News Brief
December 2018 GLOBE News Brief
GLOBE Urban Heat Island Effect - Surface Temperature Field Campaign Begins Again!
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. NOTE: If you plan on participating in December, please remember to take observations of two sites: one grassy and one paved area (either asphalt or concrete).
To learn more about the campaign, including how to get started, what data to collect and when; and advice from Dr. C, click here.
Did You Participate in the October campaign?
The results are in! During the campaign, a total of 1,817 surface temperature observations were made. Since each observation represents an average of nine observations on a homogenous surface, there were 16,353 observations taken by students. From 01 October through 01 November, there were 88 schools that participated in the campaign. This is a substantial increase over last year, when 43 schools participated.
To view the Facebook Live wrap-up of the October campaign, click here!
Join the Trees Around the GLOBE Campaign Webinar 03 December: “Getting Tree Science Done: Live from Shumate Middle School”
On Monday, 03 December, the Trees Around the GLOBE Student Research Campaign webinar “Getting Tree Science Done: Live from Shumate Middle School in Gibralter, Michigan” will be held at 8:00 p.m. EST (1:00 a.m. UTC).
During this webinar, participants will hear from GLOBE Teacher Jeff Bouwman and his students (Lily, Brady, and Thomas) as they discuss how doing GLOBE tree science at Shumate Middle School is helping them understand their local environment. Through measuring tree height, identifying tree species, and taking local baseline protocol measurements, the students play a vital role in helping the rest of the world understand how local environmental measurements are of global importance.
To register for the upcoming webinars and to receive emails about future webinars, click here. All the webinars can be joined at https://zoom.us/j/7578241037.
If you missed previous webinars, click here.
To learn more about the NASA ICESat-2 satellite mission, click here.
To learn more about the Trees Around the GLOBE campaign, including how to start taking measurements, how to retrieve relevant data, how to view ICESat-2 Satellite data, and how to connect to the campaign community, click here.
January 2019: Trees Around the GLOBE Student Research Campaign Intensive Observation Period – Tree Height
The Trees Around the GLOBE Student Research Campaign will host an Intensive Observation Period (IOP) during the month of January 2019 (winter in the Northern Hemisphere, summer in the Southern Hemisphere). This is the first of four IOPs that will be held during the campaign: January 2019, Tree Height; April 2019, Land Cover; July 2019, Tree Height; and October 2019, Land Cover.
During this IOP, students will:
- Take measurements of tree height and one additional protocol (from the suite of campaign protocols found at: https://www.globe.gov/web/trees-around-the-globe/overview/start-taking-measurements);
- Take measurements at least three times per week for one month at the same study site for both protocols (tree height measurements should be of the same trees each time for each site; there can be multiple sites, thereby increasing the number of trees measured);
- Report the number of tree height measurements and identify the additional protocol measurement and number of measurements by the fifth day of the following month.
Every participant will receive a Virtual Tree Height IOP Badge!
The GLOBE school with the most collected tree height data and additional protocol data will receive:
- Virtual Tree Height IOP Winner Badge
- Virtual one-on-one Q&A session with a NASA scientist, researcher, or engineer.
The primary goal of this IOP is to have students compare their measurements seasonally and with other GLOBE school measurements from around the world.
To learn more about the Trees Around the GLOBE campaign, including how to start taking measurements, how to retrieve relevant data, how to view ICESat-2 Satellite data, and how to connect to the campaign community, click here.
Getting Ready for the 2019 IVSS? Projects Due 10 April 2019
Are you getting ready for the 2019 International Virtual Science Symposium (IVSS)? The IVSS is a place for K-16 (primary to undergraduate) students from around the world to share their GLOBE research with other students, teachers, STEM professionals, and community members in an entirely online platform.
Projects are due on 10 April 2019.
Informational Webinar
On 25 October, Dr. Julie Malmberg hosted an informational webinar. The webinar provided an overview of the 2019 IVSS and a look at the updated virtual badges.
If you missed the webinar, or would like to view it again, click here!
Judges Needed!
Attention GISN members, STEM professionals, GLOBE alumni, GLOBE teachers, and other GLOBE community members! Would you like to help judge projects for the 2019 IVSS? Please fill out the form on this page! Also, please share this link with anyone you know who may be interested in helping score projects. More information will be sent to judges in early 2019.
Need Assistance?
Attention GLOBE students and teachers! Do you need assistance from a mentor scientist or STEM professional? Let us know by filling out the form on this page.
Timeline:
The 2019 IVSS Timeline:
- Informational Webinar: 25 October 2018
- Reports Accepted: 01 January 2019 to 10 April 2019
- Due Date for Student Reports: 10 April 2019
- Judging Webinar: 25 April 2019
- Judging Period: 26 April to 05 May 2019
- Feedback and Virtual Badges Shared: 17 May 2019
- Drawing for Stipends: 17 May 2019
For more information on the IVSS, click here!
