The newsletter format contains four sections: Announcements — regarding important dates and GLOBE Program Office activities; Regional News — containing information about important milestones celebrated by GLOBE Partners around the world, strengthening GLOBE Learning Communities and tools to facilitate the use of the Administration Pages of the GLOBE Web site; Science — having information about GLOBE's new Earth System Science Projects (ESSPs) and updates from GLOBE's Chief Scientist; and Education — describing updates about GLOBE educational products.
On behalf of the entire GPO team, we thank you for collaborating with us and we all look forward to working with you all in the remaining months of 2007. Thank you for your dedicated efforts to promote GLOBE in your regions.
Sincerely,
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Teresa J. Kennedy, Ph.D. Deputy Director Partnerships, Evaluation and Communications & U.S. Country Coordinator |
Gary Randolph Regional Consortia Coordinator & GPO Carbon Cycle ESSP Lead |
The GIAC strives to:
To date, the GIAC has met three times:
Please contact your GIAC Regional Representative to provide input into future discussions to assist us to continue to improve GLOBE Program Office activities that facilitate your work. For more information see the GIAC page.
GLOBE Alumni Regional representatives also presented at the GLOBE Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas, and met with Country Coordinators from their region to develop regional implementation plans. GLOBE Alumni are currently involved in the 2008 GLE and Annual Conference planning.
Partners, please identify Alumni within your country or region who are interested in continued involvement with GLOBE and link these Alumni to their Regional Alumni Representatives.
The GLOBE Program Office must collect information regarding your GLOBE activities in order to document program activities, complete required reporting to NASA and NSF, as well as receive information that will help us to improve our ability to facilitate your partnership objectives and activities. In addition, the information gathered through the Annual Partnership Survey provides new insights on how to strengthen partnerships and promote collaborations in your region and around the world, while also helping to define your plans for the upcoming year.
Data that you have entered into the previous year's survey will be automatically filled into the current year's survey for you to edit and save. This means that you will only need to modify those areas that have changed, update any new data, and review and save unchanged data, rather than inputting all new data.
The 2007 survey will open soon. Please watch for announcements in December 2007! It will need to be completed by 31 January 2008. You can begin updating your information when you receive the announcement in December. To log on to the 2007 Partnership Survey, click on the following link, or copy and paste it into your Web browser:
http://www.globe.gov/fsl/ADMIN/PARTNERSURVEY/DisplaySurvey.pl
Please contact your Regional Desk Officer if you have any questions or need assistance.
The Annual Conference brought together teachers, scientists, academics, program managers, and government officials from across the world regions, addressing key ideas for improving education through GLOBE, supporting awareness of sustainable development and scientific elements of GLOBE, and sustaining the strength of the GLOBE Program itself.
The 11th Annual Conference highlighted GLOBE's new Earth System Science Projects (ESSPs) that are the focus of the Next Generation GLOBE as well as promoted collaborative research related to regional projects. Participants also had the opportunity to interact with scientists who are using GLOBE data in their own research, learn about new technology and science education, and discuss effective methods to enhance and implement GLOBE. Conference sessions offered discussions on strengthening and sustaining the GLOBE Program, with particular attention paid to building regional consortia that strengthen and empower GLOBE coordinators and learning communities with top scientists and educators from around the world.
Presentations and posters were organized in the following strands: GLOBE Science and Collaborative Research . Results and techniques in GLOBE student and science research, using data, and promoting project-based research (ESSPs and regional projects); GLOBE Education, Implementation and Assessment . Results and Techniques for working with students, preservice and inservice teachers, and informal education; GLOBE Products, Services, and Materials . Share-a-thons, and presentations to demonstrate GLOBE materials, products, protocol updates, vendor products, and services created by the GLOBE Program Office, ESSPs and Partners; and GLOBE Learning Communities for Sustainability . Networking between local, regional and international partners to achieve a self-supporting and sustainable program.
The Conference also offered mini workshops on Friday, 3 August, providing opportunities for hands-on protocol training (standard GLOBE protocols and new ESSP protocols and activities). Future GPO annual conferences will strive to incorporate activities such as these, specifically focusing on formal professional development into conference activities, as this format was well received by all.
For more information, and to view the conference program and program addendum, proceedings and presentations, as well as view the photo gallery, visit the 2007 conference pages.
We look forward to seeing you next year in South Africa! Abstract Submission for Partner presentations closes on 1 February 2008. See the 2008 conference announcement.
The 12th Annual Conference will be held at the same time as the GLE to provide Country Coordinators and Partners the opportunity to participate in the event as well as share implementation strategies with one another on Saturday, 28 June. You must act fast and submit your abstracts to present during the one-day conference. Abstracts submission closes on 1 February 2008. No late submissions will be accepted. Don't miss this opportunity to share in the celebration of GLOBE student research! For more information, visit the 2008 GLE and conference pages.
The International Conference will be open to all registered attendees of the NSTA National Conference. Numerous opportunities for international visitors to network together and to interact with science educators from various cultures, including those from North America have been scheduled. Conference registration information and directions for proposal submission are available to you through the following special NSTA Web page.
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 Denmark |
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 Dominican Republic |
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 Fiji |
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 Guatemala |
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 Honduras |
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 Iceland |
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 Italy |
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 Kenya |
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 Madagascar |
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 Mali |
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 Federated States of Micronesia |
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 Mongolia |
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 Nambia |
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 Pakistan |
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 Palau |
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 Peru |
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 Poland |
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 South Africa |
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 Suriname |
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 Tanzania |
 Bahrain | Mrs. Wafa Mubarak Bin Daya |
 Chile | Ms. Nicole Orellana Castillo |
 El Salvador | Ms. Daisy Sanchez De Campos |
 Ethiopia | Dr. Mekuria Argaw |
 Greenland | Mrs. Britta Lohmann |
| Honduras | Ms. Dina Elizabeth Morel Carbajal |
 Iceland | Mr. Bergur Sigurdsson |
| Madagascar | Mr. Paul Randrianarisoa |
 Mauritania | Mr. Sidi Ould Elwa |
 Paraguay | Lic. Alcira Sosa |
| Peru | Sr. Raul Haya de la Torre |
| South Africa | Ms. Sibongile Mokoena |
Send your finished article to your GLOBE Regional Desk Officer. Hard copies of completed release forms can be faxed to the GLOBE Program Office or sent to:
GLOBE Stars Photo Release
The GLOBE Program
P.O. Box 3000
Boulder, CO 80307-3000 USA
Fax: 303-497-2638
| Africa | Asia and the Pacific | Europe and Eurasia |
| Latin America and the Caribbean | Near East | North America |
This has been a busy year for many GLOBE Africa Countries! Nigeria held a second Teacher Training workshop in Ondo State, on 8 -12 January 2007, at the African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education (ARCSSTE-E) located at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State. This workshop has continued the efforts for a sustained educational reform in Nigeria, through the generosity of the Governor of Osun State, His Excellency Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and through the hard work of many people, in particular, Professor Raifu Durodoye.
