News & Announcements
- 2019 Earth Educators' Rendezvous Deadlines are May 1st for Early Registration, Review Camp, and NGSS Tagging Camp!
- Looking Forward to the Earth Educators' Rendezvous: Q&A with Caitlin Callahan and Lynsey Lemay, 2019 EER Conference Chairs
- In the Trenches Seeks Editor-in-Chief
- NAGT Diversity and Donor Committees Seek New Members
- Honor your Colleagues and your Students by Nominating them for an NAGT Award
- GSA Session to Celebrate the Role of Heather Macdonald in Geoscience Education in Two-year Colleges
- Teach the Earth needs your help!
- AGU Invites You to Recognize an Early-to Mid-Career Professional
- Journal of Geoscience Education Announcements
- A New Addition to Teach the Earth: Teaching Nanoscience Across the STEM Curriculum
- SENCER Summer Institute Call for Session Proposals
Upcoming Webinars and Workshops
Deadlines
- Spring Deadlines Associated with the 2019 Earth Educators' Rendezvous
- NAGT Award Nominations
- GSA Annual Election deadline is April 13
- Submit an NAGT Sponsored Session for the Fall 2019 AGU Meeting: Proposal Deadline April 17
- Traveling Workshop Application Deadline
- NAGT Career Hub: Ongoing
Section and Division Highlights
NAGT Career Hub
Rock and Mineral Exchange
1. 2019 Earth Educators' Rendezvous Deadlines are May 1st for Early Registration, Review Camp, and NGSS Tagging Camp!
Have you secured your spot at the 2019 Earth Educators' Rendezvous in Nashville? Don't forget to register by May 1 for the best prices!
Still on the fence? Rendezvous' professional development opportunities abound! Capitalize on experience from your colleagues at a variety of workshops, present and discuss your own findings, and network with others engaged in improving undergraduate Earth education! Check out this year's workshops, mini-workshops, roundtables, plenaries, and more on the program, read on in this newsletter to hear what the co-chairs are most excited about, and check out the newly posted contributed program! And if you're still interested in presenting a poster or share-a-thon presentation? You can still submit a late abstract (by May 15).
If you have some flexibility to arrive early, we invite you to explore these opportunities to participate in the Sunday Activity Review Camp or NGSS Tagging Camp.
Plus, we're already planning the 2020 Rendezvous! If you're interested in hosting Rendezvous, or if you have a suggested venue, please submit your interest here! Hosting the Rendezvous is a great way to showcase your department, institution, and your geographical region. The Rendezvous events bring the nation's leading Earth Educators to your school and opens up opportunities for your colleagues to participate. Also, if you or your institution are in a position to sponsor the Rendezvous, please let us know.
2. Looking Forward to the Earth Educators' Rendezvous: Q&A with Caitlin Callahan and Lynsey Lemay, 2019 EER Conference Chairs
Caitlin Callahan (Grand Valley State University) and Lynsey LeMay (Thomas Nelson Community College) are co-chairing the 2019 Earth Educators' Rendezvous in Nashville, TN. In the following conversation, they share insight into what to expect at this year's conference.
What about the 2019 Rendezvous program is new or different from the previous year?
CNC: While the Rendezvous changes location every year, this is the first time that the conference will be held at a historically black university. I'm excited to see how the setting will frame conversations during the week. For instance, I'm really looking forward to the Integrated Environmental Systems workshop to be held at the TSU farm. The idea for this workshop came from a community member who suggested that the planning committee should think of ways to feature resources and opportunities specific to the host institution. I am grateful to Reginald Archer and the workshop leaders for creating this session, and am excited to see a prominent feature of the university be shared with a large audience.
What are you most excited about for the upcoming Rendezvous?
LL: Is it fair to say all of it?! I'm really excited to see the theme of broadening our communities of practice. As a community college faculty, community is important. I have found it extremely important to connect with local 4YC faculty, local K-12 faculty, and local groups like the Master Naturalists, and always learn so much from each, particularly as it relates to how to share science to a variety of audiences. Yet, it is so important to engage with colleagues from different geographic areas as well, to share teaching strategies, to discuss ways we've overcome challenges at our institutions, and to learn about the diversity within the geosciences. I look forward to engaging in these conversations, meeting new friends and colleagues, and continuing these discussions later, so that we all are better connected, and are able to best support each other's work.
