The program gives monetary grants ranging from $100 to $500 to schools, nature centers, or other nonprofit educational organizations to establish outdoor learning centers. The grant recipient learning centers are those which most successfully reflect the Wild Ones mission to educate and share information about the benefits of using native plants in our landscape and to promote biodiversity and environmentally sound practices. Funds will be provided only for the purchase of native plants and seed.
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Your school or organization must plan to garden in 2010 with at least 15 children between the ages of 3 and 18. Selection of winners is based on the demonstrated relationship between the garden program and nutrition and hunger issues in the United States.

Twenty schools or organizations will receive:

• gift certificates toward the purchase of gardening materials from Gardener's Supply Company. The top five will each receive a certificate valued at $500; 15 more will each receive a $200 gift certificate
• NGA's Eat a Rainbow Kit, which contains taste education and nutrition lessons
• 25 packets of seeds
• a literature package from NGA

Supported by the Carski Foundation since 1968, the award honors an educator for outstanding teaching of microbiology to undergraduate students and for encouraging them to subsequent achievement. The awards consists of a cash prize of $2,000, a commemorative piece, and travel to the ASM General Meeting, where the laureate delivers the Carski Award Lecture.

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Through its national awards programs, the American Horticultural Society (AHS) celebrates outstanding achievements, encourages excellence, and inspires innovation in the art and science of horticulture. The AHS sponsors several awards, including the Jane L. Taylor Award and a Teaching Award reserved for educators.

Tommy Hilfiger Corporate Foundation Education Grants support programs/partnerships that promote educational opportunities for diverse populations in the United States. Maximum Award: $25,000. Eligibility: 501(c)(3) organizations. Deadlines: April 1 and October 1.
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The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) is holding its third nationwide competition to find 12 colleges and universities to join the Science Education Alliance (SEA), a bold effort to engage students through authentic research experiences at the start of their academic careers.

This Ecological Society of America (ESA) program offers fellowships for students underrepresented in the field of ecology. The SEEDS Fellowship allows undergraduate students to complete an independent research project. This project includes working with program staff to select a research site and mentor, writing a research proposal and budget, conducting research in the field or lab, analyzing results and writing a paper, and presenting research at an ESA annual meeting.

Each Fellow has a research mentor, a Ph.D. ecologist from the ESA membership, to provide support throughout the project. The program also provides support through stipends, designated staff, networking with other Fellows, workshops, and more.
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The foundation provides grants to increase the academic achievement of students in U.S. public schools and public higher education institutions in any subject area. The proposed work should engage students in critical thinking and problem solving that deepen their knowledge of standards-based subject matter. The work should also improve students’ habits of inquiry, self-directed learning, and critical reflection.

Proposals for work resulting in low-income and minority student success with honors, advanced placement, or other challenging curricula are particularly encouraged. Practicing U.S. public school teachers, public school education support professionals, and faculty and staff members at public institutions of higher education may apply. The maximum grant amount is $5,000. Deadlines are February 1, June 1, and October 5 each year.
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The foundation funds programs serving youth in grades K-12 in communities in which Pentair operates. The foundation focuses on programs and organizations that

• Support and enhance science and math education, with a focus on applied skills including math and science for career development.
• Provide school-to-work initiatives, including business concepts and their applications; work readiness; career development; and guidance on post-secondary education options.
• Offer alternative education that provides opportunities for students to excel and advance. A special emphasis is placed on environments that support individual needs and skill levels.
• Support arts education by introducing students to art concepts, processes, and applications. Areas of focus include literature, music, and dramatic arts, especially those that highlight local cultural influences.

Deadlines are March 1, June 1, and October 1 each year.

Grants support public school teachers, public education support professionals, or faculty and staff in public institutions of higher education for one of two purposes. Grants to individuals fund participation in high-quality professional development experiences, such as summer institutes or action research. Grants to groups fund collegial study, including study groups, action research, lesson study, or mentoring experiences for faculty or staff new to an assignment.

Maximum award is $5,000. Public school teachers of grades K–12; public school education support professionals; or faculty and staff at public higher education institutions may apply. Deadlines are February 1, June 1, and October 15.
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The Student Conservation Association's Green Your School Contest stimulates and/or identifies conservation service projects designed by high school students that improve, restore, beautify, or conserve their high school environment. Entries will be judged according to the following criteria: the project has or will improve the environmental health of the school; the project is sustainable; the project is initiated by students and engages other students, teachers, and school administrators; the submission itself is of high quality; and the project engaged the community.
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You can make a difference in science education by choosing to serve on NSTA’s Board and Council. Are you looking for a challenging leadership position that impacts local, state, and national science education? This is an excellent means to create systemic change in science education. Let your voice be heard and serve on the Board or Council. NSTA is currently accepting applications for the 2010 NSTA election.
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This program provides grants of up to $500 each to Chicago public school teachers (grades preK-8), enabling them to implement innovative, hands-on learning projects with their students. These grants are awarded to individual teachers and teams of teachers. Applications are available at the annual Creative Classrooms Workshop and are sent to all principals, clerks, cooperating teachers, and librarians in Chicago Public Elementary Schools in the fall of each year.
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The N-Visioning a Brighter Future program awards grants to schools that exhibit creativity in science, technology, and mathematics education of middle and high school students. Five schools total (middle and high) will be awarded $1,000 each for any creative project dealing with energy, mathematics, technology, or science.