A conference entitled: Sahel Conference 2007: Improving Lives by Understanding Weather was held in the capital city of Oaugadougou, Burkina Faso, on 2-6 April 2007. The conference was sponsored by Programme SAAGA in Burkina Faso, the Meteorological Services in Mali and Burkina Faso, and University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) in the US. A total of 87 participants from 19 countries attended the conference. The conference provided a unique opportunity for scientists to come together to discuss how to improve the understanding of weather in the Sahel in an effort to better address the societal needs of the people of the region. The GLOBE Program was introduced during the Training and Outreach session at the conference.
Dr. Paul Kucera (NCAR) and Madame Ngosse Fall (Senegal GLOBE coordinator) with the help of Dr. Abdoulaye Ouedraogo (Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ouagadougou) presented an overview of the GLOBE Program and implemented a GLOBE atmosphere observation site at a local high school. With the assistance of the director, Professor Jean Pierre Korsaga, the GLOBE atmosphere observation site was implemented at the Lycee Nelson Mandela High School. As part of the implementation, Madame Fall trained teachers and students on how to collect temperature, precipitation, and cloud measurements (see the GLOBE Star). The teachers and students were very excited to be involved in the program. After observing the GLOBE site demonstration, several conference participants expressed interest in establishing GLOBE sites at schools in their respective countries. The presentation of GLOBE at the Sahel Conference 2007 was a success and could lead to the expansion of the GLOBE network within the countries of the Sahel.
Dr. Rebecca Boger, past Africa Desk Officer from the GPO, Mr. Mark Brettenny, GLOBE Representative from South Africa, and Dr. RAFARASOA Lala, an entomologist from Madagascar, presented at the Southern Cape Environmental Health Congress in George, South Africa, on 23 April. As a model to promote sustainability, GLOBE materials connect well with environmental health topics. Linking with environmental health organizations and practitioners as members of GLOBE Learning Communities (GLCs) could provide relevance for student research and help with sustained implementation in schools.
The GLOBE Africa Meeting (AGM) and International Workshop took place in Riversdale, South Africa, 22-27 April 2007. The AGM and workshop were hosted by the Hessequa Municipality, GLOBE in South Africa, and the GLOBE Program Office (GPO). The AGM and workshop were conducted in English and French, and attended by representatives from 15-20 countries in Africa in addition to the United States, Germany and Croatia. Representatives will present the status of GLOBE activities in their countries, identify challenges, and propose solutions. National and regional sustainability models and effective communication strategies will be developed and implemented. See the GLOBE Star.
The workshop had a strong student research and teacher implementation focus. Dr. Leslie Gordon, Co-Principal Investigator on the Seasons and Biomes Project, presented at the workshop and introduced Seasons and Biomes as an integrating Earth science theme. Ms. Adele Um Bilong, GLOBE Alumni Africa representative and IPY Seasons and Biomes Ambassador also presented at the workshop. Participants discussed strategies to support student research projects for presentation at the 2008 GLE.
REMINDER: 4th GLOBE Learning Expedition and 12th Annual Conference will take place on 22 - 28 June 2008 in Cape Town, South Africa! For more information, visit: http://www.globe.gov/gle2008.
Sixteen Nigerian teachers and 12 Peace Corps volunteers were trained in GLOBE environmental science curriculum and science teaching strategies at a workshop held 6-10 August 2007, in Niamey, Niger. Nigerian teachers from 5 pilot schools along with 12 Peace Corps Education Volunteers from various parts of the country developed action plans to teach environmental science throughout the year. It is hoped that each of the participants of this workshop will seed interest in GLOBE in their respective region, and build a robust GLOBE program in Niger.
GLOBE Cameroon Country Coordinator and GIAC representative, Ms. Margaret Besong, held a regional Teacher Training Workshop, 7-8 September 2007, at the Regional Conference Center in Yaounde, Cameroon. The teachers planned activities for GLOBE Cameroon for the 2007-2008 school year, and laid the groundwork to develop a collaborative project investigating watersheds in Cameroon.
GLOBE Alumni in Africa
The regional representative for GLOBE Alumni in Africa, Ms. Adele Bilong, from Cameroon, has done exemplary work on behalf of all the GLOBE Alumni throughout the region. The Africa GLOBE Alumni Regional Report is available at Alumni Reports. For more information on GLOBE Alumni activities in Africa, or to link your GLOBE Alumni to these efforts, contact Ms. Bilong via email at: africa-alumni-regionalrep@globe.gov.
Partners, please identify Alumni within your country or region who are interested in continued involvement with GLOBE and link these Alumni to their Regional Alumni Representatives.
GLOBE Stars in Africa
Teacher Workshop in Niger Introduces GLOBE Classroom Guide Developed for West Africa
GLOBE trainers and Peace Corps Volunteers recently released the first edition of a classroom guide developed specifically for use by teachers and students in Niger and West Africa at a teacher workshop in August 2007, in Niamey, Niger.
International Student Exchange Project Examines Implementation of GLOBE Protocols
The ASA North/South Student Exchange Project has proven to be a valuable learning experience for all involved. The traveling students have emphasized the real-world impact of GLOBE studies. Leslie and Leonie stress that the results from student projects are being used by local authorities in Cameroon to resolve environmental problems initially discovered using GLOBE measurements and protocols. Clearly GLOBE students in Cameroon are making a positive contribution toward managing the environment in their home region. See the GLOBE Star.
Osun State Hosts the Second GLOBE Teacher Workshop in Nigeria
The second GLOBE teacher workshop in Nigeria took place on 8 -12 January 2007 at the African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education (ARCSSTE-E) located at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State.
Please help us acknowledge special GLOBE events as well as any GLOBE activities that teachers and students would like to share with the GLOBE community by writing up your news and sending it to us with photographs of the event. Visit the GLOBE Stars page for more information.
The GLOBE Program Office and GLOBE Philippines hosted a GLOBE Regional Consortium Meeting on 18-19 May 2007 in Iloilo, Philippines. The Regional Consortium Meeting was held in cooperation with the Philippine Science High School System. The meeting is a first of its kind in the Asia and Pacific Region and brought together Country Coordinators from all Partner Countries to continue regionalization discussions initiated at the 2006 GLOBE Annual Conference in Phuket, Thailand. Country Coordinators from the region will continue working together to establish the leadership and framework for the Asia and Pacific Regional Consortium.
Following the Regional Consortium Meeting, GLOBE Philippines hosted an International Train-the-Trainer (TTT) workshop from 21-25 May. Participants attended from the Philippines and the Asia and Pacific region. The region enhanced their training capacity with the certification of five new Master Trainers and 18 new Assistant Master Trainers.