What was one takeaway you got from serving as Conference Co-Chair for the 2018 Rendezvous, and how is that insight shaping your plans and/or process as Conference Co-Chair for the 2019 Rendezvous?
CNC: Last year, in Lawrence, I attended Kim Kasten's poster presentation with results from her evaluations of the first three Rendezvous conferences. It was impressive to see some of the impacts that the Rendezvous is having on the community. In particular, I have thought many times about the documented benefits of receiving as well as sharing knowledge and experiences through attendance. We have and are continuing to think of ways to consider the importance of the "give:get" ratio in designing the program, from the scheduled sessions to the informal events.
What do you find most rewarding about the work you're doing to organize the 2019 Rendezvous?
LL: I find it incredibly rewarding, and exciting, to be able to work with such a talented group to plan and organize the Rendezvous. I have learned so much from the many brainstorming sessions and planning calls, and really value the time and effort everyone puts in to organize this event. A side benefit is the broadening of my professional network, and the necessity to connect with colleagues across different institution types and disciplines.
What is one goal you have for the 2019 Rendezvous?
CNC: The Rendezvous is a fantastic opportunity to gain new ideas for teaching and to make new connections with others in the attendance. The Rendezvous is notable as well for bringing together a broad range of communities. Thus, my hope for myself and for others is that this year provides some fresh insight into the strengths and needs of different those communities.
What do you believe the Earth Educators' Rendezvous offers to the geoscience education community?
LL: The EER is a unique opportunity, unlike traditional national meetings, to really dig in to topics related to teaching geosciences. It is a chance to connect, learn, and start to put into practice what we've learned before we've even left the meeting. The workshop format allows for the application of material, and that time is so valuable. It is a great opportunity to really engage and learn from each other.
3. In the Trenches Seeks Editor-in-Chief
4. NAGT Diversity and Donor Committees Seek New Members
Are you or someone you know interested in getting further involved in NAGT? The Diversity Committee and Donor Development Initiative Committee seek nominations for new committee members.
The Diversity Committee promotes the development of a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive geoscience education committee and is looking first within NAGT and its programs. Learn more about this committee and its current members.
The Donor Development committee guides the fundraising and development operations of the National Association of Geoscience Teachers. Learn more about this committee and its current members.
If you are interested or would like to nominate someone to serve on either committee, please use this nomination form. Self-nominations are welcome.
5. Honor Your Colleagues and Students by Nominating Them for an NAGT Award
- NAGT's Outstanding Earth Science Teacher (OEST) awards are given for exceptional contributions to the stimulation of interest in the Earth Sciences at the pre-college level. Any teacher or other K-12 educator who covers a significant amount of Earth science content with their students is eligible. Ten national finalists are selected, one from each NAGT regional section. Some sections also recognize state winners. Individuals may apply themselves or nominate a colleague for the award. The selection of award winners is conducted at the Section level and each Section sets its own deadline for nomination. A listing of the deadlines and contact people for each Section is listed on the award website. Check out your Section's deadline and submit your nominations via the website. And remember, you can also nominate yourself!
- In honor of Dottie Stout's outstanding work and lifelong dedication to Earth science education, NAGT awards Dorothy Lalonde Stout Professional Development Grants that support Earth science professional development in three categories: Community College Faculty, Community College Student, and K-12 Educator.The deadline for applications, which include a proposal describing how applicants will use the award to support their professional growth, is April 15.
- Do you know an outstanding teaching assistant? Thanks to a generous gift from Thomas Hendrix, Grand Valley State University and NAGT member donors, NAGT is able to recognize outstanding teaching assistants in geoscience education with up to 30 awards annually. Both undergraduate and graduate teaching assistants are eligible for the award. The deadline to nominate students is June 15.