The 2010 TechEd conference (April 11–13) is seeking inspiring presenters to share their knowledge and experience in teaching and learning in this digital age through proven effective uses of instructional and institutional technology. Presentations key to fulfilling the needs of the TechEd audience highlight pioneering methods of delivering education in a learner-centered environment through effective uses of technology, learning communities, diverse learning styles, collaborative partnerships, and innovative administrative practices.
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Encourage bright, ambitious students to enter this prestigious student research competition. College scholarships range from $1,000 to $100,000, and the high school of every regional finalist receives $2,000 per project. Students can achieve national recognition for science research projects they complete in high school. See the Siemens Foundation website or the College Board website to register. Entries will be judged at the regional level in November by esteemed scientists and faculty at leading research universities.
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The Captain Planet Foundation funds and supports hands-on environmental projects for children and youths ages 6-18. Its objective is to encourage innovative programs that empower children and youth around the world to work individually and collectively to solve environmental problems in their neighborhoods and communities. Grant amounts range from $250 to $2,500. Deadlines for submitting grant applications are March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31.  
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Adobe Systems awards one-time grants for one-year general operating and program support ranging from $5,000 to $20,000. Focus areas include Creativity in Education and Commitment to Community.

Eligible nonprofit organizations and schools must be located in one of the following areas: San Jose/Silicon Valley and San Francisco, California; Seattle/King County, Washington; and Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Quarterly application deadlines are March 31; June 30; September 30; and December 31.

The NASA Endeavor Science Teaching Certificate Project awards one-year fellowships each year to more than 40 current and prospective teachers. In partnership with state departments of education, Endeavor Fellows take five graduate courses in a LIVE (online) format from the comfort of their home or school and learn to apply research-based pedagogical strategies and cutting-edge STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) content to their classroom contexts while becoming a part of a special network of like-minded educators across the nation.

Endeavor Fellows will be awarded a NASA Endeavor Certificate in STEM Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. In addition, 15 graduate credits are awarded from other regionally-accredited partners in higher education.  
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Lutron Electronics is accepting submissions from schools featuring students’ dreams for a sustainable classroom of the future. The challenge asks students to dream of a more energy-efficient, sustainable classroom environment, how educators can use that environment to teach students about sustainable living, and how students can take that message to a broader community. The winning idea will receive a $15,000 sustainable classroom upgrade to make their Bright Green Dream come true. Submissions may be in any format that can be uploaded to a website. Examples include video, digital presentations, and written submissions.
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The grants fund projects that make creative use of common teaching aids, approach curriculum from an imaginative angle, or tie nontraditional concepts together for the purpose of illustrating commonalities. Innovation and merit account for 40% of the evaluation. U.S. K-12 certified teachers working at a public, private, or parochial school in the subject of the project may apply for multiple awards of $100-$500. (Kids In Need does not fund preschool projects.)
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Students, teachers, individuals, and families can “Capture the Colorful Cosmos” from July through September. Participants can use MicroObservatory, an online network of robotic telescopes controlled over the Internet. The images taken using online robotic telescopes will be featured on the NASA and International Year of Astronomy websites.

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Toshiba America Foundation offers grants to improve the quality of science and mathematics education in U.S. communities by investing in projects designed by K–12 classroom teachers. Past funded projects include the implementation of innovative mathematics curricula, materials for the hands-on study of environmental science issues, and equipment for a teacher-designed astronomy curriculum. K-12 schools and teachers in the United States may apply.

Grants for K–6 teachers of up to $1,000 are offered each fall (deadline October 1). Grades 7–12 teachers may apply for grants of up to $5,000 at any time during the calendar year. Grant requests of more than $5,000 are reviewed twice a year (deadlines February 1 or August 1).

The program seeks to enable significant advances in preK–12 student and teacher learning of the STEM disciplines through development, study, and implementation of resources, models, and technologies for use by students, teachers, and policymakers. Projects funded under this solicitation begin with a research question or a hypothesis about how to improve preK–12 STEM learning and teaching. Projects create or adapt and study innovative resources, models, or technologies and determine how and why implementation affects STEM learning.  
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The Defense Metals Technology Center (DMTC) and the University of Akron are sponsoring a competition for the design of a pedestrian bridge at the University to be made of titanium. Qualified to participate in the design competition are schools and departments of Civil Engineering, Architecture, and Industrial Design from institutions in what the DMTC calls America's Metals Heartland—Ohio, Pennsylvania, eastern Indiana, southeast Michigan, northern Kentucky, and northern West Virginia.

Lowe’s will donate $5 million to public schools and public school parent-teacher groups at more than 1,000 U.S. public schools per school year. Maximum award is $5,000. Parent groups at K-12 schools may apply. All K-12 schools in the United States (except Puerto Rico) are eligible. There is a preference for funding requests that have a permanent impact such as facility enhancement (both indoor and outdoor) as well as landscaping/clean up type projects. Projects that encourage parent involvement and build stronger community spirit will be favored.