Seventeen schools participated in the first ever Asia and Pacific collaborative research project. The Watershed was chosen as a common theme as it is an important concept in Earth System Science and something that all countries can relate to. Participating schools submitted student research projects that explored a local watershed with the use of GLOBE protocols, local science experts, and additional instruments as needed. Many of the student investigations focused on the interactions between land use and water quality. Several examples of the projects submitted include:
As part of GLOBE initiatives to develop GLOBE School Networks including students, teachers and local scientists, Korea is leading the way in the region by appointing a University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) affiliate scientist as a Co-Coordinator for Korea. Dr. Dong-Kyou Lee hopes to increase student . scientist interaction and enrich the GLOBE learning experience. Dr. Lee already has plans to involve the Korean Meteorological Society in future GLOBE Korea events.
Upcoming Events
Thailand to Host First Asia-Pacific GLOBE Learning Expedition
GLOBE Thailand and the GLOBE Program Office are pleased to announce the Asia-Pacific GLOBE Learning Expedition (GLE) Thailand, 13-18 November 2007. The theme for this conference is Learning about Climate Change to Inspire the Next Generation of Scientists. Students from the Asia and Pacific region will have the opportunity to present their research projects to their peers, to GLOBE scientists and to the greater GLOBE community, and to develop an understanding of the interconnectedness and interdependence of Earth as a system. (See this announcement for more information.)
GLOBE Alumni in Asia and the Pacific
The regional representatives for GLOBE Alumni in Asia and the Pacific, Ms. Watcharee Ruairuen and Ms. Phatcharaida Boonkort, both from Thailand, have done exemplary work on behalf of all the GLOBE Alumni throughout the region. The Asia and the Pacific GLOBE Alumni Regional Report is available at the Alumni Reports page. For more information on GLOBE Alumni activities in Asia and the Pacific, or to link your GLOBE Alumni to these efforts, contact Ms. Ruairuen and Ms. Boonkort via email at: asiapacific-alumni-regionalrep@globe.gov.
Partners, please identify Alumni within your country or region who are interested in continued involvement with GLOBE and link these Alumni to their Regional Alumni Representatives.
GLOBE Stars in Asia and the Pacific
Asia and Pacific Countries Formalize Regional Consortium
Country Coordinators and representative from 12 Asia and Pacific countries convened in Iloilo City, Philippines, 18 - 19 May 2007, to formalize the Asia and Pacific Regional Consortium.
GLOBE Philippines Explores the Inner Space of the Celebes Sea
GLOBE cooperating organizations The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Geographic Society and Filipino and American scientists are currently on a deep sea expedition to learn about the marine biodiversity in the 'Coral Triangle,' a largely unexplored area in the Celebes Sea, south of Mindanao Island, Philippines. GLOBE in the Philippines took an active part in this expedition!
GLOBE New Zealand Looks to Māori Roots
Learning the unique cultural complexities of indigenous people and incorporating them into GLOBE training and resources is a challenge for many GLOBE communities around the world. New Zealand Country Coordinators Kathryn Hicks and Aaron Fleming have been doing just that. Through the Environmental Monitoring and Action Project (EMAP), Ms. Hicks and Mr. Fleming have been facilitating an effort to link the traditional values and environmental awareness of Māori, New Zealand's indigenous people, with cutting edge science in order to provide school children with the tools they need to actively learn about, and take responsibility for, the world in which they live. See the GLOBE Star.
GLOBE Maldives Holds Festive Celebration Honoring the Successful Launch of their GLOBE Program
On 8 May 2007, in Malé, Maldives, United States Ambassador to the Maldives Mr. Richard Blake and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Mr. Richard Boucher, along with Mr. Ahmed Abdulla, Minister of Environment, Energy and Water, and Ms. Zahiya Zareer, Minister of Education, and the Deputy Ministers of both programs, held an official celebration to recognize the Maldives' implementation of the GLOBE Program. The Maldives became the 105th country to adopt the GLOBE Program on 8 December 2003, when Mr. Abdul Azeez Yoosuf, former Maldivian Deputy Minister for Home Affairs and Environment, and Mr. Jeffrey Lunstead, former U.S. Ambassador for Maldives and Sri Lanka, signed the GLOBE Agreement.
GLOBE Bangladesh Celebrates Earth Day
GLOBE Bangladesh celebrated Earth Day 2007 with an art competition. Paintings from 150 Students between the ages of 10 and 15 answered the question "What is important to me about our environment?" Organized by GLOBE Bangladesh and Carter Wilbur of the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka, the event took place at Dhanmondi Kochikantha High School. Special guests taking part were Carter Wilbur, Economic Office of the U.S. Embassy, Dhaka, Md. Habibur Rahman Chowdhury, former Joint Secretary for the Ministry of Environment and Forests and current GLOBE Bangladesh Country Coordinator, U.S. Ambassador Patricia A. Butenis, and H. M. Nurul Islam, Dhanmondi Kochikantha High School Headmaster.
GLOBE India Implements Community-Based Water Monitoring Programme on the Yamuna River
Since the beginning of time, proximity to water has been essential to the birth, growth and spread of civilizations. Rivers, in particular, have spawned the growth of communities as sources of irrigation and channels of trade. Rivers often appear in the world's religious traditions for their mythic qualities, nourishing, cleansing, and sustaining life on their banks. In India, rivers are considered sacred.
See the GLOBE Star.
Please help us acknowledge special GLOBE events as well as any GLOBE activities that teachers and students would like to share with the GLOBE community by writing up your news and sending it to us with photographs of the event. Visit the GLOBE Stars page for more information.
More than 40 participants, from 17 countries throughout Europe (Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Turkey, Ukraine, and United Kingdom) plus Israel, attended the GLOBE Europe Train-the-Trainer Workshop in Dubrovnik, Croatia, from 2 - 7 November 2007 led by Master Trainers and Master Trainer Assistants from Croatia, Czech Republic, Latvia, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. After the week-long workshop, participants will become certified as trainers in all basic and advanced protocol areas of GLOBE (Atmosphere, Phenology, Hydrology, Soil Moisture and Temperature, Soil Characterization, and Land Cover), as well as become updated on the activities of GLOBE's Earth System Science Projects (http://www.globe.gov/essp).
The Workshop was hosted by GLOBE Croatia and ceremoniously opened by representatives from the U.S. Embassy in Zagreb, the Croatian Ministry of Education and Sports, the World Meteorological Organization, the Croatian Education and Teacher Training Agency, the City of Dubrovnik, GLOBE Europe and the GLOBE Program Office.
The GLOBE Europe Regional Meeting was held 28 - 31 March 2007 in Budapest, Hungary, attended by representatives from 18 European countries, including Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Conference attendees exchanged useful information on new research fields, methods of environmental education and strengthening ties between their GLOBE programs.
