March 2021 GLOBE News Brief
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Dates for the 2021 GLOBE Annual Meeting Have Changed to 12-16 July!
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The GLOBE Implementation Office (GIO) has decided to change the dates for the 2021 GLOBE Annual Meeting to 12-16 July in order to avoid important holidays that are occurring at the same time as the originally scheduled dates. Creating an inclusive meeting for all GLOBE community members is a priority for GIO, and we look forward to seeing everyone at this year’s Annual Meeting.
The meeting will still be held virtually. GIO encourages everyone to register early in order to receive updates about the meeting.
Updated Registration Deadlines/Prices:
- Early Bird Registration Deadline: 12 May 2021 ($95.00 USD)
- Regular Registration Deadline: 01 July 2021 ($125.00 USD)
- Late Registration Deadline: 07 July 2021 ($175.00 USD)
For more information about the meeting, and to register, click here.
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2021 GLOBE Annual Meeting
Call for Presentations – Applications Due 02 April
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Presentation applications are now being accepted for the 2021 GLOBE Annual Meeting. Applications are due by 02 April 2021; no late or incomplete applications will be accepted. The theme of the meeting this year is "Adapting to a Changing GLOBE."
Please consider presentations in the following strands:
- Strand 1: Responding to a Changing GLOBE: Presenters will demonstrate how GLOBE has changed. (This can be related to the COVID-19 pandemic or to other ways GLOBE has evolved.)
- Strand 2: A Welcoming GLOBE: Presenters will illustrate how to make GLOBE a more welcoming program. (Topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion are encouraged.)
- Strand 3: STEM, Teaching, and GLOBE: Presenters will address topics related to STEM, teaching, and GLOBE.
Community Session Types:
- Poster
- Lightning Talk: 07 minutes
- Report Out: 12 minutes
- Teaching: 25 minutes
- Panel: 25 minutes
- Workshop: 25 or 55 minutes (must be interactive)
You will find detailed descriptions of these presentation types in the application form.
To submit an application for your presentation, click here.
(If you would like to give both an oral and a poster presentation, please submit the form for
each type of presentation.)
Note: Students will be presenting their research separately; only 2021 International Virtual Science Symposium (IVSS) selected students will be at the meeting this year. Please do not submit a presentation for students. For more information on the 2021 IVSS, click here.
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2021 March GLOBE Urban Heat Island Effect (UHIE) - Surface Temperature Field Campaign Has Begun
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The March UHIE-Surface Temperature Field Campaign is on! It is time, once again, to collect observations of surface temperature, clouds, and snow – and add to the extensive data set that students and scientists, including Dr. Czajkowski (“Dr. C,” Director of the Geographic Information Science and Applied Geographics Lab at the University of Toledo, Ohio, USA) can use to study the urban heat island effect.
The campaign – which now takes place in October, December, and March – 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.
“For many of us in the Northern Hemisphere, it has been cold and snowy … really cold. And, the storms just kept coming across the United States and Europe. This was due to a phenomenon called a Sudden Stratospheric Warming Event,” Dr. C said. “The warming event started in early January in the Stratosphere about 15 km above our heads. The impact from the event was seen first in Japan and other parts of Asia, then in Europe, and lastly in North America. I set up an ice rink in my back yard because I knew the cold air was coming.”
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Dr. D's son, Timmy, skating in their backyard.
“The urban heat island effect may be far from our minds, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t study it. During these cold winter days and nights, the urban heat island effect may actually lead to less energy use to heat homes. This is the good side of urban heat island.”
“In addition to that, many of you who live closer to the tropics or the Southern Hemisphere may be experiencing warm temperatures and impacts from the urban heat island effect. March is a good time to look at these areas for the negative impacts.”
“If you are able to get outside and take surface temperature observations for the campaign, please try to take observations of two different sites that have two different cover types. For instance, you may want to look at the difference in temperature between concrete and grass. If your students are doing remote learning, you may want to take observations yourself to share with your students. Let them guess what surface would be warmest and say why before you take the observations. Then, see how well they guessed,” Dr. C. said. “Thank you for participating in the campaign. Stay safe.”
