December 2019 GLOBE News Brief

The December GLOBE Urban Heat Island Effect/Surface Temperature Field Campaign Has Begun

The Urban Heat Island Effect/Surface Temperature Field Campaign for December has begun! As always, your participation is invaluable to this scientific endeavor. Your observations add to the extensive data set that students and scientists, including Dr. Kevin Czajkowski (“Dr. C” at the University of Toledo), 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.   To learn more about the campaign, click here .

News

Registration for GLOBE’s 25th Anniversary Annual Meeting Opens in December

Registration will open in December for the 25th Anniversary Annual Meeting, which will be held from 12-16 July 2020 in Washington, D.C., USA. The GLOBE Implementation Office (GIO) will notify the community as soon as registration is open. The theme of the meeting is: “Reflecting on the Past, Looking to the Future.”   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).   You can help shape the 25th Anniversary Annual Meeting! Simply complete this survey  by 15 December to let us know: 1) your favorite GLOBE protocol; and 2) one GLOBE protocol that you would like to learn.   To keep up with meeting information, click here . If you have questions about the meeting, please contact: meetings@globe.gov .

GLOBE 2019 Fall Cloud Challenge Rakes in the Observations! A Big “Thank You” to all Participants

The GLOBE 2019 Fall Cloud Observation Challenge, which ran from 15 October through 15 November, has wrapped up. The challenge brought in more than 45,000 observations from citizen scientists in more than 17,000 locations in 93 countries on every continent — including Antarctica.   This influx of cloud observations is helping scientists who work with geostationary satellites and the suite of satellite instruments known as the Clouds and the Earth's Energy Radiant System (CERES). By comparing geostationary and CERES observations from a particular area to data submitted by citizen scientists, scientists can differentiate between wispy cirrus clouds and cold, bright features on the ground, such as snow.  To watch the Fall Cloud Challenge congratulatory video, click here !   The breakdown:   Total number of cloud observations: 45,300+ Total number of satellite matches: 25,100+ Total number of dust observations reported: 90+ Total observations with photos: 21,500+ Total photos received: 57,200+  The top observers by GLOBE Region: Africa: Aminu Ahmad, Nigeria; Amos Kaui, Kenya; Eva van Belle, South Africa; Helena Joubert, South Africa; Bianca Oliver, South Africa Asia and Pacific: Yu-Hsien Lee, Taiwan Partnership; Harikrishnan PU, India; Aris Larroder, Philippines; Saurabh Bhardwaj, India; Keshav Marda, India Europe and Eurasia: Arkadiusz Bielecki, Poland; Pedro Velázquez Guzmán, Spain; Bohdana Vasylchyshyn, Ukraine; Tibor Tóth, Hungary; Marina Sambolek, Croatia Latin America and Caribbean: Adrian Smith, Brazil; Helio Cabral, Brazil; anonymous observer; Colombia; Kameel Mohammed-Ali, Trinidad & Tobago; Luz Cadavid, Colombia Near East and North Africa: Aminah Al-Ahmadi, Saudi Arabia; Faizah Bahry, Saudi Arabia; Homa Hattan, Saudi Arabia; Ishaq Al Jabri, Oman; Sara Alamri, Saudi Arabia North America: Sherryl Johnson, USA; Roger Rose, USA; Esther Flores, USA; Meena Contractor, USA; Om Prakash Gupta, USA   To read the full NASA summary, click here . GLOBE would like to thank everyone who participated in this challenge – your observations are invaluable!

GLOBE Congratulates Top October 2019 Trees Around the GLOBE Campaign Measurement Champions