Participants were greeted and welcomed by Her Excellency April Foley, U.S. Ambassador to Hungary, Mr. Kály Dá Department Head of Hungarian Ministry of Education, Ms. Lori Dando, Regional Hub Officer from the Regional Environmental Office at the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen, Mr. Samuel Kotis, Regional Hub Officer from the Regional Environmental Office at the U.S. Embassy in Budapest, Mr. Karl Hetland, GLOBE Europe Regional Consortium Chairperson and GLOBE International Advisory Committee Representative as well as GLOBE Norway Country Coordinator, and Mr. Gary Randolph, GLOBE Program Office Regional Consortia Coordinator and Carbon Cycle Project Lead.
The opening ceremony was followed by a number of lectures including updates from the GLOBE Program Office and GLOBE's new ESSPs: Seasons and Biomes presented by Ms. Birgit Rademacher who had just returned from the first Seasons and Biomes Workshop in Alaska, Carbon Cycle presented by Dr. Jana Albrechtova, From Local to Extreme Environments (FLEXE) and Watershed Dynamics presented by Mr. Randolph. In addition, Mr Karl Hetland presented, The International Polar Year and GLOBE.
Country Coordinators presented their local and regional activities followed by panel discussions on major issues concerning GLOBE: "How Can We Increase Collaboration Between Schools and Countries and Put New Energy into GLOBE?"; "What Kind of Training (Traditional TTT or Something Connected to ESSPs) is Most Appropriate?" and "How Can GLOBE Contribute to the International Polar Year?"
Students and teachers from Varga Katalin Secondary Grammar School in Szolnok, Bibó István Secondary Grammar School in Kiskunhalas, and Szent Orsolya Secondary Grammar School in Sopron presented their research projects. Conference attendees also heard from Hungarian GLOBE Expert Mr. Tibor Kalapos on the work of GLOBE Hungary experts and had an opportunity to view an exhibition of paintings by GLOBE Hungary Country Coordinator Ms. Anikó Orgoványi.
The Conference ended with an exciting presentation of Hungarian culture, including live folk music and folk dance and Palotás Dance (including Ms. Orgoványi) and a guided tour of the 1,010 year old Pannonhalma Benedictine Abbey, perhaps the oldest school involved in GLOBE! A teacher from the Benedictine Secondary Grammar School, Father Henrik, and two of his students presented their GLOBE meteorological observation site. Father Henrik and several of his GLOBE students plan on attending GLOBE Games in the Czech Republic in early May.
Organizers and sponsors of the conference included the Hungarian Ministry of Education, the Hungarian Ministry of the Environment, the Hungarian Meteorological Society, the GLOBE Program Office, GLOBE Europe, the U.S. Embassy in Budapest, the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen, the Benedictine Abbey and Secondary Grammar School in Pannonhalma, GLOBE Hungary.s expert team, and students of ELTE University in Budapest (GLOBE Alumni). See the GLOBE Star.
For more information on GLOBE in Europe please see the GLOBE Europe Web site at http://www.globe-europe.org.
GLOBE Alumni in Europe and Eurasia
The regional representatives for GLOBE Alumni in Europe and Eurasia, Mr. Martin Pentson, from Estonia, and Mr. Tomas Tunkl, from Czech Republic, have done exemplary work on behalf of all the GLOBE Alumni throughout the region. The Europe and Eurasia GLOBE Alumni Regional Report is available at Alumni Reports. For more information on GLOBE Alumni activities in Europe and Eurasia, or to link your GLOBE Alumni to these efforts, contact Mr. Pentson and Mr. Tunkl via email at: europe-alumni-regionalrep@globe.gov.
Partners, please identify Alumni within your country or region who are interested in continued involvement with GLOBE and link these Alumni to their Regional Alumni Representatives.
GLOBE Stars in Europe and Eurasia
Embassy Sponsors GLOBE Teachers' Conference in Helsinki
Educators from around Finland gathered at the American Resource Center at the National Library in Helsinki to attend the GLOBE Teachers' Conference. Sponsored by the U.S. Embassy, Vaisala and the Finnish Board of Education, the Teachers' Conference helped revitalize the GLOBE program in Finland.
10th Czech GLOBE Games in Sluknov, Czech Republic
The TEREZA Association and the Secondary Forestry School of Sluknov organized the 10th Czech GLOBE Games, in Sluknov, in May 2007. This four-day event, called the GLOBE Games Czech Open, was attended by more than 300 students and teachers from 41 schools from the Czech Republic and approximately 40 students and teachers from Hungary, Finland, Poland, Spain and Slovak Republic. Students were organized into teams that combined international students with selected Czech students.
GLOBE Europe Meeting
At the 2007 GLOBE Europe Regional Meeting, held in Budapest, Hungary, conference attendees exchanged useful information on new research fields, methods of environmental education and strengthening ties between their GLOBE programs.
Siberian Expedition
Siberian Expedition gives GLOBE students an opportunity to follow a small international team of scientists from NASA and Russia's Academy of Science. Students can find answers and learn along with the scientists. Beginning 28 July 2007, the team of six remote sensing and forest ecosystem scientists set off on a three-week scientific expedition through the heart of the remote, wild forests of Siberia. They are traveling southward down the Kochechum River observing the gradual transition from tundra to taiga, taking inventory of plant species along the way, and making ground-truth measurements to validate data being collected by several NASA satellites flying 700 kilometers overhead.
GLOBE Students in France and the U.S. Meet via Video Conferences
GLOBE students at Felten Middle School in Hays, Kansas have been learning a lot about GLOBE's hands-on activities and international collaboration in space science. They have been focusing on CALIPSO (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared pathfinder Satellite Observation), a satellite launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in Lompoc, CA on 28 April 2006, a joint effort of NASA in the U.S. and CNES (the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales) in France. Now one year into its 3-year mission, CALIPSO is helping scientists learn more about how clouds and aerosols play a part in regulating Earth's weather, climate and air quality. See the GLOBE Star.
International Student Exchange Project Examines Implementation of GLOBE Protocols
The Northern Phase for this project took place in Europe, 13 April - 16 June 2006 when students Leonie Njomou and Leslie Njume from Cameroon joined with Simone Lepper from Germany and Mari Nuga from Estonia. Beginning in Estonia, the team met with students from Tartu Kivilinna Gymnasium, Suure-Jaani Gymnasium and Kääpa Basic School. They carried out several field programs involving hydrology and atmospheric measurements, helped with students' research projects and gathered information regarding the scope of GLOBE in Estonia. As a result of their work, the project participants hope to create a package of environmental education materials using GLOBE protocols on the subject of climate change.
United States Ambassador to Denmark Visits GLOBE School
On 9 February 2006, U.S. Ambassador to Denmark, James P. Cain, visited Odense Katedralskole in the city of Odense, on the island of Funen. It had long been a wish of the Ambassador to visit a GLOBE school and there was much excitement in connection with his visit. Ms. Nanna Nyholm and Ms. Lori P. Dando, of the U.S. Embassy Regional Environmental Office in Copenhagen, accompanied Ambassador Cain on his visit. See the GLOBE Star.
