NAGTNews - Vol 13 - No 11 - November 2014

An archive of past NAGTNews message is available to members at http://serc.carleton.edu/mailman/listinfo/nagt.
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1. NAGT at AGU

Seeking Volunteers for the NAGT Booth at AGU

We are actively soliciting NAGT members to help staff the booth during the GSA meeting in Vancouver. The vendors area will open at 6:00 PM on Monday, December 15 and there are opportunities to volunteer each day until the showcase closes at 1:30 PM on Friday, December 19.

This is a great way to meet other NAGT members from around the country and sharing your excitement about geoscience education is really critical to helping bring new members on board. If you've never volunteered at the booth before, it's so easy! And there will be experienced NAGT officers and staff on hand so newbies won't be thrown in the deep end.

If you have even a little time you can give to representing NAGT, please contact Krista Herbstrith (kherbstr at carleton.edu) in the Executive Director's Office and she can get you on the schedule.

Connect Via Social Media at AGU

Have you every learned about something fun and interesting that happened at AGU after the fact, or even after the meeting? Of course, you have. And by the same token, you've probably found something that you wish your colleagues and friends had known about but couldn't get word to them. Again this year, NAGT is going to try to make it easier to know about things that are going on all across this vast meeting by using social media. If you know of something that you think other geoscience educators should know about, just send a tweet to @nagtgeo and include the hashtag #nagtagu14. We'll be gathering all those tweets together on a page so that we can all benefit in near-real time.

2. Congratulations to the NAGT Geo2YC 2014 Outstanding Adjunct

On behalf of the NAGT Geo2YC Division, it is our distinct pleasure to congratulate Michelle Selvans of Northern Virginia Community College as the winner of the 2014 Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award!

Dr. Selvans is a planetary scientist, currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at the National Air and Space Museum (NASM). She teaches geology courses at the Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), including Physical Geology, Historical Geology, and various 1-day Field Study courses, and also works with the NASM Education Division to provide informal geoscience education. She brings her expertise in tectonics and planetary science to the classroom, and enjoyed overhearing (during her last course: Environmental Geology of Prince William Forest Park, Field Studies), "I like that we're talking about more than rocks!" She will be giving an invited talk at the upcoming American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting on the curriculum design considerations for this course, which includes both human and geologic history of the area. She was also recognized for bringing geoscience education to the public with the Digman Award, presented by National Association of Geoscience Teachers Eastern Section (2014).

In addition to a complimentary year's membership to NAGT, Dr. Selvans will also receive an honorarium from Pearson Publishing to support her professional development. She will publish an article for the Division newsletter, Foundations, in 2015 detailing what the award allowed her to accomplish.

Congratulation, Michelle!

3. Teaching GeoEthics Across the Curriculum

A new set of web pages about teaching GeoEthics Across the Curriculum offers a wealth of information for bringing this important topic into the classroom. The pages include a discussion of what geoethics is, why it's important, and how to integrate it into the classroom - including example activities that can be implemented. The pages follow a 2014 workshop and an expanded discussion of workshop outcomes will be featured in a November 2014 EOS article. There will also be a session devoted to this topic at the 2014 American Geophysical Union conference in San Francisco, CA; we invite you to check it out!

4. Workshop Application Deadline Extended

Making Good Courses Great with Educational Technology

January 12-16, 2015 Virtual workshop
APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENDED: November 17, 2014

No matter what sort of geoscience course you teach, new technologies can make your course better. Active learning, higher-order thinking, and student engagement can all be encouraged with the use of the right technology. If you want to make your class student focused with the help of technology (such as, but not limited to, clickers, pre-lectures, adaptive tests, and peer-reviewed grading) this workshop is for you. There are many possibilities, and in this virtual workshop we'll provide practical advice on how to apply technologies that you're interested in - by professors with experience in the trenches – and maybe some new ideas that you won't have encountered before.

For an overview of the workshop, go here: http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/online2015/overview.html

5. Three New InTeGrate Modules: Hazards, Minerals, and Sustainable Agriculture

The InTeGrate Project is please to announce the release of three new interdisciplinary teaching modules for use undergraduate classrooms.