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With $150,000 in new grant funding designated for projects that integrate green-related topics and experiences into the classroom, the NEA Foundation is growing its Learning & Leadership and Student Achievement grants program for individuals and teams of educators. Public school educators are eligible to apply for individual grants worth up to $5,000 for the development and implementation of ideas, techniques, and approaches for teaching “green” concepts.

The first grant application deadline is October 15, 2009, and the first grants are slated to be awarded in January 2010. The foundation will award two more rounds of these green grants in 2010, with deadlines for applications falling on Feb. 1 and June 1.
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NSTA is a partner in the National Gallery of Writing, an online exhibition of writing hosted by the National Council of Teachers of English, which is seeking writing samples. NSTA’s Gallery has the following theme: "Why Earth? What makes our planet the ideal cradle of life?"

Science teachers and students are encouraged to submit one piece of writing that is important to them (be it a letter, digital composition, video, or other format).  It just takes a few minutes to upload your submission, and more information is available at the gallery. The pieces will be unveiled on October 20, 2009, as part of The National Day on Writing, a nationwide initiative that highlights the variety and importance of writing in the everyday lives of Americans.

The State Farm Youth Advisory Board is currently funding service-learning projects between $25,000 and $100,000 that address the root cause of the following issue areas: Driver's Safety, Access to Higher Education/Closing the Achievement Gap, Financial Literacy, Natural & Societal Disaster Preparedness, and Environmental Responsibility. All nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations are eligible to apply, as well as Canadian charitable organizations, educational institutions, and governmental entities.
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Through this program, the company seeks to address critical issues and needs by providing financial assistance to accredited schools and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. The company focuses a substantial portion of its contributions on programs addressing education, the environment, health and human services, as well as services for veterans and the military.

Grant requests are reviewed twice per year. Grant requests submitted by April 30 will be reviewed by May 30. Grant requests submitted by September 30 will be reviewed by October 30.

Tech & Learning's Leader of the Year Program is once again honoring K-12 administrators, technology coordinators, and teachers who use technology in innovative ways to help teachers teach and help students learn. We invite you to share your teaching, training, and managing success stories with our judges. Four finalists will win prizes, gain national recognition, and be profiled in T&L's December Awards Issue.
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The Discovery Research K–12 (DR K–12) program, funded by the National Science Foundation, seeks to enable significant advances in preK–12 student and teacher learning of the STEM disciplines through development, study, and implementation of resources, models, and technologies for use by students, teachers, and policymakers. Projects funded under this solicitation begin with a research question or a hypothesis about how to improve preK–12 STEM learning and teaching.
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As part of the competitive grant process for the Race to the Top funds, the Department of Education is seeking reviewers. Qualified reviewers will have experience in Education Policy, Education Reform, Capacity and Scale, and Application Review and Evaluation. (Visit the website for more details.) Reviewers will receive an honorarium for their work.

The Race to the Top competition will have two phases, and reviewers may participate in one or both phases. Reviews are anticipated to take place between January 2010 and March 2010 for Phase 1 and between June 2010 and September 2010 for Phase 2. Reviewers will participate in a total of approximately 6-12 days of review, some of which may be in Washington, D.C., and some of which will be done remotely.

An art contest for grades two through four challenges young scientists and artists to become wildlife investigators by exploring habitats, small and large, in their backyard or around the world, and then draw a picture showing what they learned. Artwork might focus on one animal or many, from an area as small as a single habitat or large as a biome. "Habitat: Imagine That!" is the 14th annual art contest held by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) in Arlington, Va. The contest supports national education standards for grades K–4. The first-, second-, and third-place artists will receive $100, $75, and $50 Visa gift cards, respectively, framed color certificates, and their artwork will be showcased on IGES's website.
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The Knight News Challenge is a contest awarding as much as $5 million to innovative ideas for distributing news in the digital age. The Knight Foundation is looking for ideas on using digital tools to transform community news and new ways to exchange information via hand-held devices like cell phones.
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The Cassini Scientist for a Day contest challenges students to become NASA scientists studying Saturn. Participants examine three target images taken by the Cassini spacecraft and choose the one they think will yield the best scientific results. This choice must then be supported in a 500-word essay. Teaming up is encouraged. Winners will participate in a teleconference with Cassini scientists.
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The AeroGrow Growing Kids Awards, sponsored by AeroGrow International, Inc., will provide 300 educators with an AeroGarden, a hands-on tool to enrich and enhance the study of nutrition and life science in the classroom. This award is open to K–6 classrooms in the United States with a minimum of 15 students who plan to use indoor gardens to teach nutrition and life science.
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The American Geological Institute (AGI) is sponsoring three national contests to allow students and the general public to participate in the celebration, learn about Earth science, and compete for prizes. The photography contest, open to all ages, focuses on “How Climate Shapes My World.” The visual arts contest, titled “The Climate Where I Live,” is open to students in grades K-5. Students in grades 6-9 are eligible to enter the essay contest: “Climate Connections.” Essays of up to 300 words should describe how climate interacts with Earth’s systems--geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere--in your area. Entries are due on October 16. The first-place prize for each contest is $300 and a copy of AGI’s Faces of Earth 2-DVD package.
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PolarTREC (Teachers and Researchers Exploring and Collaborating) is currently accepting applications from teachers for teacher research experiences in the Arctic and Antarctica during the 2010–2011 field
research seasons. PolarTREC—a program of the Arctic Research Consortium of the U.S. (ARCUS)—pairs K–12 teachers with researchers for professional development through authentic polar research experiences. 
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This event will take education and environmental policy makers, government institutions, development and international agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), education institutions, teachers, and environmental professionals through the need for greening education, and then discuss effective initiatives that will provide sustainable knowledge, skills, values, and practices in classrooms and communities. The workshop will be held in Karlsruhe, Germany.
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NASA's Digital Learning Network presents a series of online videoconferences to assist educators in staying current on NASA education resources and related products. During each event, product producers, authors, and experts will demonstrate their materials designed to optimize awareness and understanding of science concepts. During the videoconferences, participants will be able to submit questions to the presenter that will be addressed during the presentation. From September through May, the following topics will be covered:

•  Earth Science Week Products: Sept. 30, 2009, 4–5 p.m. EDT
•  Waste Limitation Management and Recycling Design Challenge: Oct. 28, 2009, 4–5 p.m. EDT
• NASAimages.org & eClips: Nov. 18, 2009, 4–5 p.m. EST
• Exploring Space Through Math: Dec. 16, 2009, 4–5 p.m. EST
• STS-131 Robotics: Jan. 27, 2010, 4–5 p.m. EST
• NASA Fit Explorers Feb. 24, 2010, 4–5 p.m. EST
• NASA eProfessional Development Network--Robotics Course: March 31, 2010, 4–5 p.m. EDT
•  MoonWorld: April 28, 2010, 4–5 p.m. EDT
•  On the Moon: May 26, 2010, 4–5 p.m. EDT 

Excelencia in Education is hosting this event (5-7 p.m.) at the U.S. Capitol Vistor's Center in Washington, DC. The event will recognize the 2009 Examples of Excelencia, which annually identifies and promotes effective programs and departments producing positive results for Latino students and all students.
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The Imagine Mars team offers free online training sessions periodically throughout the year for educators to learn about and lead Imagine Mars, which is a national arts, sciences, and technology education initiative that leads students to work together with scientists, engineers, artists, and civic leaders to design and share a futuristic Mars community for 100 people. Each interactive training provides a general overview of the Imagine Mars project.

Upcoming Trainings

September 30, 2009
5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. PDT

Fund for Teachers invites educators from across the country to submit proposals for their own do-it-yourself learning odysseys next summer. Destinations and disciplines are limitless, as the itineraries of 3,500 teachers over the past nine years have included tours, conferences, and independent studies on every continent. Apply online for individual grants of $5,000 and team grants of up to $10,000 for summer 2010.
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Funded by a grant from The National Science Foundation, the Kids' Science Challenge is a nationwide annual competition for third through sixth graders to submit experiments and problems for real scientists and engineers to solve. Prizes include a VIP tour of the San Diego Zoo, a week at Space Camp, and a week at a Pali Adventures Camp.
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Have you ever thought about shipping out to sea? This National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association program is accepting applications for the 2010 field season. The program provides a unique environment for learning and teaching by sending kindergarten through college teachers to sea aboard NOAA research and survey ships to work under the tutelage of scientists and crew. Then, armed with new understanding and experience, teachers bring this knowledge back to their classrooms. 

View an article about the program. 
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K-12 teachers with a strong background in science, technology, math, or engineering education are encouraged to apply. Those selected will participate in a 10-month paid fellowship in Washington, D.C., working either in a Congressional office or in a federal agency. Einstein Fellows have the unique opportunity to provide those agencies with their insights and perspectives on education programs and policies.

Fellows receive a monthly stipend of $6,000 along with a $1,000 monthly cost-of-living allowance. In addition, there is a moving/relocation allowance as well as a professional travel allowance.

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The Environmental Education Association of Illinois (EEAI) will host the conference, themed "Climbing the Green Wall," in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. The theme addresses the fact that all environmental educators struggle to overcome certain barriers or walls in their career. Workshops and concurrent sessions will be held each day, along with Field Sessions led by Illinois Natural History Survey Scientists. Inspiring keynote presentations, social activities, and a host of exhibits and networking opportunities round out the conference. 

Hosted by the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, the goal of the Youth Voices Conference is twofold: to inject youth voice into garden-based program design and implementation, and increase successful impacts of garden-based programs for children and youth.
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UMass Amherst is hosting a series of five seminars this fall for science teachers. The seminars will be held on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Graduate credit is available.

Oct. 3:  Illuminating Life:  What's New and Noteworthy in Luminescence
Spectroscopy and Imaging?
Oct. 17: Using Ecology, Making Science Real
Oct. 31: Global Climate Change
Nov. 14:  Supporting Statistical Reasoning for Mathematics & Science Students
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Environmental Concern's courses are designed for educators who are interested in learning more about wetlands and who would like to bring wetland education into their classrooms. Educator scholarships are available. Besides its current schedule of classes, Environmental Concern Inc. will develop a customized course in any area of wetland education to suit specific needs.
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In recognition of the outstanding educators who inspire, educate, and encourage their students to reach for excellence inside and beyond the classroom, the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) sponsors its annual celebration of the Week of the Classroom Teacher (October 4–10) and UNESCO's World Teachers' Day (October 5). These important celebrations acknowledge the significant contributions that teachers make to the field of education.
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This international event commemorates the beginning of the Space Age with the launch of Sputnik 1 on October 4, 1957. This celebration of space occurs October 4-10 annually. In 2009, World Space Week has a special focus on youth. With the theme "Space for Education," participants are encouraged to inspire the next generation using the excitement of space, and educate the educators about the value of space in the classroom. 