Please help us acknowledge special GLOBE events as well as any GLOBE activities that teachers and students would like to share with the GLOBE community by writing up your news and sending it to us with photographs of the event. Visit the GLOBE Stars page for more information.
The Fourth Latin America and Caribbean Regional Meeting and International Training event took place on 2 - 9 February 2007 in the city of Saber, Panama City, Panama. Participation in this important event included 22 representatives from 15 countries representing Latin America and the Caribbean — Argentina, Bahamas, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay — in addition to the participation of Brazil. All participants acknowledged the work produced as a result of the past three regional meetings that took place in Costa Rica and Perú in 2005 and Argentina in 2006. The Consortium continued to strengthen the governing infrastructure of the region by forming larger commissions focusing on each of the previously identified priority areas and adding regional project coordination as a priority. The commissions now include:
The Fifth Meeting of GLOBE Country Coordinators in the Latin American and the Caribbean Consortium (CLAC) took place in San Antonio, Texas on 27-28 July 2007, followed by the 11th GLOBE Annual Conference. Country Coordinators and representatives attended from Argentina, the Bahamas, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay. The main objectives of this meeting were to:
GLOBE Alumni in Latin America and the Caribbean
The regional representative for GLOBE Alumni in Latin America and the Caribbean, Mr. Guillermo Grimaux, from Argentina, has done exemplary work on behalf of all the GLOBE Alumni throughout the region. The Latin America and the Caribbean GLOBE Alumni Regional Report is available at Alumni Reports. For more information on GLOBE Alumni activities in Latin America and the Caribbean, or to link your GLOBE Alumni to these efforts, contact Mr. Grimaux via email at: lac-alumni-regionalrep@globe.gov.
Partners, please identify Alumni within your country or region who are interested in continued involvement with GLOBE and link these Alumni to their Regional Alumni Representatives.
GLOBE Stars in Latin America and the Caribbean
Students from the Dominican Republic Present GLOBE Program at Model United Nations in New York City
A high school delegation from Notre Dame School, a GLOBE school in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, won Best Position Paper and Honorable Mention at the Model UN held from 18-22 April 2007 in New York City. Their paper and presentation focused on strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to create sanctions against companies that do nothing to diminish greenhouse gases. The Model United Nations (UN) is a simulation of the United Nations General Assembly that aims to educate students about civics, globalization, multilateral diplomacy and effective communication. Secondary school and university-age participants research a country, take on roles as diplomats, investigate international issues, debate, deliberate, consult, and then develop solutions to real world problems. Model UN participants learn how the international community acts on worldwide concerns about peace and security, human rights, economic development, hunger, globalization and the environment. See the GLOBE Star.
GLOBE at Night Participation Expands Around the World
At the Escuela Primaria "República de la India" in Montevideo, fifty students and their families investigated the night sky. Professor Gabriel Otero, President of Uruguay's Amateur Astronomy Association (AAA) gave an informative talk about stars and constellations to the group. For the complete story, with photos, please see Uruguay Investigates GLOBE at Night.
Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Meeting and Training Workshop (En español)
The Fourth Meeting of GLOBE Coordinators of Latin American and the Caribbean took place on 2-3 February 2007, in Panama City, Panama. Country Coordinators and representatives attended from Argentina, the Bahamas, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Brazil.
GLOBE Presentation at the 33rd International Book Fair in Buenos Aires, Argentina (En español)
On 19 April 2007, during the inauguration of the 33rd International Book Fair in Buenos Aires, Professor María del Carmen Galloni, GLOBE Argentina Country Coordinator and GLOBE International Advisory Committee representative from the Latin America and Caribbean GLOBE Consortium, presented the Elementary GLOBE primary books to GLOBE teachers and the general public who showed great interest in the new resource. Professor Galloni also provided a presentation of GLOBE involvement in International Polar Year (IPY) activities. See the GLOBE Star.
Mexico Hosts its First National Conference of GLOBE Teachers (En español)
The Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) hosted the first national conference of GLOBE teachers from 15 - 17 November. The conference coincided with the 10th anniversary of the GLOBE program in Mexico and honored the work of Guadalupe Pardo as GLOBE Coordinator during the administration of President Fox (2000-2006). Pardo and her team expanded the program substantially; up to date, there are 102 GLOBE schools in 28 states of Mexico.
Please help us acknowledge special GLOBE events as well as any GLOBE activities that teachers and students would like to share with the GLOBE community by writing up your news and sending it to us with photographs of the event. Visit the GLOBE Stars page for more information.
Preparations are underway for the upcoming GLOBE Near East Regional Meeting and International Workshop to take place in Doha, Qatar, 29 November - 8 December 2007. The workshop will provide training on how to conduct GLOBE protocols and data collection through different measurement techniques, data analysis, classroom implementation, and student research. Participants at this workshop will be better prepared to enhance scientific potential of students.
Associated with this workshop, there will be a GLOBE Near East Regional Meeting. Country representatives will be able to present their country status reports, and work on building national and regional collaborations.
In April, 2007 Bahrain held its third GLOBE Young Scientists' Fair. All student projects this year were based on data developed through measurements using GLOBE protocols. The students had the freedom to come up with a project idea that would be interesting to them, but related to GLOBE Protocols. Instructional materials, several preparation meetings and training workshops were provided to students to give them guidance. All projects included descriptions of research, diagrams, photographs, and written observations of results. Students provided complete and accurate records of their projects from start to finish. During the competition, students displayed their projects, told the story of their research in such a way to attract the judges and other viewers' interest.
Students from Isa Town Girls Secondary School took First Place for their project called Ma'ameer Sourrounded. Students from Bayan School placed second for their project called Human Intervention. Students from East Riffa Boys' Secondary School and Shaikh Isa Bin Ali Boys' Secondary School placed third for their project called The Bahrain Land Cover Changes — During the period 1973-2001.
Congratulations to all who entered and especially to those students who placed!
GLOBE Israel held its annual meeting in Bet Shearim in the Galilee, 4 June 2007. More than 660 students from GLOBE schools throughout Israel participated in this event. Several stations were created where students were able to explore different environmental issues. A special distinction was awarded to each of three schools for their GLOBE participation: Sachnin Junior High School, Neve Shalom Junior High School, and Ramon Elementary School. Mrs. Rhonda Brown, from the U.S. Embassy, was present at this event was as well as the Mayor of Kiryat Tivon Town.
GLOBE Alumni in the Near East
The regional representative for GLOBE Alumni in the Near East, Ms. Shaikha BuAli, from Bahrain, has done exemplary work on behalf of all the GLOBE Alumni throughout the region. The Near East GLOBE Alumni Regional Report is available at Alumni Reports. For more information on GLOBE Alumni activities in the Near East, or to link your GLOBE Alumni to these efforts, contact Ms. BuAli via email at: neareast-alumni-regionalrep@globe.gov.