- The Robert Christman Distinguished Service Award was established to recognize individuals who have provided long, distinguished service to NAGT at the national and/or section level. Nominations are accepted on an ongoing basis.
6. GSA Session to Celebrate the Role of Heather Macdonald in Geoscience Education in Two-year Colleges
This GSA session, supported by Geo2YC, NAGT, and the Geoscience Education Division of GSA, will highlight these many contributions and outcomes, and to thank her for her long-standing support of geoscience education at 2YC's. Please consider contributing an abstract to this session and participating in related activities in the upcoming GSA meeting in Phoenix, AZ, 22-25 September. Presentations should describe outcomes of the workshops and programs organized and co-organized by Heather through to SAGE 2YC: Faculty as Change Agents project. Please note that abstracts are due 25 June 2019.
If you cannot attend GSA in Phoenix, and you would like to contribute, please send your thoughts, reminisces and congratulations via David Voorhees, either by email (dvoorhees@waubonsee.edu) or mail (Waubonsee Community College, Rt 47 @Waubonsee Dr., Sugar Grove, IL 60554). Selected comments will be read at the session, and all comments and other memorabilia will be compiled into a future article in the Geo2YC newsletter, Foundations. Come ready to share and to congratulate!
7. Teach the Earth Needs Your Help!
Have you ever searched Teach the Earth (or elsewhere online) for high quality, ready-to-go activities or topics that are suitable for your geoscience course, only to come up empty handed? This is your chance to tell the Teach the Earth website committee all about it! We are interested in learning more about the needs of Teach the Earth users and want to identify gaps in the geoscience content housed in the Teach the Earth portal. You can help us do that by contributing your ideas to our discussion. If you aren't sure where to start, consider these questions: What educational resources (supporting your courses or teaching) have you searched for online but haven't been able to find? What new Earth education topics and resources would you like to see incorporated into Teach the Earth in the future?
8. AGU Invites You to Recognize an Early-to Mid-Career Professional
9. Journal of Geoscience Education Announcements
The latest issue of theJournal of Geoscience Education (JGE) is now out! With the journal's transition to publisher Taylor & Francis Group, remember that:
- You can now access JGE through your NAGT membership by going to your account page. (This is also a great time to renew your NAGT membership, if you haven't done so already!)
- You can now access two additional journals through our partnership with Taylor & Francis: Journal of Environmental Education and Science Activities. These are also available through your NAGT account page.
- To receive notice when new issues come out, you must sign up for alerts: Go to the JGE homepage and select "New content alerts." You can register for an account with Taylor & Francis to receive email alerts when new issues or articles are published. Note that registering for alerts at Taylor & Francis is not tied to your NAGT account or access.
- Join the community of peer reviewers: The Journal of Geoscience Education is always looking for peer reviewers with diverse expertise. Go to the journal's online submission and review system through Editorial Manager, and register or update your profile with classifications and keywords - these are used by Associate Editors to match manuscripts with reviewers. You can also contact Editor-in-Chief Anne Egger (jge-editor@nagt.org) or any other members of the Editorial Board if you are interested in serving as a reviewer.
10. A New Addition to Teach the Earth: Teaching Nanoscience Across the STEM Curriculum
11. SENCER Summer Institute Call for Session Proposals
The SENCER Summer Institute 2019 will be held August 1 through 4 at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH. The Summer Institutes provide professional development and networking opportunities over the course of four days to formal an informal educators, administrators, students, and representatives of non-profits and agencies. Click here to submit a session proposal.
InTeGrate Webinars
1. Helping Your Department or Program to Survive and Thrive in the Changing World of Higher Education
Thursday, April 18, 2019, at 10:00 am Pacific | 11:00 am Mountain | 12:00 pm Central | 1:00 pm EasternThe rapidly changing world of higher education provides both threats and opportunities to Earth and environmental programs. As financial pressures mount, departments and programs with low enrollment or that for various reasons are not seen as aligned with administration priorities may be at risk for consolidation or termination. Yet there are also opportunities for programs to show their relevance and benefits to the college or university and to the larger community. In this April 18 webinar, Kathy Browne (Rider University) presents the story of how one academic department recovered and became stronger after an existential threat, and Stephen Mulkey (University of Florida & Unity College) provides context of the pressures facing higher education and strategies for survival, recovery, and thriving. Register by Tuesday, April 16, 2019.