To learn more about, and participate in, the campaign, click here.
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2021 GLOBE IVSS Reports Due 10 March
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Reports for the 2021 GLOBE International Virtual Science Symposium (IVSS) are due 10 March. The IVSS is an exciting way for students from all over the world to showcase their hard work. With GLOBE, students learn the practices of science through hands-on investigations in their own communities, sparking their curiosity and interest in science. This often leads to inquiries that help solve real-world problems and further understanding of our global environment.
To learn more about, and submit reports to, the 2021 IVSS, click here.
Information and Resources
Student reports are invaluable assets to the GLOBE community, as well as to present and future research, STEM, and scientific endeavors! Need more information on available resources? Check these out:
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Instructions (How and What to Submit)
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Rubrics (By Grade Level)
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Badges (You Can Earn up to Four)
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Resources (To Help with Your Success in Completing Your Report)
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FAQs (Have a Question – Find an Answer)
Students who submit a project to the IVSS will receive feedback from judges and virtual badges on their school page. Whether this is your first research project or your 100th, you are encouraged to participate. And, if you have any questions along the way, let us know. GIO is here to help!
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Judges Needed for 2021 IVSS – Informational Webinar on 29 March
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GIO is looking for judges for the 2021 IVSS. Judging consists of filling out a Google form with scores and feedback on the student's project. Each project takes approximately 20-30 minutes to assess. Judges should be fluent in at least one of the following languages: English, Spanish, French, Arabic, or Croatian.
Informational Webinar for Judges
There will be an informational webinar for judges (which will be recorded) on 29 March at 09:00 a.m. MT. Judging will take place between 29 March and 05 April 2021. (You do not need to attend the webinar to participate as a volunteer judge.)
For more information on the 2021 IVSS, click here.
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Participating in the 2021 IVSS?
Check Out This “Science Practices: Analyzing Data” Resource Page
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Are you participating in the 2021 IVSS? Then you’ll want to check out GLOBE’s “Science Practices: Analyzing Data” resource page today!
On the page, you will find:
- recorded webinars on data visualizations, how to access GLOBE data, and how to use the research question as a guide in deciding what graph to make; and
- resources on graphing activities, GLOBE data access tutorials, visualization color tools, and more.
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Join 09 March Webinar: “Finalizing and Submitting Your Trees Around the GLOBE Student Research Campaign Projects”
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The Trees Around the GLOBE campaign webinar: “Finalizing and Submitting Your Trees Around the GLOBE Student Research Campaign Projects: Final Project Discussions with Campaign Team and Participants, Including Student Tree Research Projects in the Philippines,” will be held on Tuesday, 09 March, at 06:00 p.m. ET (11:00 p.m. UTC).
Set-up for one day prior to the 10 March 2021 deadline to submit projects to the 2021 IVSS, this webinar will be for students, and educators with students who will be submitting project to IVSS. The campaign team and subject matter experts will answer any last-minute questions regarding student research projects and the science/data (tree height, land cover, greenings, and carbon cycle) involved with the campaign. There will also be several student research presentations from GLOBE Philippines students that focus on tree height and urban heat, as well as tree health assessments in urban and rural areas.
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Questions?
Do your students want to do student research, but aren't sure where to begin? Do you have questions you would like answered about student research related to trees? Please submit your questions to: Dorian Janney prior to the webinar, and we will try our best to have an answer for you during the webinar.
If you are interested in joining the webinar, please send an email
To learn more about the Trees Around the GLOBE Student Research Campaign, click here.
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Can a Storm and Wind Affect Tree Height? Read this Blog and Find Out!
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Are you participating in the Trees Around the GLOBE Student Research Campaign? Then you’ll want to read the most recent GLOBE Community Blog written by Brian Campbell, NASA Senior Earth Science Education Specialist.