Map Your Hazards! - Assessing Hazards, Vulnerability, and Risk

Developed by Professor Brittany Brant, Boise State University, Professor Pamela McMullin-Messier, and Professor Melissa Schlegel, College of Western Idaho, this three-week teaching module provides students an interactive mechanism to engage in place-based exploration of natural hazards, social vulnerability, risk and the factors that shape their communities perception of natural hazards and risk. The module is interdisciplinary in nature as it allows students to integrate interdisciplinary geoscience and social science methodologies to understand societal impacts that result from natural hazards. Students will gain insight into how our knowledge and perspectives of the world shape how we interact with it, and how we promote and build resilient communities through understanding the relationship between human systems (built environment) and natural systems. Map Your Hazards! – Assessing Hazards, Vulnerability and Risk is a great fit for courses in environmental science, Earth science, natural hazards, social problems, global change, and environmental studies.

Dependence on Earth's Mineral Resources

Developed by Professor Prajukti Bhattacharyya, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Professor Joy Branlund, Southwestern Illinois College, and Professor Leah Joseph, Ursinus College, this two- to three-week teaching module combines learning about rocks and minerals (and how these become the products students use), methods of mineral resource discovery and extraction, and the impact of mineral resource use. This module allows important geoscience concepts to be taught in the context of important and immediate societal issues while also asking students to confront human issues such as environmental justice, economics, personal choice, and politics that may arise due to obtaining, beneficiating, transporting, trading, using, and disposing of natural resources. Humans' Dependence on Earth's Mineral Resources is a great fit for courses in environmental science, geology, meteorology, oceanography, and geological hazards.

A Growing Concern: Sustaining Soil Resources through Local Decision Making

Developed by Professor Sarah Fortner, Wittenberg University, Professor Martha Murphy, Santa Rosa Junior College, and Professor Hannah Scherer, Virginia Tech, this two- to three-week teaching module addresses soil sustainability in the context of land management and climate change. Students gain an understanding of the nature and methods of geoscience through building observational skills, using charts to characterize soil samples, and working with geospatial data to understand how humans alter geologic rates of change. Geoscientific habits of mind will grow through working with authentic data and translating scaffolded knowledge into decision-making as students take on the role of agricultural "experts." The module culminates with a project centered on making sustainable soil management decisions under global climate change. A Growing Concern: Sustaining Soil Resources through Local Decision Making is a great fit for courses in intro geology, intro environmental science, intro soil science, and sustainability courses.

6. News from SAGE 2YC

Webinar Series

There is still one more opportunity to take part in the SAGE 2YC (Supporting and Advancing Geoscience Education in Two-year Colleges) Fall Webinar Series.

• November 21 - Strategies for Supporting 2YC/4YC Student Transfer in the Geosciences (Registration deadline - 11/14)

There is no cost to attend a webinar, but registration is required. Each event has its own registration, and participants can register for as many events as they wish with a deadline one week before the webinar. Please join us!

Webinars will be held on Fridays from 3-4 PM Eastern | 2-3 PM Central | 1-2 PM Mountain | 12-1 PM Pacific.

Workshop/Discussion on Undergraduate Research with Students at Two-year Colleges at the AGU 2014 Fall Meeting

Undergraduate Research With Students at Two-Year Colleges
Tuesday, 15 December 2014,
12:10 PM - 1:20 PM
Moscone South: Mezzanine - 224 & 226

This lunch-time discussion (appetizers provided) will provide an opportunity to explore the variety of approaches for undergraduate research with students at two-year colleges, ranging from research in courses, internships, community-college and university collaborations to Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) programs designed specifically for students from two-year colleges. The session will include short presentations followed by small-group discussions focusing on opportunities, challenges, and strategies. We welcome faculty from two-year colleges and four-year colleges and universities, representatives from professional organizations, graduate students, and others who are interested in this topic.

Sponsored by SAGE 2YC, COSEE-Pacific Partnerships, and the American Geophysical Union; cosponsored by GeoCUR and NAGT Geo2YC.

