News - Mexico
U.S. GLOBE Watercooler Round-up and Tips for 2025–26
The GLOBE U.S. Coordination Office hosts virtual meetings, called Watercoolers, as opportunities for GLOBE U.S. Partners and community members to learn, discuss, and network on topics of interest to them. During the 2025–26 academic year, 30 Watercoolers were held with 392 total attendees (80 were unique attendees, meaning several people attended multiple meetings). On average, 13 participants attended each event. The top four highest attended Watercoolers (19–45 participants) were on upcoming changes to the GLOBE program.
Presentations covered a wide range of topics including using GLOBE Teams and guest accounts, hosting a local Student Research Symposium (SRS), and the GLOBE MacroMappers project.
As always, this year’s presenters offered many useful tips. Just a handful are provided below with links to the video recordings. (The links will start at the tip mentioned here, but feel free to watch the entire recording!)
GLOBE protocols and equipment
- Tori Brannan (University of Alaska Fairbanks) finds ways to get creative when sourcing hydrology equipment, including using pickle buckets from school cafeterias!
- Sara Mierzwiak (University of Toledo) puts together an equipment kit that she sends to kids joining her virtual Kids Club.
- Peggy Foletta (Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve) and Leigh-Ann Olsen (GLOBE educator in California) demonstrate how to do the submerged vegetation macroinvertebrate protocol.
SRS, field trips, and special events
- Jodi Haney (Xcite Learning) shares tips to stay organized for a smooth local SRS event, including color coding the name badges and agenda.
- Teresa Greely (University of South Florida) discusses her model of having graduate students as mentors for young students. Mentors teach about environmental monitoring, lead field trips, and do career talks.
- Donna Torres (INFINITY Science Center) recommends keeping it simple at special events by using what you already have and making a connection to GLOBE.
Classroom management, GLOBE activities, and working with school administrators
- Julie Houck (GLOBE educator in Ohio) suggests setting up a macroinvertebrate station in the classroom if transportation to the field site is a barrier.
- Leigh-Ann Olsen (GLOBE educator in California) suggests using the GLOBE Water Walk activity with students before making hydrology observations.
- Tori Brannan (University of Alaska Fairbanks) shares how to work with school administrators to get them onboard with GLOBE and hands-on science learning by aligning to their standards.
Thank you to all the presenters! The GLOBE U.S. Coordination Office will be scheduling Watercoolers for the 2026–27 academic year soon.
News origin: United States of America