“Have you ever seen a tree snap due to high winds or a lightning strike?” Campbell asks in the blog. “Back in March 2020, I saw a beautiful Bradford Pear tree starting to bloom with its pale yellow-white blossoms. I thought that this would be a very nice, isolated tree to take a NASA GLOBE Observer tree height observation.”
In the blog, Campbell discusses the impact of Tropical Storm Isaias on the Bradford Pear tree – and how the NASA Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) Mission measured the same tree.
“You also know that ICESat-2 uses an onboard laser altimeter system called the Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System or ATLAS, to measure the heights of object on Earth, including sea ice, ice sheet, glaciers, sea level, landforms, and trees,” Campbell said in the blog.
“So, I decided to see if ICESat-2 happened to measure this tree, and to my delight, it did! What makes this super-exciting is that this is an isolated tree. What does this mean? The ICESat-2 laser photons that are fired from the satellite to Earth spread out when traveling the 300 miles from the satellite to the Earth. When the photon hits the Earth, it has an approximate 14m diameter footprint on the ground. If there happens to be multiple trees in that footprint, ICESat-2 takes an average tree height from all the trees within that footprint. The Bradford Pear tree happened to be an isolated tree, meaning that it was the only tree height captured, by ICESat-2 in the photon footprint. Exciting stuff!”
To learn more about the Trees Around the GLOBE Student Research Campaign, click here.
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Join 11 March GLOBE Mission Mosquito Webinar: “Mosquito Invaders”
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On Thursday, 11 March, at 02:00 p.m. ET (07:00 p.m. UTC), you are invited to join the GLOBE Mission Mosquito (GMM) webinar: “Mosquito Invaders,” hosted by Dr. Rusty Low. Participants will connect NASA’s climate change science to a new invasive species, Aedes vittatus, which is capable of carrying nearly all of the most dangerous mosquito-borne diseases, except for malaria, and its new landscapes.
Have Mosquito Photos?
The GMM team would like to feature your mosquito photos in the Science Notebook Resource. Submissions will be accepted through September 2021. The GMM team is looking for exemplary larvae photos in the following categories: full-body; siphon; pectin; and tuft.
GLOBE Teachers: If you or your students have taken photos you would like to share with the community, please contact Cassie Soeffling, Informal Education Lead at: cassie_soeffling@strategies.org.
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Volunteer Opportunity: Advisory Panel Position with
GLOBE Mission Mosquito
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The GMM team is seeking four volunteers for a new Advisory Panel. As a panel member, you would offer advice on future webinar topics and speakers, along with suggestions and feedback on GMM-developed mosquito resources.
Experience as a formal educator, GLOBE partner, or an informal educator in either a library or a school program is desirable. GMM anticipates that meetings will take place once a month, from March through September 2021.
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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.
Enhancements to the GLOBE Program’s App: GLOBE Observer
GLOBE’s data entry process is evolving to give you a new option that is even easier to use: all atmosphere protocols will now be available in the GLOBE Observer (GO) app. Trained and approved GLOBE members (that is, those who already have access to the Data Entry app) may 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.
Also, in March, all users (GLOBE-trained and the general public participating as citizen scientists) should notice an update to the Mosquito Habitat Mapper tool within the GO app. And, for people who participate in SciStarter, there is now the ability to log their 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.)
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 Publications – Your Data in Action
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GLOBE has a long history of sharing impact and science findings through peer-reviewed publications on the GLOBE website. The peer-review process ensures that published articles represent the best scholarship currently available. (Each article that is submitted to a peer-reviewed journal is sent to other scholars in the same field in order to get their opinion on the quality of research, the relevance to the field, and its appropriateness for inclusion in the journal.)
Suggest a Publication
Do you have an article, or have you read an article, referencing The GLOBE Program that you do not see listed? Via the GLOBE website, you can search for publications via filters (such as searching by author, date, and/or content related to GLOBE spheres or protocols). It is also possible to suggest publications to be added to the page by simply filling out an online form that, if approved after CST review, will get added to the library.