7. AGU Heads and Chairs Workshop, Sunday, 14 December

The AGU Heads and Chairs Workshop will take place on Sunday, 14 December, just before the Fall Meeting in San Francisco, Calif. This year's program includes topics such as mentoring faculty, forging academic and industry partnerships, managing faculty, and conducting faculty searches. Other topics based on participant interest also will be included as part of the small group discussions. The workshop begins with breakfast at 8:00 A.M., includes lunch, and ends at 6:00 P.M. The full workshop program is now available, as well as the link to register. Space is limited to 60 participants, so sign up today!

8. UNAVCO Geo-LAUNCHPAD Internships

The UNAVCO Geo-LAUNCHPAD program provides students from groups underrepresented in geosciences the opportunity to develop research-ready skills by working on a collaborative research-support project located and managed at an NSF facility, UNAVCO, with the overarching goal of increasing the number and diversity of undergraduate geoscience majors.

Geo-LAUNCHPAD helps interns develop research-ready skills through work on a collaborative research support project at UNAVCO in Boulder, Colorado under the mentorship of a UNAVCO project manager. A Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) focused on participating in particular aspects of the research process is an ideal way for students early in their academic career to engage in research. Interns work collaboratively to support a science community research project that is mentored by a UNAVCO project manager. This work is complemented by other development activities including a weekly communications workshop, a weekend field trip to the University of Colorado Mountain Research Station, and activities including other summer interns.

The 2015 Program will run June 8 through July 31 and applications are due by February 10, 2015.

9. Dynamic Mars: A Virtual, Interactive Professional Opportunity for College and University Faculty

This online professional development opportunity for faculty and undergraduate instructors will provide resources for infusing Mars content and NASA discoveries in your courses - focused on introductory-level earth-science and geology courses and applicable to geomorphology, hydrology, astronomy, planetary science, astronomy, and more.

This NASA-supported webinar opportunity consists of four, LIVE, one-hour virtual sessions:

Dates: January 13, 15, 20, and 22, 2015 (Tuesdays and Thursdays)
Time: 9-10 pm EST (8-9pm CST, 7-8 pm MST, 6-7 pm PST)

Each hour will include an overview of some aspect of Mars geology and introduce specific resources, programs, and teaching activities that you can use in your existing classes (e.g., spanning topics of rivers, deltas, groundwater, wind, extremophiles). Each session will be interactive and include time for questions.

Topics will include: Introduction to the rocky planet Mars, exploring Martian landscapes, evidence of water on Mars, and mysteries regarding life on Mars, NASA missions to Mars.

Project leaders/presenters:

Marjorie Chan, Professor, Department of Geology & Geophysics, University of Utah
Glen Schuster, Project Director, Endeavor Science Teaching Certificate Project, U.S. Satellite Laboratory

Registration deadline: December 19, 2014

http://www.us-satellite.net/dynamicmars/

10. AGI Accepting Applications for 2014 Award for Excellence in Earth Science Teaching

Alexandria, VA - The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is accepting applications for the Edward C. Roy Award for Excellence in Earth Science Teaching. Given annually, this award is presented to one full-time K-8 teacher in the U.S. or U.K. whose excellence and innovation in the classroom elevates students' understanding of the Earth and its many processes.

The winner of the Edward C. Roy Award will receive a cash prize and an additional travel grant to attend the National Science Teachers Association Annual Conference in Chicago in March 2015. To be eligible, applications must be postmarked by January 10, 2015.

The Edward C. Roy Award is given in honor of Dr. Edward C. Roy Jr., a strong and dedicated supporter of Earth science education. A past president of AGI and former chair of the AGI Education Advisory Committee, Roy was a lifelong supporter of teachers and students of all ages.

For more information on requirements, application procedures and deadlines, please visit http://www.americangeosciences.org/education/awards/roy.