The Globe Program would like to congratulate the top most active Trees Around the GLOBE Student Research Campaign participants taking at least 10 measurements for tree height, greenings, and land cover measurements for the campaign in October!    Tree Height (1,308 Total Measurements/Observations from 607 locations):   Majkut (Poland), with 196 submitted measurements J. Less (United States), with 56 submitted measurements Vasylchyshyn (Ukraine), with 28 submitted measurements V. Badai (Ukraine), with 28 submitted measurements R. Pogoželskienė (Lithuania), with 27 submitted measurements K. Mohammed-Ali (Trinidad and Tobago), with 15 submitted measurements Y. Kimm (Republic of Korea), with 13 submitted measurements J. Razlog-Grlica (Croatia), with 11 submitted measurements   Land Cover (776 Total Measurements/Observations from 613 locations):   A. Majkut (Poland), with 279 submitted measurements K. Mohammed-Ali (Trinidad and Tobago), with 11 submitted measurements   Greenings (578 Total Measurements/Observations from 72 locations):   B. Vasylchyshyn (Ukraine), with 75 submitted measurements K. Trstenjak (Croatia), with 33 submitted measurements N. Boyko (Ukraine), with 31 submitted measurements K. Stankevičienė (Lithuania), with 28 submitted measurements R. Ivanauskiene (Lithuania), with 27 submitted measurements V. Berteškienė (Lithuania), with 27 submitted measurements Bielecki (Poland), with 25 submitted measurements L. Tyshchenko (Ukraine), with 25 submitted measurements R. Alkimaviciene (Lithuania), with 25 submitted measurements J. Carstensen (United States), with 24 submitted measurements V. Serpenskiene (Lithuania), with 23 submitted measurements M. Dobrzycka (Poland), with 22 submitted measurements R. Gaidiene (Lithuania), with 15 submitted measurements Veseljic (Croatia), with 14 submitted measurements Vevere (Latvia), with 14 submitted measurements S. Tokar (Ukraine), with 14 submitted measurements Stipoljev (Croatia), with 13 submitted measurements L. Kirpichko (Ukraine), with 13 submitted measurements Dendyk (Ukraine), with 12 submitted measurements J. Razlog-Grlica (Croatia), with 12 submitted measurements Kruzicevic (Croatia), with 11 submitted measurements M. Tumko (Ukraine), with 11 submitted measurements

Join the 03 December AND/OR 04 December Trees Around the GLOBE Student Research Campaign “Open Forum” Webinars

The Trees Around the GLOBE Student Research Campaign webinar “Open Forum: Bringing Together GLOBE Students to Informally Chat About Trees Campaign Student Research Projects,” will be held on Tuesday, 03 December (9:00 a.m. EST/2:00 p.m. UTC) AND on Wednesday, 04 December (8:00 p.m. EST/1:00 a.m. UTC).   During these webinars, GLOBE teachers from around the world are invited to tune in with their students during classroom time. Two separate webinars are being hosted in order to accommodate all the time zones. The goal is to have students chat informally and comfortably about local, U.S. SRS, and GLOBE IVSS research projects they can do using GLOBE tree height, land cover, and greenings (green up/green down) protocol measurements. The goal is to have students interact with other students from around the world. To register for the upcoming webinars and to receive emails about future webinars, click here . To learn more about the Trees Around the GLOBE campaign, click here .

Join the 05 December GLOBE Mission Mosquito Webinar: “Mosquito Assassins: A SWAT Analysis”

On Thursday, 05 December, at 8:00 p.m. EST (1:00 a.m. UTC), GLOBE Mission Mosquito will be hosting a webinar, “Mosquito Assassins: A SWAT Analysis.”   During the webinar, Anita Schiller, Director of the Biological Control Initiative (Harris County, Precinct 4, Texas, USA), will share how they are using native mosquito predators (“mosquito assassins”) in pest management. In addition, Liz Burck, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), will share “Mosquito Tellers,” as an inquiry-based learning and mosquito biology resource.   To register, click here . To learn more about GLOBE Mission Mosquito, click here .

2020 IVSS Update

GLOBE is excited to host the 2020 GLOBE IVSS – a 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 beginning in mid-January.   Research report templates (by grade level) are now available: Lower Primary Research Report Template Upper Primary Research Report Template Middle School Research Report Template High School + Research Report Template   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 .   Timeline/Important Dates: Reports accepted: mid-January – 10 March 2020 Judging webinar: 30 March (time TBD) Judging period: 30 March – 06 April Feedback and virtual badges shared: 22 April Drawing for stipends: 22 April   For more information on the IVSS, click here . To view the recorded information webinar, click here . (To view the slides, click here .)  If you have questions about the IVSS, please send an email to: ivss@globe.gov .

Attending the 2019 Fall Meeting in San Francisco, California, USA? Attend GLOBE Sessions!