Partners, please identify Alumni within your country or region who are interested in continued involvement with GLOBE and link these Alumni to their Regional Alumni Representatives.
GLOBE Stars in the Near East
GLOBE Day Unites Students at Israel Annual Conference
GLOBE Israel hosted its Annual Conference in Bet-Shearim, Galilee. More than 650 students and teachers from across the country attended to celebrate GLOBE Day.
Third Annual GLOBE Young Scientist Fair in Bahrain
The Bahrain GLOBE Young Scientists Fair is one of the most educational, fun, and creative assignments that GLOBE Bahrain offers to GLOBE students every year. It is an excellent activity for classroom outings. Students can become experts in their neighborhoods by learning about their local environment.
Israel Holds Video Conference Event to Celebrate Earth Day 2007
On 19 April 2007, a pre-Earth Day video conference event took place in Tel Aviv, Israel. The goal of the event, according to Mr. Farid Hamdan, GLOBE Israel Country Coordinator, was to deepen the understanding of the GLOBE Program among Israeli elementary and secondary school teachers from all ethnic and religious backgrounds — Jewish, Arab, Druze, and Bedouin; to initiate Earth Day 2007 activities in Israel; and to strengthen national GLOBE implementation.
Please help us acknowledge special GLOBE events as well as any GLOBE activities that teachers and students would like to share with the GLOBE community by writing up your news and sending it to us with photographs of the event. Visit the GLOBE Stars page for more information.
U.S. News
The first North American Regional meeting took place on Wednesday, 28 March 2007 (the day before NSTA began), in St. Louis, Missouri. Twenty-six U.S. Partners representing fourteen states as well as the Country Coordinator for Canada convened to discuss implementation of GLOBE in North America. States in attendance included Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Kansas, Missouri, Michigan, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia. Partners provided updates on current activities and discussed many great projects being implemented across North America. Please join us in March 2008 for the 56th Annual NSTA Conference on Science Education which will be held in Boston, Massachusetts, where the North America Region will once again reunite (visit http://nsta.org/conferences).
Regional meetings also took place in conjunction with GLOBE's 11th Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas, from 29 July - 3 August 2007. The 2007 Annual Conference was hosted by the University of Texas at Tyler and Austin, in partnership with Northern Michigan University and Southern Connecticut State University. It was held at the Historic Menger Hotel. You can view the GLOBE Annual Conference proceedings.
For more highlights about GLOBE in United States see the 2007 Country Report summarizing the activities from October 2003 through June 2007. Included are historical U.S. partnership data, summaries of current efforts underway and a description of the GLOBE Program Office U.S. Partner Support Plan.
See the U.S. Country Report.
Reminder: The 4th GLOBE Learning Expedition and Annual Partner Conference will be held in Cape Town, South Africa, 22 - 28 June 2008. Submit your presentation abstract soon! Abstract submission closes on 1 February 2008; no abstracts will be accepted after that time, so don't delay — act fast! This is going to be an amazing event! For more information, visit: http://www.globe.gov/gle2008.
The GLOBE Program Office, with the assistance of UCAR scientists, selected five student teams to represent the United States in South Africa.
The winning schools, and their projects, are:
Each team consists of 2-4 students accompanied by a teacher-chaperone. All travel and hotel expenses for the five winning teams to attend the GLE will be covered by GLOBE. We encourage all GLOBE schools to continue working on their projects and to submit proposals to present their research. Many funding opportunities can be found on the Partner Page at Funding Opportunities.
For more information about the 4th GLE and 12th Annual Conference, visit http://www.globe.gov/gle2008.
Canadian News
In July, 2006, Bill Batycky of Calgary was appointed as the Country Coordinator for GLOBE Canada by the Canadian Federal Government. As there was no financial support to accompany this appointment, GLOBE Canada was fortunate to enlist the assistance of the SEEDS Foundation (Society, Environment, and Energy Development Studies), a not-for-profit environmental and energy education foundation. SEEDS now provides a home and support for GLOBE in Canada in the form of office space and office resources.
Because of a growing Canadian interest in curricular programs and resources that focus on student engagement and environmental stewardship, the past year has been quite an exciting time for GLOBE Canada. The number of GLOBE schools has increased from 127 to 169 schools and this number is growing. This has been largely due to the cooperative efforts and generous volunteer time given by trainers such as Bob Sharp, Cate McEwen, Wendy Campbell and Bill Batycky.
In July, 2006, six Canadian GLOBE Teachers attended the NASA CCAG (CALIPSO, CloudSat and GLOBE) Educator Workshop hosted by Hampton University in Hampton Virginia. As a result of this great experience, 31 Calgary area teachers from 17 schools were in trained in Atmosphere Protocols and in Ground Truthing for the NASA CloudSat Satellite Mission.
In March, Bill Batycky attended the Seasons and Biomes Workshop in Fairbanks, Alaska, on Plant Phenology Protocols (Budburst, Green Up, and Green Down) and Ice Phenology (Freeze Up, Break Up, and Frost Tubes). In April, at the GLOBE North America Regional Meeting, GLOBE Canada was able to present its proposed networking strategies of using regional GLOBE contacts to facilitate communications with both existing and potential GLOBE Teachers to better understand and represent both the cultural and environmental facets and diversity of the many regions of Canada. As well, a presentation was done at the NSTA/ICASE International Conference on the challenges that are presented in supporting GLOBE in such a vast country as Canada.
The days ahead look quite promising for GLOBE Canada with more workshops in the planning!
GLOBE Alumni in North America
The regional representative for GLOBE Alumni in North America, Mr. Matt Fenzel, from the United States, has done exemplary work on behalf of all the GLOBE Alumni throughout the region. The North America GLOBE Alumni Regional Report is available at Alumni Reports. For more information on GLOBE Alumni activities in North America, or to link your GLOBE Alumni to these efforts, contact Mr. Fenzel via email at: na-alumni-regionalrep@globe.gov.
Partners, please identify Alumni within your country or region who are interested in continued involvement with GLOBE and link these Alumni to their Regional Alumni Representatives.
GLOBE Stars in North America
SCUBAnauts International and GLOBE Begin Research Collaborations with Operation: Deep Climb
A group of 21 young explorers from the Tampa Bay Chapter of SCUBAnauts International took part in an extraordinary journey to the middle of the Pacific Ocean from 11-21 October 2007.
