July 1

Conference News: July 1

Scientific procedures learned on the spot in the GLOBE Games

Student teams hiked with maps and compasses in Nuuksio

At the GLOBE Games participants of the Learning Expedition get a chance to experience science in the making. Students have an opportunity to watch and work along with the scientists in the field as they conduct the GLOBE protocols in the Nuuksio national park. The students were divided into groups from different countries. They hiked various trails with maps and compasses looking for study sites which were led by the scientists and teachers.

Measurements from soil to air temperature

The purpose of the games in Nuuksio is to be able to take the information you have learned and share it with your school. The other goals are to make new friends, learn to communicate and naturally have fun! There are nine games all together. During two days spent in Nuuksio the groups should get to know all the games. At the soil field game students studied the layers of soil and figured out its measurements. Students had to indentify soil horizons, take samples and expose the soil's profile. With Elissa Levine's and the teacher's help they were able to show soil protocol.

The weather game is very familiar to many of the students. Most of them are fortunate to use a weather program at their school. This station consists of three small sites which are on the top of a hill, in woods and on an open space. From the different places students are able to take various measuments. The students measure maximum, minimum, current temperature and the amount of rain and pH of it. They also have meters for air pressure and relative humidity. When they observate clouds with the help of cloud charts they are able to forecast the oncoming weather. On Wednesday the cloud cover was cirristratus and cumulus.

The GLOBE Games were run by Pavlina Jozova, Dana Votapkova and Jana from the Czech Republic. They have organised games before Learning Expedition and tested them with their own students. The results gained at the Games will be collected by GLOBE's chief scientist Dr. Dixon Butler and presented by him on Friday at the conference.

Conference authors: Maria Alahuhta and Chelsey Caldwell

GLOBE teams together for the first time

Jeff on Nuuksio: "Except for the mosquitoes it's very very fun."

America, China, Egypt, Finland - four countries united by the very first GLOBE games at Nuuksio National Park. On Monday the students were divided into teams of 5 or 6 people with each person from a different country. One team will be featured throughout this week sharing their adventures with the GLOBE News. As the participants arrived in Nuuksio and headed for the games we joined a team of Jeff Judd, 15, from the USA, Yuqing Pan, 14, from China, Rana Salah ElDien, 15, from Egypt and Anna-Leena Mäkelä, 15, from Finland.

Having just met for the first time, Jeff, Pan, Anna-Leena and Rana Salah concentrated on their surroundings more than each other. As they made their way to the first of many stations which involve scientific activities - such as water and soil experiments - the socializing was kept to a minimum. During the course of the morning, however, they began to open up to one another.

Lost in the woods - but don't panic!

Shortly after heading out in the morning Jeff, Pan, Anna-Leena and Rana Salah found themselves lost in the middle of the Finnish forest. Cause for alarm? Not at all. Everyone in the group remained calm, and through teamwork and help from a friendly hiker they soon found their way back to the proper course - with heightened team spirit. Jeff Judd, who enjoys sports and listening to alternative music, was the one who broke the ice in the group by asking questions about the others homelands. Rana Salah, who is a nature and music lover, soon grew an interest in Pan, a sports fanatic, and the two began to talk. Anna, who also likes music began to teach Finnish to Jeff.

Camping for the first time

All four enjoyed their time in the woods and were looking forward to the evening's camp out. For most of the group this will be their first camping trip, except for Anna who is an experienced scout. The whole group loved the natural beauty of Nuuksio and the friendly atmosphere. "I'm even getting free Finnish lessons," Jeff laughed. After lunch the group had grown closer and Pan was happy to report that he had found new friends. Anna said, "I enjoy being out in nature and making new friends." Tomorrow the group continues their adventures through Nuuksio and the GLOBE games.

Conference authors: Marna Palmer, Maria Leppälä and Matt Trautman