Air Quality and Citizen Science teams, GLOBE Europe Regional Office, Dana Votapkova, and scientists from Trinity College Dublin and Technical University Dublin.
Are you a GLOBE Star? Share Your Story!
Are you a GLOBE Star? If so, GLOBE wants to hear all about it! Send your story of people, projects, or activities to share on the GLOBE website.
To learn more about GLOBE Stars, and to use the new easier-to-use template for submitting your GLOBE Star Story, click here.
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GLOBE Implementation Office Closed Monday, 05 July, to Celebrate
U.S. Independence Day
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GIO, including the Community Support Team, will be closed Monday, 05 July, to celebrate the U.S. Independence Day holiday. (This year, Independence Day, 04 July, takes place on a Sunday; however, the Federal holiday takes place on Monday.) |
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Opportunities for Teachers |
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(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: globecommunications@ucar.edu. Thank you!)
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NASA STEM Educator Webinars |
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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 STEM at School or Home – Storm Warnings: Hurricanes,” is geared toward educators in grades K-12. On Thursday, 15 July, (04:30 p.m. ET), the NASA EPDC at Texas State University will present a one-hour webinar. Weather and climate data isn't just for meteorologists. Webinar participants will explore resources and standards-aligned lessons to get students analyzing local weather patterns to better understand hurricanes monitoring and modeling.
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GLOBE U.S. In-Service/Pre-Service Teachers: Natural Inquirer Opportunity Offers Stipends for Blog/Social Media Posts |
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U.S. GLOBE Pre-service and In-service Educators: Do you use GLOBE protocols, learning activities, or books? Do you use the Natural Inquirer journals or activities? If you answered YES to either question, there is an exciting opportunity for you!
The GLOBE Program, in partnership with the USDA Forest Service, is looking for K-12 pre- and in-service educators to write a blog or social media post (Pinterest, Twitter thread, etc.) connecting an issue of the Natural Inquirer with GLOBE protocols and/or learning activities. These crosswalk resources will be published on the GLOBE website and shared with educators in both communities. Stipends for published pieces are available!
Share this flyer with your networks, or use as a classroom assignment with your
pre-service teachers.
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Elementary School Educators: Complete Survey to Help Develop Free Online Earth Science Resources – Enter to Win Set of Elementary GLOBE Storybooks |
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Elementary School Educators: The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) in Boulder, Colorado, USA, and the Marsico Institute for Early Learning at the University of Denver (Denver, Colorado, USA), are partnering to gather information about early science teaching and learning. Participants will be entered for a drawing to win a free set of Elementary GLOBE Storybooks.
Your feedback will provide important information toward developing free online resources for supporting hands-on Earth system science teaching with young learners.
The deadline to complete the survey is 01 August.
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YLACES Offers Awards, Scholarships, Grants – and Support – for Science Education |
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Youth Learning as Citizen Environmental Scientists (YLACES), based in the United States, offers awards, scholarships, grants, and support – all to assist and reward 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.
Those working with youth to do research projects through environmental citizen science are invited to submit proposals for support to help their efforts. Grants range from support for taking simple measurements to teacher professional development and working for pervasive inclusion of student research projects in science teaching.
In addition, support is provided for prizes recognizing student achievement and effective teaching; for infrastructure necessary for contributing, storing, and sharing data and methods; and for science fairs/symposia that assess student work.
For more information on YLACES, and the specific types of assistance
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Congratulations to the eight GLOBE countries celebrating anniversaries of successful GLOBE implementation during the month of July:
Bahamas – 21 years
12 July 2000
Bermuda – 07 years
03 July 2014
The Gambia – 25 years
12 July 1996
Mauritania – 17 years
06 July 2004
Nigeria – 19 years
15 July 2002
Peru – 24 years
10 July 1997
Trinidad & Tobago – 25 years
16 July 1996
Tunisia – 26 years
27 July 1995
The GLOBE Implementation Office would like to thank these countries for their ongoing educational and scientific contributions to The GLOBE Program!
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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.
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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.”)
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