To access the GLOBE publications page, click here.
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Have You Checked Out GLOBE’s New Diversity,
Equity, and Inclusion Blog Yet?
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Have you had a chance to check out the new “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” (DEI) blogging portal now available on the GLOBE website? Rosalba Giarratano, NASA Pathways Intern, and member of the GLOBE DEI Working Group, is blogging about diversity, equity, inclusion, and GLOBE!
“We are excited to start a new blog highlighting stories of GLOBE members and their commitment to help GLOBE become an increasingly welcoming, diverse, equitable, and inclusive community,” Rosalba said in a recent blog.
To read Rosalba’s blogs (entries are in both Spanish and English), click here.
If you would like to share what you are doing to help make GLOBE more welcoming, please write a blog and categorize it with “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.”
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How Has GLOBE Impacted You? Share Your Story with the GLOBE Community Via the GLOBE Community Profile Feature!
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The power behind The GLOBE Program is our passion, our purpose, and our people – YOU!
The GLOBE Program values the level of daily dedication to, and ongoing support of, the program, as well as the enduring quality of the educational, environmental, and scientific contributions of our community members.
As a way of highlighting this invaluable dedication, GLOBE would like to place a “spotlight” on you and your “GLOBE Story.” The goal is to share the stories of how working with GLOBE has impacted you – in your learning endeavors, classroom activities, scientific research, environmental observations, STEM career, and your overall journey of life.
For guidelines on submitting a Community Profile Feature, click here.
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U.S. GLOBE Teachers/Partners: Join March Watercooler
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U.S. GLOBE Teachers and Partners: Join the Watercoolers in March! 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.
For upcoming Watercooler dates, topics, and registration click here.
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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Meet the Experts – Join Live Q&A Sessions with GLOBE Partner
UCAR Center for Science Education
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GLOBE Partner UCAR Center for Science Education (SciEd) is hosting regular “Meet the
Experts Live Question and Answer Sessions.” Join SciEd as they talk with experts to learn about what they do in their work, their highlights and challenges, and how it impacts our world. Then ask them anything you want to know about what it's like to do their jobs! The sessions last approximately 20 minutes.
To learn more about these sessions (and to view previously recorded sessions), click here.
(NOTE: You can send questions in advance of the program, and they will be
shared during the Q&A. You can also submit questions during the talk, and
experts will answer as many as possible.)
Join the Upcoming Session: 04 March
The next session will take place on 04 March, at 11:00 a.m. MT: “Cars, Trains, and Weather.” Curtis Walker, a scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research’s (NCAR's) Research Applications Laboratory, discusses studies on how weather impacts travel, specifically cars and trains. Whether you're traveling to work or school, driving across the country on vacation, or waiting for a package, all kinds of weather can have big impacts on surface transportation. Walker will share his story of how he came to work at this unique intersection, overview weather impacts to roads and rails, and preview the future of self-driving cars in a world of weather.
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Join 01 March “Citizen Science: A Means to Promote
Equity and Inclusion in STEM” Talk
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On 01 March, at 03:00 p.m. ET, join: “Citizen Science: A Means to Promote Equity and Inclusion in STEM,” which is part of the Mitchell Center Talk Series. The talk will be hosted by Amara Ifeji, Freshman, Northeastern University; Grassroots Development Coordinator, Maine Environmental Education Association
In this talk, Amara Ifeji will speak to her lived experiences as a BIPOC (black, Indigenous and people of color) individual, the marginalization she faced in fostering a connection to place with the environment, and how her self-sought passion for water justice led her to not only foster this connection herself, but to also serve as a conduit for other BIPOC and female-identifying students like herself.
This talk is available via Zoom. Registration is required. Please complete the registration form to receive the Zoom connection information.