Ohio Students Incorporate GLOBE Data into Research Projects Related to International Polar Year
On 20 April 2007, over 600 5th - 12th grade students and teachers gathered from 21 Ohio schools to present and showcase their GLOBE research projects at the first annual OhioView SATELLITES Geospatial Technology Conference at the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland, Ohio. OhioView, a grassroots organization founded in 1996, promotes the low-cost distribution of U.S. Government satellite data for public use. The organization aims to make geospatial data from the U.S. Government more accessible and to fill the knowledge gap in education about the uses of data. OhioView collaborated with NASA, Ohio Aerospace Institute, and the Great Lakes Science Center to bring together students from across Northern Ohio to present poster presentations about their research projects which were based on GLOBE data on Surface Temperature, and the International Polar Year.
Students in California and Thailand Find Innovative Ways to Incorporate GLOBE
In November 2006, nineteen of Terri Lhuillier's fifth grade students began corresponding with 28 students from Princess Chulabhorn School in Trang, Thailand. Patchara Pongmanawut, with help from North American Regional Desk Officer Nan McClurg, initiated the pen pal project with American students to give her Thai students the opportunity to improve upon their English reading and writing skills. The students write to each other regularly, discussing many aspects of their lives: climate, the animals inhabiting their countries and their experiences with GLOBE projects in the classroom.
Students in Norfork, Arkansas Predict the Arrival Date of Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds in their Migration Path North
At Norfork Elementary School in Norfork, Arkansas, Wade Geery, a GLOBE teacher, and his sixth grade students are anxiously waiting for the arrival of the first Ruby-throated Hummingbird, on the birds' spring migration path from Central America to Canada. The students have been collecting data on the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds for the past two years: observing the first arrival dates of each gender, noting the relative number of hummingbirds throughout each season, observing what flowers the birds visit and noting the departure date of the last hummingbird in the birds' fall migration to Central America. See the GLOBE Star.
City Officials in Charleston, Arkansas Look to GLOBE Student Data to Alleviate the Impacts of Recent Water Shortages
In Charleston, Arkansas, there have been ongoing drought conditions for the past several years. Unfortunately, city planners did not have the data needed to address the drought situation. Gloria Eiland, a teacher at Charleston Elementary wrote, "As our city water supply fell to an all- time low, the community started asking questions that only the GLOBE students could answer." See the GLOBE Star.
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Hosts GLOBE Field Campaign
In Dingmans Ferry, Pennsylvania, on the grounds of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (DEWA), students, teachers, scientists and park personnel gathered recently to evaluate land-cover and satellite images of the area for the purpose of verifying the accuracy of NASA's satellite maps.
Please help us acknowledge special GLOBE events as well as any GLOBE activities that teachers and students would like to share with the GLOBE community by writing up your news and sending it to us with photographs of the event. Visit the GLOBE Stars page for more information.
UCAR Affiliates
The GLOBE Program is continuing in our efforts to connect with our UCAR Affiliates in over 60 countries. UCAR Affiliates have already expressed interest in partnering with GLOBE and assisting in expanding their learning community to include GLOBE Partners around the world, for example, Dr. Dong-Kyou Lee, UCAR affiliate scientist in Korea, has been named as Co-Coordinator for GLOBE Korea. Please visit the May 2006 newsletter found in the For Partners section of the GLOBE Web site for more information on our efforts to connect UCAR Affiliate scientists to GLOBE. Also visit the UCAR list of International Affiliate Institutions for contact information for UCAR Affiliates. (See GLOBE and UCAR international affiliates establish partnerships.)
GLOBE and the World Meteorological Organization
On 23 March 2007, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) joined together with GLOBE to increase environmental awareness throughout the world, develop scientific understanding of the global environment, and support achievement in science and mathematics education around the world. (See the announcement.) Initial plans of collaboration include involving National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) and established Regional Meteorological Centers to increase the number of scientists working with GLOBE students and teachers. These Centers will also be involved in the implementation of regional GLOBE Program activities such as teacher training events and assistance to schools that lack access to computer technology and electronic communications capabilities. These activities will expand the opportunities for NASA, the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), GLOBE, and the WMO to introduce scientific, computer, and communication technologies in classrooms all over the planet.
The GLOBE Schools Network (GSN) is designed to support inquiry-based learning for GLOBE students. The GSN operates within a paradigm of computer and information technology supporting the collective advancement of student inquiry. Learning emerges through the interactive network and is distributed and mediated among the interacting agents (students, teachers, scientists, and tools). Collaboration within the network is designed around adding value to students' learning that would be impossible if schools worked in isolation.
The GLOBE Schools Network is supported by a Scientists Network. Top-level Earth-system scientists engage with students at various stages of their inquiry. Scientist collaborate with students via video-conferencing, blogs, web chats, and as reviewers for student research projects.
At the 2005 Annual Conference, a group of European students initiated an appeal to the GLOBE Program Office (GPO) to help guide Alumni organizational efforts. The current GLOBE Alumni Network is a group of secondary school graduates who have the desire and commitment to support the implementation of the GLOBE program. GLOBE Alumni work with Country Coordinators, Partners, teachers and students to promote GLOBE in schools and in communities. GLOBE Alumni currently participate as Seasons and Biomes IPY Ambassadors, facilitating collaborations between local and regional projects, and planning for the GLOBE Learning Expedition.
For more information on GLOBE Networks visit the GLOBE Community page.
New GLOBE Web site:
By now, many of you have had the opportunity to examine the new GLOBE Web site. We hope the new look and navigation will meet with your approval. A short overview of the functionality of the new Web site can be found at the announcment. Please let us know how we can continue to improve the GLOBE Web site!
Partner Administration Pages:
The GLOBE Program Office is pleased to inform you that the Administration Pages on the GLOBE Web site have been updated. You will notice a brand new look with improved graphics, increased functionality and easy navigation. If you prefer the original format of the Administration Pages, simply select "Previous Admin Layout" from the bottom right corner of the page. This link will be available for your use until January 2008.
Please contact the GLOBE Help Desk (help@globe.gov) with your feedback or comments. We appreciate hearing from you and will be happy to assist you with any questions you may have. Below please find a quick summary of several of the most frequently asked questions about navigating the Administrative pages:
Sending Mass Mail
Log in using your Partner ID and go to the Administration Pages of the GLOBE Web site. You can send a GLOBE Massmail to all registered schools with email addresses in your country or region by clicking on .Send a Mass GLOBEMail message. under the communications section. Be sure to select the 'email reminder option' so everyone will be notified to log-on to with their GLOBE ID and password to see your message. In case a teacher has forgotten the school's username and password, a tool is included to assist in requesting this information.
International GLOBE Partner Implementation Guide
The Partner Implementation Guide includes information on the roles of the Country Coordinator, information on GLOBE science, training GLOBE, GLOBE IDs and much more. In order to view, please log-in with your Partner ID and password. The Partner Implementation Guide is located in the Administration Pages under the Support Materials section, entitled "Guidelines for GLOBE Program Implementation by International Partners."