Teachers are encouraged to use space-themed activities in the classroom to promote student interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Teacher grants of $500 each will be awarded for the most creative use of space in the classroom during World Space Week. Free educator guides are available online.

Filmed over the course of more than six years at some of nature's most spectacular locales—from Acadia to Yosemite, Yellowstone to the Grand Canyon, the Everglades of Florida to the Gates of the Arctic in Alaska—this film tells a story of people from every conceivable background—rich and poor; famous and unknown; soldiers and scientists; natives and newcomers; idealists, artists, and entrepreneurs; people who were willing to devote themselves to saving some precious portion of the land they loved, and in doing so reminded their fellow citizens of the full meaning of democracy. The National Parks: America's Best Idea is a six-episode series directed by Ken Burns, to air on PBS stations.
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The 10th International People Plant Symposium will be held on the campus of Kansas State University. The purpose of this symposium is to provide a forum for researchers, educators, and practitioners to discuss and develop an international perspective on human issues in horticulture terminology. The symposium will have a relaxed atmosphere to encourage discussions on papers and presentations with authors and other participants. This communication will enhance the development of a mutual understanding of how we use and understand the related HIH terminology, the relationship between the various fields, and how they relate to traditional horticulture.
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Deepen your knowledge of the life, Earth, and physical sciences with these online graduate science courses. Each of the 10 six-week courses immerses the learner in a collaborative investigation of topics from evolution to ocean dynamics to quantum physics. All courses are taught by museum scientists and educators and highlight current, cutting-edge research. Sign up early to receive a $50 discount off the price of each course.

Courses may meet your local professional development needs, including degree, certification, NCLB, and salary gradation requirements. Complete information, including free sample resources—essays, videos, and interactives—from all of the courses can be found online.
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The Optical Society (OSA), in conjunction with the Stanford OSA Student Chapter, invites you to attend EDAY at 6-8:00 p.m. at the Frances C. Arrillaga Stanford Alumni Center McCaw Hall at Stanford University in Palo Alto. This program will focus on effective and innovative approaches to science education, with an emphasis on hands-on, interactive classroom lessons.  A complimentary dinner will be served, and plenty of free street parking is available. Learn more about OSA and EDAY.

The event is intended to provide undergraduate and graduate engineering students with a real-life engineering exercise. The competition challenges engineering students to conceive, design, fabricate, and test a radio-controlled aircraft that can take off and land while carrying the maximum cargo. This gives students the opportunity to apply the knowledge learned in the classroom on a practical problem.
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The conference will highlight current research on methods for building literacy skills and oral language development for English language learners throughout the school curriculum. CREATE researchers and other scholars will describe implications of their research on the features of instruction that support English language learners' development across their curricular experience. The conference will take place in Austin, TX.

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NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research is hosting the second online workshop in a series of educator professional development opportunities focused around NOAA’s new ship and America’s Ship for Ocean Exploration, the Okeanos Explorer. This workshop will introduce the new Okeanos Explorer Education Materials Collection built around the themes: Why Do We Explore?, How Do We Explore?, and What Do We Expect to Find? The workshop is free for all participants and will be available online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Educators will have the option to receive graduate credit (fee for the credit) or obtain a certificate of completion.
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Stay abreast of the latest in science content from a top-100 research university. The National Teachers Enhancement Network's (NTEN) fall lineup includes graduate-level online courses in astrobiology, geography, and many other sciences. Montana State University's NTEN program has delivered online courses for science teachers since 1993. NSTA members receive a discount on many of them.

PBS Teachers' free monthly webinar series for preK-12 educators features leading education experts, authors, or PBS producers who will discuss timely and relevant curriculum-related topics and demonstrate ways to integrate digital media in the classroom. Registration entitles you to free membership in PBS Teachers and access to all its services. Past webinars are archived online.

Upcoming webinars taking place 8-9 p.m. Eastern Time

•    Teaching About Place With Ken Burns' The National Parks: America's Best Idea--October 7
•    Welcome to the NEW PBS Teachers Site!--October 22
•    Education in the Digital Age: FRONTLINE's Digital Nation--November 10
•    PBS TeacherLine: Online Professional Development for Educators--December 10
•    Middle Level STEM Education With Design Squad, Fetch, and DragonflyTV--January 26, 2010
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Harvard Professor of the History of Science, Everett Mendelsohn, will deliver the inaugural lecture of the 150th anniversary "Origin of Species" lecture series hosted by The Reading Odyssey and the Darwin Facebook project. Professor Mendelsohn will speak on "The World Before Darwin" drawing from his popular undergraduate course, "The Darwinian Revolution" and his many decades of experience studying the history of science and the impact of Darwin. Participants can join the event through teleconference, in person (at Harvard), or through Skype. The event will take place from 8 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Upcoming lectures
Lecture 2: "Variation: Chapters 1 and 2 of 'On the Origin of Species'"
Pulitzer Prize-winning Professor Jonathan Weiner, Columbia University
Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Lecture 3: "The Making of the Fittest: Natural Selection and the DNA Record of Evolution"
Professor Sean Carroll, University of Wisconsin
Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Lecture 4: "Frontiers of Evolution"
Professor E.O. Wilson, Everett Mendelsohn, and others
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
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Pulitzer-prize winning professor Jonathan Weiner, author of "Beak of the Finch," among other books will deliver the second lecture in the 150th anniversary "Origin of Species" series. Attendees should read chapters 1 and 2 on variation in Darwin's great book. Participants can join the lecture via teleconference or skype. The lecture will take place from 8:00 p.m.–9:30 p.m. (EST).