11. Survey for Summit on the Future of Geoscience Education

Geoscience research and undergraduate education have and are undergoing a transformation – it is time for us as a geoscience community to take a critical look at what we want our students to know and be able to do when they graduate and how best to accomplish this important task. The 2014 NSF-sponsored Summit on the Future of Undergraduate Geoscience Education (see below) made major progress towards developing a collective community vision for undergraduate geoscience education (Summary Report). Please help us continue this process by providing your views through an online Survey and by participating in a Town Meeting or Hall this fall. Your perspective is important so that we can further refine, evaluate and assess ongoing efforts to implement this developing vision.

We will hold a Town Hall at the Fall AGU meeting (Monday, December 15 2014 from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM, Moscone West, 2004) to give you more opportunities to discuss these issues.

The summit brought together a broad spectrum of the undergraduate geoscience education community, ~200 educators from R1 research universities with undergraduate programs, four-year private and state colleges (4YC), and 2-year community colleges (2YC) from across the country, as well as representatives from industry and professional geoscience societies. The summit focused on three main topics:

• What content, competencies, and skills do undergraduates need to be successful in graduate school and the future workforce?
• What are the best ways of teaching and using technology to enhance student learning?
• How can we broaden participation and retention of underrepresented groups and prepare K-12 science teachers to build a robust, diverse and informed future geoscience workforce

For more information, including links to the Summary Report and Survey, go to: http://www.jsg.utexas.edu/events/future-of-geoscience-undergraduate-education/

• An AGU/AGI Heads and Chairs webinar summarizing the summit outcomes is available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmCYaATD4eo
• All parts of the Summit (Keynote presentations, panel and entire group discussions – see Schedule/Agenda) can be viewed at: Webcast Archive.

We need to create a community vision for undergraduate geoscience education and successfully implement it, which takes all our combined efforts. I encourage you to read our initial report, express your views on the survey and in Town Halls, and most importantly encourage changes in departments across the country.

Thanks in advance for your help,

Sharon Mosher
Chair Organizing Committee, University of Texas at Austin

12. Resources & an Award for Those Teaching Astronomy

New or Updated Resource Guides for Astronomy Educators

New resource guides in the Unheard Voices series, "The Astronomy of Many Cultures" and "Women in Astronomy" can be found at: http://multiverse.ssl.berkeley.edu/Learning-Resources/Educator-Resource-Guides

An updated guide to science fiction stories with reasonable astronomy and physics (organized by science topic) is now available at: http://www.astrosociety.org/scifi

Astronomy Talks on YouTube

New talks by noted astronomers in the Silicon Valley Astronomy Lecture Series can be found on their YouTube channel at: http://www.youtube.com/SVAstronomyLectures/

Recent lectures include: Caleb Scharf (Columbia) on "The Copernicus Complex;" Michael Bicay (NASA) on "A Decade of Spitzer Space Telescope Results;" Chung-Pei Ma (U of California, Berkeley) on "Monster Black Holes;" Roger Romani (Stanford) on "Black Widow Pulsars; " and Alex Filippenko (Berkeley) on "Exploding Stars, New Planets, and the Crisis at the Lick Observatory."

Audio-only Podcasts that can be played on many different devices are also available at: https://www.astrosociety.org/education/past-silicon-valley-astronomy-lectures/

ASP Invites Nominations for the Emmons Award for College Astronomy Teaching

The Astronomical Society of the Pacific is now accepting nominations for the 2015 Emmons Award for outstanding contributions to the teaching of college-level introductory astronomy. Please see: https://astrosociety.org/who-we-are/awards/richard-h-emmons-award.html for more information. Nomination materials are due by Feb. 15, 2015.

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Rock and Mineral Exchange Posts

• Available: Rock specimens for trade

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Lecturer with Potential for Security of Employment position in Earth System Science - UC Irvine

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The Department of Geological Sciences at California State University Fullerton invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professorship in Geoscience Education. Review of applications begins November 14, 2014.

Geosciences Assistant Professor - Fort Lewis College

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The Department of Geosciences at Fort Lewis College invites applications for a full-time tenure-track position in the field of Environmental Geosciences at the Assistant Professor level commencing in the fall semester of 2015.