Partner Administration Manual
The Partner Administration Manual is intended as a supplement to the GLOBE Web site's Administrative Pages and Partner Support materials. It includes descriptions and step-by-step instructions on using the Web site. In order to view, please log-in with your Partner ID and password and visit the Administration Pages section of the GLOBE Web site. The Partner Administration Manual is located under the Support Materials section.
GLOBE Mirror server
GLOBE provides a set of Web and database services for the community. These services run on specialized computers, or servers. Historically GLOBE has been able to distribute the location of these servers in various places around the U.S. and the world (Washington D.C., California, Germany). For those interested in learning how to run their own GLOBE server (a mirror server), we've compiled the following technical overview.
Running a GLOBE Mirror server today requires a robust level of hardware and software specifications in order to participate. There are also some minimum network speeds, and a need for on site personnel. The following are minimum system requirements:
Hardware: 1.5 Ghz Processor or better (Intel chipset preferred), 35 GB hard drive, 1 GB RAM. Reliable power and cooling in server location.
Software: Enterprise-grade Linux capable of running Xen virtualization (such as SuSE or RedHat); Oracle 10g RDBMS Enterprise Server software Network bandwidth: 768 Mbps or faster, such as a DSL or T1, with no outages lasting more than a few minutes.
Support personnel: Onsite personnel may be required occasionally. Primary maintenance will be done by GPO systems administrators. In the future these requirements may increase with the rapid changes in technology.
Please contact the GLOBE Systems Team if you would like to explore this possibility.
Visit http://www.globe.gov/carboncycle for more information on Carbon Cycle activities and updates.
From Local to Extreme Environments (FLEXE):
An interesting discussion involving GLOBE students occurred on 26 January 2007 when FLEXE scientists were part of a Seafloor to Space Station Phone Call. Marine biologist Tim Shank, diving in the Alvin submersible, compared notes on life, science, and exploration with NASA astronaut Sunita .Suni. Williams as she orbited on the International Space Station. Visit the Seafloor to the Space Station Web site for more information or to listen to the broadcast of this call. The FLEXE team conducted a workshop on the last day of the GLOBE Annual Conference, Friday 3 August 2007, in San Antonio, TX.
Visit the FLEXE page for more information on FLEXE activities and updates.
FLEXE and are collaborating on many exciting activities! During October, SCUBAnauts traveled to Hawaii to descend 6,000ft in deep sea submersibles as well as climb to the summit of Mauna Kea. Students gathered atmospheric and hydrology data to answer various research questions. GLOBE's Chief Scientist and the SCUBAnauts maintained blogs with reflections on the adventure. Check the SCUBAnauts page for more information, and their blogs, about this project.
Destination: East Pacific Rise — Join the FLEXE Project as it concludes its Fall 2007 Pilot with a research cruise to the extreme environment of the Hydrothermal Vents of the East Pacific Rise.
GLOBE Seasons and Biomes Project:
On Monday, 5 March 2007, GLOBE students in Ushuaia, Argentina, from the Antarctic region, and students from Alaska, United States, from the Arctic region, exchanged their research ideas and interacted with Antarctic and Arctic scientists in the Pole-to-Pole Videoconference. A transcript of the videoconference is available. The Seasons and Biomes project are working in collaboration with International Polar Year. Two IPY Web chats followed the Pole-to-Pole video conference (Wednesday, 7 March 2007), where students talked among themselves and asked scientists questions about climate change and polar science. Visit the GLOBE IPY page for more information on GLOBE-related IPY activities.
The first Seasons and Biomes workshop was held 22 - 25 March 2007 at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks. The workshop was attended by 36 participants including GLOBE Teachers, Trainers, Partners and GLOBE Alumni representing 12 countries.
The Seasons and Biomes team also conducted a workshop on the last day of the GLOBE Annual Conference, Friday 3 August 2007, in San Antonio, Texas. A Seasons and Biomes International Teacher Workshop is scheduled for late September 2007 in Fairbanks, Alaska.
The second Seasons and Biomes workshop took place in September 2007. Visit the Seasons and Biomes page for more information on Seasons and Biomes activities. A second Pole-to-Pole video conference will be held in the Spring of 2008.
GLOBE Watershed Dynamics Project:
The Watershed Dynamics team has conducted two training events focusing on the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) software analysis tools to investigate precipitation, evaporation, runoff, and water infiltration data. The first training workshop occurred on the last day of the GLOBE Annual Conference, Friday 3 August 2007, in San Antonio, Texas and the second Watershed Dynamics Summer Workshop for Middle and High School Science Teachers, which took place on 7 - 9 August 2007 in Boulder, Colorado, provided in-depth training to a set of 25 teachers who will pilot test the first of two Watershed Dynamics modules during the fall of 2007.Over the next year, the Watershed Dynamics team will be developing a second teaching module focusing on the analysis of human impacts on watershed dynamics.
Visit the Watershed Dynamics page for more information on these Watershed Dynamics workshops as well as other activities and updates.
Current topics as well as archived, are available for reading - and responding to - at Chief Scientist's Blog.
Please review the information outlining the workshop by selecting the link below. Limited travel support is available on a scholarship basis to accommodate U.S. Partners who wish to attend the workshop. Two international Master Trainers from each GLOBE region will also be selected. Final selection of attendees and travel awards will depend on space and funds available as well as on the Partner's plan for implementing the results from the workshop.
U.S. Partners: If you are interested in attending, please complete and return the application form found at the following link as soon as possible.
ftp://share.globe.gov/anonymous/GLOBE_Professional_Development_ESSP_2008.doc
International Master Trainers: Please review the description of the event found at the link above and then send the following information in an email to tkennedy@globe.gov: Name and full contact information plus a statement confirming your ability and desire to attend the event during the specified dates (3-8 August 2008), a commitment that you will present the information that you learn to other trainers in your region, and a statement verifying that you are fluent in English.
Applicants will be notified of their status by late December 2007. We look forward to receiving your application for attendance.
During the 2007 event, from 8 - 21 March 2007, there were 8,491 observations reported from 60 GLOBE countries, almost doubling the observations submitted during the 2006 GLOBE at Night event! Thank you for your nighttime sky observations on light pollution from around the world! The final data are available on the Map section of the GLOBE at Night Web site.
The GLOBE Program Office is currently working on an analysis of the GPO staff time and ESRI support needed to run GLOBE at Night in 2008. That analysis will be done at the end of November 2007. Check the GLOBE Web site for more information about the 2008 GLOBE at Night activities in March 2008.
Web and Print versions of the Elementary GLOBE Storybooks and Learning Activities can be downloaded. For information about purchasing hard copies of the Elementary GLOBE storybooks or unit, please visit the NCAR Science Store.
Note: All modules require the free browser plug-in, Adobe Flash Player 7.0. You will also need an Internet browser that is compatible with this plug-in (see system requirements listed on the Web page). The modules are best-viewed at a screen resolution of 1024x768 pixels.