Updated Dates/Locations Announced for the 2019 U.S. Regional Student Research Symposia
U.S. GLOBE Community: The dates and locations of the six regional Student Research Symposia (SRS) have been announced!
The 2019 SRS will give students (grades 5-12) from across the United States the opportunity to come together, face-to-face, and share the results of their field investigations using GLOBE protocols (or data from the GLOBE database) with peers and professional scientists. The SRS will enable students to learn from each other, receive feedback on their research, and explore STEM careers.
The schedule for the 2019 SRS:
- Midwest Region: 04-07 April (Cedar Falls, Iowa)
- Pacific Region: 26-27 April (Sausalito, California)
- Southeast Region: 03-04 May (Atlanta, Georgia)
- Northwest Region: 03-04 May (Seattle, Washington)
- Southwest Region: 17-19 May (Mescalero, New Mexico)
- Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Region: 31 May-01 June (Boston, Massachusetts)
To learn more about the SRS, click here.
Attend Upcoming SRS Watercooler Meetup: 18 December
Join the GLOBE Professional Learning Community (PLC) and hear how other GLOBE teachers use GLOBE with their students during a Teacher Watercooler meet-up on Tuesday, 18 December (7:00 p.m. EST). Watercoolers are a casual, collaborative, and supportive environment. They are scheduled once a month throughout the academic year
At this Watercooler, Jeff Bouwman will talk about #GettingScienceDone with GLOBE at Shumate Middle School in Michigan; Wanda Hathaway will talk about conducting aerosol research at Elizabeth City Middle School in North Carolina.
To register, click here.
More Languages Now Available on the GLOBE Observer App!
The GLOBE Observer App now offers nine different languages translations: Arabic, Dutch, English, French, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese!
The GLOBE Observer App extends the reach of The GLOBE Program by providing a way for you, as a citizen scientist in a GLOBE country, to make observations and contribute to the GLOBE community. Your GLOBE observations help scientists track changes in clouds, water, plants, and other life in support of Earth system science research. Scientists can also use your data to help interpret NASA and other satellite data.
If you’d like to change the language on your account, simply visit your profile settings within the app and select “Change Language.”
For more information on the GLOBE Observer App, click here!
GLOBE Clouds: New Satellite Match Table Available!
The table allows you to compare what you saw and what the satellite noted. You also have the actual satellite image at the bottom of the table! A new "How to Read a Satellite Match" page is available for you to learn more about the new design.
Researchers are excited to have observations from you, the ground observer, with images of clouds, that are "matched" or taken about the same time as a satellite over your area. While observations are useful at any time, your ground reports can help verify satellite measurements if you take your observations during a satellite overpass. You may be able to match to Aqua, Terra, CALIPSO, or Geostationary satellites.
Use the satellite overpass tool to see when a satellite will be over your area.
To check out more tips from the GLOBE Clouds team, including how to come up with a good research question, click here!
The GLOBE Zika Education and Prevention Project Continues in Asia and Pacific Region
As part of the GLOBE Zika Education and Prevention Project, nine countries from the Asia and Pacific Region (India, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nepal, Palau, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam) are conducting Country Mosquito Trainings (CMTs). The goal of these CMTs is to train public health officials, teachers, and community leaders on how to use the Mosquito Habitat Mapper (found within the GLOBE Observer app) to limit the spread of mosquito-borne disease. Participating countries are quickly moving forward on this effort, having already conducted 30 CMTs throughout the region.
Funded by the U.S. Department of State, this exciting project enlists citizen scientists from 27 countries in Zika-affected regions in the collection and mapping of mosquito data. CMTs are the second round of trainings for this project, following Regional Mosquito Trainings (RMTs), which occurred in GLOBE’s Latin American and Caribbean, Asia and Pacific, and Africa regions earlier this year. RMT participants were trained in how to safely collect mosquito data using the Mosquito Habitat Mapper, as well as how to carry out CMTs. All of the CMTs taking place around the globe are the result of engaged GLOBE participants who were trained at the RMT level. This approach is known as a “train-the-trainer” model and is central to the success of the GLOBE Zika Education and Prevention Project.
The Asia and Pacific Region is well into the CMT process, having already trained approximately 900 people in the use of the Mosquito Habitat Mapper. One recent training in the Philippines was conducted in conjunction with the “Smart City Summit,” which was held in Quezon City on 18 October 2018. The audience included national and international government officials, members of the business sector, non-governmental organizations, and the general public. As exhibited by the Smart City Summit, CMTs can be carried out in partnership with existing trainings and events, which enables even more people to be trained in the Mosquito Habitat Mapper.