2. Core Competencies for Sustainability Education Programs
Friday, April 26, 2019, at 11:00 am Pacific |12:00 pm Mountain | 1:00 pm Central | 2:00 pm EasternIn this April 26 webinar, Rod Parnell and Peter Walker will describe the significance of core competencies to academic programs, especially those in rapidly developing fields. They define what they mean by core competencies, learning outcomes and frameworks; report on the current state of research on key competencies in sustainability and highlight the most utilized core competency systems; present NCSE preliminary data focused on program-level learning outcomes related to key competencies in sustainability; and conclude with discussing the consensus building process and next steps in the evolution of core competencies in sustainability. Register by Wednesday, April 24, 2019.
3. Teaching Nanoscience in the Earth and Environmental Sciences
Monday, April 29, 2019, at 12:00 pm Pacific | 1:00 pm Mountain | 2:00 pm Central | 3:00 pm EasternFind out why you should consider teaching about nanoscience in your Earth and Environmental Science classes. Nanoscience is an exciting emerging field of research that provides abundant opportunities for research and employment in the Earth and Environmental Sciences. This April 29, 2019, webinar, presented by Dave Mogk, Montana State University and Mike Hochella, Virginia Tech, presents an overview of basic concepts about nanoscience, and the many ways that nanomaterials interact with the Earth system. Nanomaterials (natural, engineered and incidental) play central roles in the energetics and mass balance of Earth processes, and also have huge impacts on environmental and human health. At the nano-scale the "rules" are different, and there are many examples of size dependence of physical and chemical properties of materials that may be quite different on the nano- vs. micro- or meso-scale. This webinar summarizes the key concepts about nanoscience in the Earth system recently published in 10-page review article in a recent issue of Science: Natural, incidental, and engineered nanomaterials and their impacts on the Earth system. The presenters also provide an overview of a new website that supports teaching about nanoscience in your regular course work (e.g., Mineralogy, Geochemistry, Petrology, Hydrology, Environmental Geology....): Teaching Nanoscience Across the STEM Curriculum. We provide suggestions on "What," "Why," and "How" to teach nanoscience. Register by Friday, April 26, 2019.
MATLAB Workshop
Teaching Computational Thinking Skills with MATLAB
October 20-22, 2019, at Carleton College, Northfield, MN
For students to succeed at research and careers in STEM, they require quantitative thinking and computational skills. This workshop brings together faculty who teach computation in their courses and are interested in strengthening and developing their teaching skills and MATLAB based materials. Working in sessions and 1-on-1 with faculty peers and MATLAB experts, participants will discuss teaching strategies, tools, and resources. Participants will spend time during the workshop evolving and improving their course materials based on give-and-take with and colleagues. Because the workshop includes educators from multiple disciplines – from Biology to Engineering to Math – the workshop enables sharing of ideas and best practices across fields of study.
The workshop sessions include a keynote speaker, presentations of effective lessons and teaching methods, panel discussions, and working in groups. Application deadline: Friday, June 14, 2019
1. Spring Deadlines Associated with the 2019 Earth Educators' Rendezvous
The 2019 Earth Educators' Rendezvous will take place July 15-19, in Nashville, TN. Approaching deadlines include:
- Early registration deadline: May 1
- Activity Review Camp and NGSS Tagging Camp application deadlines: May 1
- Late Poster and Share-a-Thon submission deadline: May 15
2. NAGT Award Nominations
As mentioned above, the following awards have upcoming deadlines:
- Outstanding Earth Science Teacher (OEST) awards: A listing of the deadlines and contact people for each Section is listed on the award website. Check out your Section's deadline and submit your nominations via the website.
- Dorothy Lalonde Stout Professional Development Grants: Nomination deadline is April 15.