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This public lecture by Paul Kalas, University of California, Berkeley, will take place in the Smithwick Theater, Foothill College, El Monte Road and Freeway 280, Los Altos Hills, California. Kalas led the team who managed the long-sought feat of actually taking a photograph of a planet orbiting another star. He will describe how they achieved the breakthrough using the Hubble and the wide range of planets out there that astronomers are discovering.

No background in science will be required for this talk. Call at 650-949-7888 for more information.  

Past Silicon Valley Astronomy Lectures are now available in MP3 format at
http://www.astrosociety.org/education/podcast/index.html

During this cruise on Le Levant, offered by the American Museum of Natural History, Captain Alfred S. McLaren will introduce participants to the ancient peoples who populated the vast shoreline of the Black Sea. He will talk about the Black Sea’s unusual evolution, its bathymetry (a measurement of depth), and the exotic marine species it nurtures. Participants will learn about exciting prospects for marine archaeology that are being planned; about the influence of the Black Sea on the Danube Delta, a unique aquatic environment of highly diverse flora and fauna; and, because of its strategic location about some of the major maritime conflicts that have taken place on the Black Sea in recent times.
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The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAEE) is holding their annual conference this year in Portland, Oregon. The opening Plenary session speaker is Peter Donaldson, creator of the one-man touring production “SALMONPEOPLE." The keynote Plenary is "A Sense of Wonder," a play based on the life and works of Rachel Carson, written and performed by Kaiulani Lee. Act I takes place in Miss Carson’s summer home as she is preparing to leave. Fighting cancer, she fears this may well be her last visit to her beloved Maine coast. Conference registration opens June 1.

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The What Works Clearinghouse will host a webinar discussing the recommendations from its latest practice guide, Helping Students Navigate the Path to College: What High Schools Can Do. The webinar will take place from 3–4 p.m. EST. During the webinar, authors of the guide, as well as college readiness experts and practitioners, will discuss the issue of preparing students for college and what current research suggests is most effective. Participants will then have the opportunity to discuss the guide's recommendations and strategies for implementation, as well as ask questions of the authors, experts, and practitioners. To RSVP, please email Patrick Murray at pmurray@commworksllc.com.
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This two-day workshop located at the Garden Classroom in California is ideal for those interested in supplementing their existing science program with garden-based learning. Participants will experience hands-on activities, learn basic science concepts and gardening techniques, and develop management strategies for a school gardening program.
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Is water ice present or absent in a crater near the Moon's polar region? Join the Exploratorium for a live webcast (1 p.m. PST) of the Lunar Crater Observing and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) mission, a NASA mission investigating the presence of water ice. The Exploratorium Web team will cover the mission, the explosion on the Moon, and the plume of matter that will shoot 40 feet into the air from the Moon's surface, visible from Earth.
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This professional development program will help teachers gain the confidence to introduce the topic of global climate change with middle and high school students. The CSI: Climate Status Investigations curriculum leads students through an exploration of the many aspects of global climate change.
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The DNA Learning Center of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is offering these one-day workshops, which introduce a website incorporating up-to-date neuroscience research, multimedia items, and interactive experiments. From molecular signals to neural circuits to anatomical structures of the brain, participants explore thinking and disorders of thinking at different levels of complexity. The site offers learning aids that allow students to track their paths through the site and to build concept maps using information they have encountered.

The American Geological Institute (AGI) holds this event to promote public and professional awareness of the status of Earth science in education and society. Classroom activity ideas and resources in conjunction with the theme, "Understanding Climate," are available online. 

AGI is sponsoring three national contests to allow students and the general public to participate in the celebration, learn about Earth science, and compete for prizes. The photography contest, open to all ages, focuses on “How Climate Shapes My World.” The visual arts contest, titled “The Climate Where I Live,” is open to students in grades K-5. Students in grades 6-9 are eligible to enter the essay contest: “Climate Connections.” Essays of up to 300 words should describe how climate interacts with Earth’s systems--geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere--in your area.

Entries are due on October 16. The first-place prize for each contest is $300 and a copy of AGI’s Faces of Earth 2-DVD package.
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Brazil’s Pantanal is the world's largest freshwater wetland, a refuge of lakes, waterways, and islands brimming with the greatest concentration of wildlife in South America. Earthwatch Institute is looking for volunteers to join in four research projects that each run 13 days (from June–October). Volunteers rendezvous at Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.
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Discover what students, teachers, parents, and administrators are saying about their use of Web 2.0 tools outside of school, the likelihood of these tools used professionally, and the attitudes about using such tools in the classroom. This webinar, which will take place at 11:00 AM PDT (2 PM EDT), provides a fresh perspective on Web 2.0 behavior and the linkage between personal use of these tools and the rate of inclusion of those tools in instruction.