As the American Geophysical Union (AGU) marks its Centennial in 2019, the meeting (09-13 December) returns to San Francisco, the home of the AGU Fall Meeting for more than 40 years. Join the diverse community at the newly renovated Moscone Center as participants collaborate across borders and boundaries to explore and develop research. The GLOBE Program will be presenting a variety of sessions at the meeting – and you are cordially invited to attend! Monday, 09 December: ED13E-0921: Helping Middle School Students Build Understanding of Hazardous Weather and Its Impacts with the GLOBE Weather Curriculum (Moscone South, Poster Hall; 13:40-18:00) ED13E-0920: Making a Case for Hands-Off, Student-Lead Research in Alternative Settings (Moscone South, Poster Hall; 13:40-18:00) Tuesday, 10 December: IN23B-04: What Does Data Collected for the GLOBE Program Indicate About Changing Environmental Extremes Over the Past Two Decades? (Moscone South - eLightning Theater III; Afternoon) IN23B: Making Data Usable and Accessible: Gaining Insight from Citizen Science Applications II (Moscone South; eLightning Theater III; 13:40-15:40)    Wednesday, 11 December: ED31E: Science to Action: Learning Ecosystems as a Pathway to Resilient Communities and a Diverse Geoscience Workforce (Moscone South, Poster Hall; 08:00-12:20) ED32B-02: Evaluation Methods Employed in the Development of a Middle School Instructional Unit about Weather (Moscone South, 213-214, L2; 10:35-10:45) ED32A-08: Mosquitoes Buzz around GLOBE! – The Challenges and Successes of a Citizen Science Project; Presentation; GLOBE Implementation Office Director Dr. Tony Murphy (Moscone South, 215, L2; 11:30-11:40)  Thursday, 12 December: GH41B: Environment, Pathogenic Agents, and Infectious Diseases (Moscone South, Poster Hall; 08:00-12:20)   In addition, drop by the AGU Cinema and take in a short film or two (or more!) about Earth and space sciences. You’ll see the GLOBE Learning Expedition in Ireland among them! (Location: Moscone West 2001A, L2; Times: Monday, 08:00-10:00; Tuesday, 08:00-09:00; Wednesday, 08:00-10:00; Thursday, 08:00-10:00; and Friday, 08:00-12:00)   To learn more about the fall meeting, click here .

NASA Science Educator Seeks Teachers/Students Interested in Using GLOBE Observer Mosquito Habitat Mapper in IVSS Projects

“Did you know that the mosquito is the world's most dangerous animal? What could be a better topic for students to research than this common insect that can cause so much damage?” Dorian Wood Janney, Science Educator for NASA’s Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Mission, said in a recent GLOBE community blog. “We are looking for teachers and students who are interested in using the GLOBE Observer Mosquito Habitat Mapper as a part of their IVSS (International Virtual Science Symposium) science project investigation. You do not need to have active mosquitoes to do this research. There are so many ways that this can be done!”

“As students collect other GLOBE data, such as air temperature, precipitation, humidity, vegetation, land cover, and other environmental data, they can use this data to help them find correlations that help them answer the questions above,” Dorian Wood Janney said. “They could also use data from NASA satellites, such as the Global Precipitation Measurement mission to find out what conditions were like when mosquitoes are active in their region. They can use past data to predict when they anticipate seeing active mosquitoes.” “I am happy to work with teachers and students who are considering doing an IVSS or other type of science project using the Mosquito Habitat Mapper. Feel free to reach out to me at dorian.w.janney@nasa.gov with any questions or suggestions you might have.”   To read the entire blog, click here .

It’s Time to Take Action! Read New Community Blog: “Elementary Students Tackle Mosquito Vectors of Disease”

In a recent GLOBE Community Blog, Dr. Russanne (Rusty) Low, GLOBE Mission Mosquito Science Lead, presents an article on Professor Glenda Ivette Lozada Negrón, a science teacher whose elementary classroom is actively engaged in reducing the risk of mosquito-borne disease through mosquito surveillance and mitigation, as part of an ongoing service learning project in Puerto Rico. “The project began as part of a curriculum with the Science and Research Trust of Puerto Rico and the  Science in Service  project. It is a community of teachers that serves to help students create new learning communities,” Negrón said.