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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, “Women’s History Month: NASA’s Hidden to Modern Figures,” is geared toward educators in grades K-12. On Tuesday, 03 March (07:30 p.m. ET), come explore and celebrate Women's History Month with the history that women are making every day at NASA. In the 1960s, the U.S. was on an ambitious journey to the moon, and Katherine Johnson and her fellow human computers helped get NASA there. Bring the excitement of their story to your classroom with the NASA Modern Figures Toolkit. Discover videos, historical references, and exciting NASA STEM resources to inspire the next generation of innovators.
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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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April 16: Virtual Data4Justice Conference: Learn How Data, Research, and Activism Come Together to Create Change
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The Institute for the Quantitative Study of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (QSIDE) is hosting an inaugural Data4Justice Conference: A virtual, all-day event for scholars, activists, policymakers, and allies to explore the ways to power social justice together. The conference has broadly accessible talks and is designed for a general audience.
The conference will take place on Friday, 16 April, from 10:00 a.m. through 06:00 p.m. ET. The talks are focused on health care equity, inclusion in arts/media, environmental justice, criminal justice, and education equity.
To learn more, and to see the registration and fees, click here.
(Scholarships are available for anyone unable to pay; however, you must contact QSIDE for more information: qside@qsideinstitute.org)
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U.S. Teachers: Deadline to Apply for Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Program is 24 March
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U.S. Teachers: The deadline to apply for the Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms (TGC) Program is 24 March. The Fulbright TGC Program is a yearlong professional learning opportunity and short-term exchange for elementary, middle, and high school educators from the United States to develop skills to prepare students for a competitive global economy. Fulbright TGC equips educators to bring an international perspective to their schools through targeted training, experience abroad, and global collaboration.
The Fulbright TGC Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX (International Research and Exchanged). It is governed by policies established by the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.
For more information, and to apply for the program, click here.
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Opportunities for Students
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U.S. Sophomore/Junior (GLOBE Students): Deadline to Apply for the 2020 SEES Program is 15 March
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The United States GLOBE program is accepting applications for a GLOBE intern at the STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) 2021 Summer High School Intern Program. This opportunity is ONLY open to U.S. GLOBE high school Sophomores and Juniors who are GLOBE students.
Selected interns will learn how to interpret NASA satellite data and work with scientists and engineers at the University of Texas at Austin Center for Space Research.
For more information on this internship opportunity, click here; however, USE the directions below to apply through U.S. GLOBE.
HOW TO APPLY:
Submit your online application by 15 March. 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 1,250 words (use 250 words per question as a guideline). Describe yourself and discuss each of the following as part of your essay. You are not limited to these areas.
- What do you expect to gain from the SEES internship?
- Share any 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 will your experience in this program impact your plans for the future?
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, Private, and Unlisted.
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Public means anybody can find it and view it. Do not use this option.
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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.
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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 to Jennifer Bourgeault at usglobecc@gmail.com with the words “SEES Intern Video 2021” and your last name in the subject line by 15 March.
Note from the University of Texas (UT) at Austin
The current plan is to have SEES as a hybrid model with both on-site and virtual opportunities in the summer 2021. The safety and health of the UT community is our highest priority. The university is following guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Austin Public Health. We are coordinating with other local public health officials to gather and share the most up-to-date information. Thank you for your understanding as we all navigate this unprecedented time in our state.
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U.S. Summer STEM Research Opportunities
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U.S. Community: Now is the time that summer research programs are announcing their 2021 deadlines. Click here and browse by institution, disciplinary categories, or by geography.
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Congratulations to the twelve GLOBE countries celebrating anniversaries of successful GLOBE implementation during the month of March:
Belgium – 26 years
24 March 1995
Egypt – 26 years
20 March 1995
Finland – 26 years
23 March 1995
Ghana – 23 years
20 March 1998
Hungary – 22 years
10 March 1999
Israel – 26 years
24 March 1995
Kazakhstan – 26 years
27 March 1995
Liechtenstein – 18 years
26 March 2003
Morocco – 25 years
27 March 1996
Nepal – 21 years
03 March 2000
Panama – 21 years
02 March 2000
Senegal – 26 years
17 March 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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