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This science celebration will take a global audience from the strange subatomic world to the outer frontiers of the universe. Events will commemorate the 10th anniversary of Perimeter Institute’s creation, contributing to Canada's National Science and Technology Week activities, and providing on-site and online destinations during this International Year of Astronomy. Not only will presentations be available to on-site visitors in Waterloo, Ontario, the ideas and information will be shared via live television broadcasts throughout Ontario and Canada as well as live website streaming of most events to online audiences around the world.
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Oxidation/reduction is one of the most difficult concepts taught in an introductory chemistry classroom. This seminar will expose you to online resources to help you teach students these and other challenging aspects of oxidation/reduction. The seminar will explore videos, netorials, the Periodic Table Live!, and an online textbook to help you teach these concepts. The seminar, held from 6:30–8:00 p.m. EST, will also focus on current research in the field of oxidation and reduction and how you could bring this research into your classroom.
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The Prairie and Wetlands Center of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service holds events as professional development opportunities or simply a chance to learn something new and make a difference for prairie wetlands. The center is located in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.
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The key to successful technology-infused learning projects is designing a task flexible enough to challenge and meet the needs of all learners. This TeachersFirst online session will focus on ways to design such a task with inherent flexibility and varied resources so all students can be successful and take responsibility for their own learning at an individually appropriate level. The same content will be repeated at two separate time blocks: 4:00–5:15 pm and 7:00–8:15 pm EST.
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The American Chemical Society invites educators, students, and the community to participate in local events and use national resources like hands-on activities and articles aligned with the National Science Education Standards and a K-12 contest to encourage an interest in science. This year's theme, “Chemistry—It’s Elemental!”, celebrates the 140th anniversary of Dmitri Mendeleev's Periodic table. Teachers and students can study the history and uses of different elements and learn about Mendeleev, who has an element named after him (element #101, the radioactive mendelevium).  
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Based on the National Science Resources Center’s model of effective science education reform, ASSET’s K-8 Science Education Strategic Planning Institute provides a forum for school districts to develop a strategic plan for implementing research- and inquiry-based science in the classroom. Districts are encouraged to send a team consisting of an administrator, teacher, and community partner. Intended audiences: administrators, school board members, teachers, teacher educators, community members, researchers, state policymakers

The institute will be held at the Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh International Airport, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Contact: Debbie Clark, Manager of Events and Professional Development Administration, at 412-481-7320.

ASSET Inc. is an independent nonprofit organization with a mission to continuously improve teaching and learning through science education. ASSET currently serves more than 164 school districts, charter and private schools impacting more than 4,700 teachers and 183,000 students across Pennsylvania.

The two-volume Atlas of Science Literacy is an innovative resource that presents nearly 100 strand maps developed by AAAS Project 2061. This three-day workshop will give participants a new perspective on standards-based reform and a new tool for the work that lies ahead. Participants will use Atlas 1 and 2 and other Project 2061 resources to enhance their understanding of science literacy and to improve curricula, instruction, and assessment.

Hundreds of astronomy clubs, observatories, museums, colleges, and planetariums worldwide host special family-oriented Astronomy Day events and festivities. Teachers can use Astronomy Day/Week resources to promote the study of astronomy with their classes. (Astronomy Day occurs on October 24, 2009.)
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Ground water and water wells can provide a learning laboratory for children, not only in science, but also in other areas of the school curriculum. Held in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey, American Ground Water Trust (AGWT) programs will be offered around the nation. The two-day course will cover water resources concepts at the middle school and high school levels and provide information for class use. Field trips, presentations, demonstrations, discussions, and handouts will touch on Earth science, environmental science, physics, chemistry, biology/ecology, math, and civics.

Presentations are content focused, and the information can be modified to fit a wide range of age groups and class curricula. At least one presenter will relate the institute content to state standards/teaching requirements. Field trips to local geology sites will emphasize hydrologic science concepts and provide real-life experiences and examples that can be used in the classroom. CEU credits (1.2) are available.

Middle school educators are invited to join the International Space Station EarthKAM Mission. This NASA-sponsored opportunity allows students to take pictures of Earth from a digital camera on board the International Space Station. The project provides stunning, high-quality photographs of Earth taken from the space shuttle and International Space Station. Since 1996, ISS EarthKAM students have taken thousands of photographs of Earth by using the web to direct a digital camera on select spaceflights and, currently, on the International Space Station. The image collection and accompanying learning guides and activities support classes in Earth science, space science, geography, social studies, mathematics, communications, and art.
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The 2009 California Ag in the Classroom Conference in Sonoma County offers garden and nutrition-based lesson ideas, hands-on gardening activities for multiple grade levels and abilities, field trips to innovative school garden sites, networking opportunities, and an introduction to individuals who have transformed their gardens into living laboratories.
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Chemists observe Mole Day to celebrate Avogadro's number, also known as the Avogadro constant, which represents the number of particles in a mole: approximately 6.022 × 10 to the 23rd power. In honor of the number, celebrations take place on 10/23 from 6:02 a.m. to 6:02 p.m. The following programs from the Annenberg Channel relate to Mole Day:

• Program 11 of The World of Chemistry  can help you learn or
  teach about Avogadro's number and related concepts.
• Program 49 of The Mechanical Universe...and Beyond discusses Avogadro's number and its role in the development of atomic theory.
• Essential Science for Teachers: Physical Science shows how children's preconceptions about particles and conservation of matter can affect their learning of chemistry concepts.

