News - United States of America
Creating Community Connections at the GLOBE STEM Equity Bootcamp
In November, twenty-two United States GLOBE Partners, from a range of new and experienced GLOBE Partnerships, gathered in New Orleans, Louisiana to begin a week together, learning and discussing the use of GLOBE with the communities that they serve.
Partnerships from the surrounding area provided content and context. The week was facilitated by Dr. Janelle Johnson from Metropolitan State University of Denver, Jennifer Bourgeault, United States GLOBE Country Coordinator, housed at the University of New Hampshire Leitzel Center, and Kristin Wegner from the GLOBE Implementation Office (GIO). Dawn Wright from GIO provided logistical assistance. 
Trainers on-site included Todd Toth from NASA Goddard, Anne Lewis from the South Dakota Discovery Center, and Dr. Blakely Tsurusaki from University of Washington-Bothell. David Overoye from SSAI facilitated the GLOBE website sessions during the week.
This workshop included three unique off-site experiences at local Partnership study sites.
After opening sessions on Monday and Tuesday setting the context for field investigations and on the new and improved GLOBE website, participants went to the bayou with local GLOBE Partners from the University of New Orleans, Dr. Ivan Gill and Dinah Maygarden.
They met with pre-service teachers taking GLOBE measurements in situ and heard about the history of the area, along with enjoying the best po’ boy around. Thanks to both of the University of New Orleans partners for arranging the use of vans to transport groups to the bayou and for their generosity in sharing the local lore!
Wednesday was spent at Xavier University of Louisiana, where the group heard from Dr. Morewell Gasseller’s pre-service teachers and were warmly welcomed by both Dr. G and Dr. Renee Akbar.
Post-lunch, Dr. Rosalind Hale, who was the first coordinator of an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) GLOBE Partnership, shared her GLOBE story. Todd Toth covered the atmosphere protocols, Dave Overoye reviewed data entry and the group visited Dr. G’s weather shelters.
Thank you to Xavier University of Louisiana and faculty for hosting us and providing a welcome coffee break. Many participants visited the campus bookstore and came away with Xavier apparel!
On Thursday, participants visited a third GLOBE Partnership, INFINITY Science Center, which is the visitor center for NASA Stennis Space Center.
Participants were under the gaze of the resident alligator while taking hydrology measurements at the pond, guided by Anne Lewis. Hosts Diane Ripley and Donna Torres made the group welcome and provided all the tools, equipment and support the group could ask for!
Before boarding the bus, participants toured the exhibits and outdoor biome walking trail and visited the gift shop. Thank you to Deanie Stinson and Forestry Suppliers, Inc. for the raffle prizes of microscopic lenses for smartphones!
The content of the 5-day workshop included discussions around STEM equity, sessions on navigating and managing the GLOBE website as a Partner, and GLOBE protocols in atmosphere and hydrology.
Participants also learned about the Right Question Institute’s Question Formulation Technique (QFT) and defining a study site.
There was time for networking, reflection, site visits and science, along with some free time in the evenings to grab a beignet and listen to jazz.
The facilitators and GLOBE Implementation Office would like to thank the GLOBE Partnerships and trainers who contributed their time and energy to make the 4th GLOBE STEM Equity Bootcamp a success by sharing your sites and experience, as well as the participants, for being an integral part of the GLOBE community. It is the people of GLOBE that make it truly unique.
The Fall 2017 Bootcamp was funded by NASA Cooperative Agreement #NNX17AD75A and built upon the efforts of the first three Bootcamps funded by NSF grant #1623980.
type: globe-newsNews origin: United States of America