Training is also occurring outside of official CMTs throughout the region. From 02-08 October, 44 students and teachers from Taiwan, Oman, Thailand, India, and Nepal participated in the Lake Pokhara Expedition in Pokhara, Nepal. This scientific and cultural exchange, coordinated by the Regional Coordination Office for the Asia and Pacific Region (in association with Indian Environmental Society, and in collaboration with Environmental Camps for Conservation Awareness) trained participants in the Mosquito Habitat Mapper, as well as in the use of GLOBE hydrology, soil, and atmosphere protocols.
To learn more about this critical project, click here.
News Brief Archive
All past issues of the GLOBE News Brief are available in the online Archive.
Read about the 2018 Lake Pokhara Expedition GLOBE Stars! Are You a GLOBE Star?
The GLOBE Regional Coordination Office for the Asia and Pacific Region, in association with Indian Environmental Society (IES), and in collaboration with Environmental Camps for Conservation Awareness (ECCA), organized an adventurous seven-day (02-08 October 2018) GLOBE Learning Expedition in Kathmandu and Pokhara, Nepal. The goal of the expedition was to create a platform for culturally diverse participants to engage in a hands-on learning experience centered around understanding the effects of climate change in the region through the use of relevant GLOBE protocols.
The expedition – which began with a virtual welcome speech from GLOBE Implementation Office Director Dr. Tony Murphy – included 44 participants from five countries (Oman, Taiwan, Thailand, Nepal, and India). During the expedition, students and teachers had the opportunity to conduct GLOBE protocols (including hydrology, soil, and atmosphere) and to use the GLOBE Observer Mosquito Habitat Mapper. Expedition participants were able to collect measurements related to water temperature, pH values, total dissolved solids, turbidity and conductivity, transparency, and soil temperature; they were also able to collect cloud observations. Participants were given the time to discuss, and share about, the importance of using GLOBE protocols. They were also given the field time necessary to experience the direct impact on the local environment that comes from engaging in a focused study.
"It`s my first time to participate in The GLOBE Program,” Mariam Hanan, a student from Oman, said, "but from here, I am going to learn many more things about GLOBE protocols. Now I feel like I have knowledge about how to observe GLOBE protocols, so I'm really thankful towards The GLOBE Program for this opportunity.”Overall, the expedition served as a platform for a scientific and cultural exchange – and a focused field study – designed to give participants a place to share their GLOBE-related activities and projects and a few defining characteristics of their diverse cultures.
To read the entire Star Story, click here!
Are You a GLOBE Star?
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 you would like us to highlight in the coming months, please send the information to communications@globe.gov.
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, “Careers in Space,” is geared toward educators in grades K-12. On Wednesday, 05 December (3:00 p.m. PT), the NASA EPDC at Texas State University is providing a one-hour webinar. Working at NASA is not just being an astronaut. Webinar participants can explore the many NASA STEM careers needed to successfully accomplish the unique, exciting missions.
National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Awards and Recognitions – Entries Due 15 December!
The annual NSTA Awards and Recognition Program, begun in 1973, recognizes exceptional and innovative science educators. It 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 Midnight EST on 17 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. NOAA Announces Scholarship Opportunities for U.S. Undergraduates: 31 January Deadline!
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has announced the availability of scholarships for 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.
NOAA’s student scholarship programs provide opportunities for undergraduate students to gain hands-on experience while pursuing research and educational training in NOAA-mission sciences. The Hollings and Educational Partnership Program Undergraduate Scholarship share a common application and students who are eligible for both programs are encouraged to apply to both. For information on program benefits and how to apply, visit the following websites:
- Educational Partnership Program Undergraduate Scholarship: https://www.noaa.gov/office-education/epp-msi/undergraduate-scholarship (Application Deadline: 31 January 2019)
- Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship: https://www.noaa.gov/office-education/hollings-scholarship (Application Deadline: 31 January 2019)
For additional information, click here.
Upcoming GLOBE teacher training workshops include:
- Denver, Colorado, USA (Auraria Campus): 01 December (open to all teachers)
- Voru, Estonia (GLOBE Kagu-Eesti Koolitus): 11 December (open to all teachers)
- Buea, Cameroon (Bilingual Grammar School Molyko Buea): 12-14 December (potential restricted attendance)
- New Orleans, Louisiana, USA (GLOBE Teacher Training): 15 December (potential restricted attendance)
- Denver, Colorado, USA (MULTI STEM – GLOBE Weather Station and Data Visualization Workshop): 26 January (open to all teachers)
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 – 20 years
18 December 1998
El Salvador – 23 years
11 December 1995
Germany – 23 years
08 December 1995
Greece – 23 years
12 December 1995
Guatemala – 21 years
05 December 1997
Maldives – 15 years
08 December 2003
Oman – 09 years
08 December 2009
Russia – 24 years
16 December 1994
Sri Lanka – 19 years
20 December 1999
Suriname – 21 years
23 December 1997
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