These events bring together hundreds of middle school girls for a festive day of science and socializing. Each festival features a keynote by astronaut Sally Ride; workshops for girls, given by local veterinarians, astronomers, microbiologists, and engineers; workshops for parents and teachers on ways to support girls’ interests in science and math; and a street fair with cool hands-on activities, booths, food, and music.

Fall 2009 festivals to be announced.

Schools and districts are struggling with how to appropriately incorporate into instruction 21st century skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, communication, teamwork and technology literacy. How much value and importance these skills have in job preparedness is just as confusing. For the past two years, Speak Up surveys have polled students, teachers and parents about these skills—and we’ve learned that each group has a different take on the value of these skills.

Approximately 5,000 Hispanic students, professionals, corporate representatives, educators, and community leaders throughout the United States are expected to attend the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) Conference in Washington, DC. The conference offers a lineup of educational, technical, networking, and career programs to support college students and professionals. In addition, programs for middle and high school students will introduce them to opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields, and encourage them to pursue those fields in the future. Events will take place at the Washington Convention Center and at the Marriott Wardman, Omni Shoreham, and Renaissance Washington, DC hotels.
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NSTA’s first 2009 Area Conference on Science Education--for science educators at every stage in their careers and for every grade band--offers more than 300 workshops, presentations, sessions, and daylong programs. Attendees learn new strategies, increase their content knowledge, are inspired by “the best” in the field, and can choose to network with those who have a passion for science education. A favorite is the Exhibition Hall where national companies come to share new products, inform teachers, and send you back to the classroom with a tote full of giveaways.

Check out the strands:

• Science Teaching in a Greener World
• Making Science Connections for Student Learning Across the Curriculum
• Sharpen and Shape Science Instruction and Assessment

Featured Speakers

• Richard Louv, futurist, journalist, and author of Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder
• Page Keeley, Author, Senior Science Program Director and Retiring NSTA President, will speak on Formative Assessment
• Winona LaDuke, leading Native American, environmental activist and founding director of the White Earth Land Recovery Project, will speak on sustainability and “greening” of America
• Michael Klentschy, educator, author, leader and Administrator of the Year in 2005 (among many awards) will speak on “The Science-Literacy Connection”

If you are curious about emerging technology and want to know more about nanotechnology, this conference is for you. The event will take place in Danville, Virginia, at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, where experts in the field will be your guides to the nanoworld. Nobel Laureate Sir Harry Kroto, a co-discoverer of the buckyball who is regarded as a founding father of nanotechnology, will share his tools for unlocking the mysteries of nanoscience with your students.

Your tour into the nanoworld will continue with Dr. Wade Adams, director of the Smalley Institute at Rice University, which is responsible for some of the most astounding nanoscience discoveries to date. He will walk you through current research and explain what is so unique about nano. Then Jim Batterson, a retired NASA scientist and senior advisor to the Commonwealth for STEM Initiatives, will discuss the state of STEM in Virginia and nanotechnologies' impact on Virginia SOLs. Marlene Bourne, an expert in nanoconsumer products, will discuss the amazing things already in use that are changing our world. Finally, the science editor of Dragonfly TV, Lisa Regalla, who created a mini-series on nanoscience for middle schoolers will inform you about the best, FREE, nanoscience resources for the classroom.

This Wildlife Conservation Society Online Teacher Training Course provides background knowledge in habitats and wildlife, basic ecology, adaptations, how organisms interact with their environment, and the interactions between organisms in temperate forests and wetlands. Course members will explore humanity’s influence and interaction with nature and discuss teaching ecology to elementary school children. Participants will learn from virtual and interactive simulations, videos, presentations from WCS scientists and educators, and enjoy interaction with other teachers from around the world. WCS is NSTA's newest Professional Development Provider in the NSTA Institute.
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This year’s theme, "Growing Fertile Minds," will feature sessions on how to create specific types of school gardens, how to start farm-to-school programs, and how to use school grounds to enhance cross-curricular learning. The symposium will be hosted by Chase Street Elementary School in Athens, Georgia. Educators may choose to earn one Professional Learning Unit (1 PLU) by also participating in a post-symposium workshop that will take place at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia in Athens on Saturday, October 31.
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InvenTeams composed of high school students, teachers, and mentors are asked to collaboratively identify a problem  they want to solve, research the problem, and then develop a prototype invention as an in-class or extracurricular project. Up to 15 grants of up to $10,000 each will be awarded to selected teams. Grant funding is intended for research, materials, and learning experiences related to developing the team's invention. High school science, mathematics, and technology teachers—or teams of teachers—at public, private, and vocational schools are eligible to apply.


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