In the article, Negrón explains that the fieldwork is done during class. “We prepare traps with the students and with the help of the entomologist, we collect larvae and pupae for analysis. We learn about mosquito biology by observing the metamorphosis of mosquitoes. The students really enjoy preparing the traps, collecting data and identifying mosquitoes. They are very interested in this project because addresses a "real" science problem in our school community. Mosquito-borne diseases are a serious threat in the place where we live.” The problem of vector-borne diseases increased after Hurricane Maria impacted Puerto Rico. “After the storm, there were many more places for mosquitoes to lay their eggs. We had a lot of trash and debris and this dramatically increased the number of breeding sites on our island.” “We need to prepare our students to be global citizens and since they must develop science-related skills, attitudes and knowledge to create a more sustainable society. We need to understand that we are interconnected, and this problem is not just a local problem, it is a global problem. It’s time to take action.” To read the entire blog, click here .

Recent Article: “Making Science Come Alive with Clouds” Offers Tips on Using GLOBE Observer App in the Classroom

A recent article, “Making Science Come Alive with Clouds,” written by Marilé Colón Robles, Jeffrey Bouwman, and Caryn Smith-Long, offers tips on how to use the GLOBE Observer App in the classroom in order to obtain cloud observations. The article was published in the November/December issue of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Journal.   “The new GLOBE Observer mobile app (GO app) allows the general public to make observations of clouds, map out habitats of disease-causing mosquitoes, measure tree height, and identify land cover from any mobile device,” the authors state. “Teachers use the new app because it is easy to use and easily incorporates technology in the classroom. The app can run while the mobile device is not connected to WiFi, so teachers can go outside with students to make and store the observations.”   In the article, the authors, Marilé Colón Robles (project scientist for NASA GLOBE Clouds and part of the science education team at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, USA), Jeffrey Bouwman (a science teacher at Shumate Middle School, in Gibraltar, Michigan, USA), and Caryn Smith-Long (a science teacher at Treadway Elementary School, in Leesburg, Florida, USA) discuss investigations using the GO app, as well as how teachers can participate in The GLOBE Program – and even receive emails from NASA.   To read the entire article, click here .

Letter of Intent Due 20 December for NSF Solicitation for IUSE:GEOPAths

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has issued a solicitation (NSF 20-516) for the program: “Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Pathways into the Earth, Ocean, Polar and Atmospheric & Geospace Sciences” (IUSE:GEOPAths). A Letter of Intent, which is required, is due 20 December 2019; a full proposal is due 14 February 2020. An informational webinar will be held on Thursday, 05 December, at 3:00 p.m. EST.   Synopsis of Program:   The National Science Foundation's (NSF's) Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE) Initiative is a Foundation-wide effort to accelerate improvements in the quality and effectiveness of undergraduate education in all STEM fields including the learning, social, behavioral, and economic sciences.   Estimated Number of Awards:  18; Anticipated Funding Amount:  $6,000,000   Proposals may only be submitted by the following:  Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) - Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Special Instructions for International Branch Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a US institution of higher education (including through use of subawards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus, and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the US campus. Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research labs, professional societies and similar organizations in the U.S. associated with educational or research activities.   For additional information, click here . The National Science Foundation Information Center may be reached at (703) 292-5111.

Teachers: Have Your Students Engage in Engineering Practices through New “Drone Science Mission Board Game”

Teachers (upper elementary through high school): Have your students engage in engineering practices through the new “Drone Science Mission Board Game,” developed by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) Center for Science Education, a GLOBE partner.    Throughout the game (no drone needed), students simulate the use of a drone aircraft to monitor a nearby volcano for signs of an impending eruption. Students engage in engineering practices as they choose the optimal suite of cameras, batteries, and sensors for their aircraft, then iteratively adjust and improve their choices over a series of simulated flights in order to maximize science data return.   To learn more, click here .

GLOBE Implementation Office Closed 25 December and 01 January for the Holidays

The GLOBE Implementation Office (GIO), including the Community Support Team, will be closed Wednesday, 25 December, and Wednesday, 01 January, in order to celebrate the seasonal holidays.

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, “ Explore Moon to Mars: Careers in Space , ” is geared toward educators in grades K-12. On Thursday, 05 December (6:00 p.m. EST), the NASA EPDC at Texas State University presents a one-hour webinar. Working at NASA is not just being an astronaut. Explore the many NASA STEM careers needed to successfully accomplish the unique, exciting missions that explore, and build a better understanding, of our Earth, moon, Mars and the universe beyond. NASA STEAM career education lessons and resources will be integrated.

National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Awards and Recognitions – Deadline 18 December

The annual NSTA Awards and Recognition Program, which recognizes exceptional and innovative science educators, began in 1973. The NSTA Awards and Recognition Program was created to raise awareness and to expose the outstanding work being done in the science education field. All entries must be received by 12 Noon ET on 18 December (via online submission). There are no entry fees.   For more information on the variety of awards, and how to submit entries, click here .

Opportunities for Students

U.S. Undergraduate/Grad Students: Applications for SOARS Summer Internship (Boulder, Colorado) in Atmosphere or Related Science Due 01 February

U.S. undergraduate/graduate students (U.S. citizens or green card holders): Applications for SOARS (Significant Opportunities in Atmospheric Research and Science) 2020 summer internship program are due 01 February.   SOARS is an undergraduate-to-graduate research internship program for students interested in the atmospheric and related sciences, based at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado. It is dedicated to broadening participation in the atmospheric and related sciences and is built around genuine research experiences, mentoring by top scientists and engineers, and a supportive learning community. Students from many disciplines, including geology, atmospheric sciences, meteorology, geography, chemistry, physics, engineering, mathematics, geosciences, computing, and the social sciences are invited to apply their expertise to understanding the Earth’s Atmosphere and to use that understanding to improve life on Earth.   SOARS encourages applications from individuals who are members of a group that is historically under-represented in the atmospheric and related sciences, including students who are Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Hispanic or Latina/o, female, first generation college students, veterans, and students with disabilities. SOARS welcomes lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students; students who have experienced, and worked to overcome, educational or economic disadvantage and/or have personal or family circumstances that may complicate their continued progress in research careers.   For more information, click here .

U.S. NOAA Announces Scholarship Opportunities for U.S. Undergraduates – Deadline 31 January 2020

The NOAA Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions Undergraduate Scholarship Program Class of 2019 sit together outside NOAA headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, during scholarship orientation. Bottom, left to right: Nohemi Perales, Ayanna Butler, Jezella Peraza, Elyse Bonner, Kristyn Wilkerson Top, left to right: Sheldon Rosa, Darrielle Williams, JaNia Dunbar, Paola Santiago, Ashley Yates-Contreras, Koffi Apegnadjro (NOAA)

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is pleased to announce the availability of scholarships for U.S. undergraduate students majoring in disciplines related to oceanic and atmospheric science, research, or technology – and supportive of the purposes of NOAA’s programs and mission. Over 100 students are selected each year for participation in the Ernest F. Hollings and Educational Partnership Program (EPP) scholarship programs. These scholarships include support for two years of undergraduate study and summer internship opportunities at NOAA facilities across the country.   For information on program benefits and how to apply, visit: Educational Partnership Program at ww.noaa.gov/eppscholarship Application Deadline: 31 January 2020 Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship at: www.noaa.gov/hollings Application Deadline: 31 January 2020 For more information, including eligibility requirements, contact the Office of Education Scholarship Programs at: StudentScholarshipPrograms@noaa.gov.

Upcoming 2019 GLOBE Teacher Training Workshops

Some of the upcoming GLOBE teacher training workshops include:  New Orleans, Louisiana, USA (GLOBE Weather): 07 December (restricted attendance)  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 10 GLOBE countries celebrating anniversaries of successful GLOBE implementation during the month of December:   Burkina Faso – 21 years 18 December 1998   El Salvador – 24 years 11 December 1995   Germany – 24 years 08 December 1995   Greece – 24 years 12 December 1995   Guatemala – 22 years 05 December 1997   Maldives – 16 years 08 December 2003   Oman – 10 years 08 December 2009   Russia – 25 years 16 December 1994   Sri Lanka – 20 years 20 December 1999   Suriname – 22 years 23 December 1997

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News Brief Archive

All past issues of the GLOBE News Brief are available in the online   Archive.