- Outstanding Teaching Assistants: Nomination deadline is June 15.
- Robert Christman Distinguished Service Award: Nominations are accepted on an ongoing basis.
3. GSA Annual Election deadline is April 13
Last chance to cast your vote in the GSA annual election beginning on 14 March 2019. You can make a difference in the future of your Society. Please mark your ballot for the GSA officers and councilors that you prefer to represent you. (Note: officer terms are 1 July 2019 through 30 June 2020; and councilor terms are 1 July 2019 through 30 June 2023). The voting deadline is 13 April 2019 at midnight Mountain Daylight Time. Follow the instructions to vote electronically or print a paper ballot. You will be asked for your 7-digit member ID number above as a password access for online voting. Please contact GSA Sales and Service; or telephone +1.888.443.4472; or +1.303.357.1000, option 3, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. MDT if you need further assistance.
4. Submit an NAGT Sponsored Session for the Fall 2019 AGU Meeting: Proposal Deadline April 17
AGU is marking its 100th year this year and the first year of its Education Section. We encourage you to help make this a strong year for geoscience education and build awareness of NAGT inside AGU at the same time. Consider submitting a session proposal with NAGT sponsorship. Learn more about session proposals. To obtain NAGT sponsorship, please complete this form no later than April 15. You can then check the option on the AGU session submission for a co-sponsored session and select NAGT as the co-sponsoring organization.
5. Traveling Workshop Application Deadline
We invite you to host a Traveling Workshop sponsored by NAGT. The Traveling Workshops Program (TWP) brings environmental, sustainability, and geoscience education leaders right to your campus, regional, or national event. TWP features expertise from numerous NSF funded projects including On the Cutting Edge, InTeGrate, SAGE, and GeoNeeds, and is part of NAGT's integrated Workshop Program. The deadline to apply for Fall/Winter Traveling Workshop is June 15, 2019.6. NAGT Career Hub: Ongoing
We welcome advertisements of geoscience education related job openings, postdoctoral positions, internships, assistantships, and undergraduate research opportunities that might be of interest to the wider NAGT community. Distribution of these postings include posting the ad on the NAGT Career Hub webpage, distribution via the NAGT Facebook page, inclusion in the monthly NAGTNews email newsletter to members. The cost of posting a job opening or a postdoctoral position to the Career Hub is $75 per month (multiple months can be purchased at one time). Payment must be received before these postings will be published. It is free to post an internship, assistantship, and undergraduate research opportunity to the Career Hub. You can use this form to submit a posting for the Career Hub.
GEO2YC Division
Foundations Newsletter submissions are due June 1 and September 6. Please submit your stories, experiences, experiments, photos and awards to the editor sukismaglik@gmail.com anytime prior to each deadline.
Eastern Section
Professional Development Opportunity, July 2019
Lori Weeden (UMASS Lowell) is hosting a professional development program for educators focusing on Climate Change in Lowell, MA, in July. NAGT-New England will help fund a portion of the program. For more information contact Lori at Lori_Weeden@uml.edu.
Field Trips
NAGT New England will sponsor a Geology Field Trip in central MA or southern NH in April or May. Stay tuned for details!
Annual Meeting, Fall 2019
Plans for next year's annual meeting are in the works. Stay tuned for the date and location!
Do you have good news related to your geoscience education work that you would like to share with your NAGT Community? Would you like to call attention to a paper, presentation, or resource you developed or helped develop to share with your fellow Earth educators? Submit to NAGT's Community Kudos!
Visiting Assistant Professor of Geosciences
The Department of Oceanography at Texas A&M University invites applications for a full‐time non‐tenure track Instructional Assistant Professor. We seek an energetic educator to lead efforts to develop cutting‐edge fundamental Ocean Observing and Analysis courses, and expand our catalog of online courses.
Assistant Professor- Biological Sciences and Geology
The Department of Biological Sciences and Geology at Queensborough Community College invites applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor starting Fall 2019. The successful candidate will teach courses in physical geology and develop capstone courses in mineralogy and petrology.
Available Samples
Ophiolite, Tertiary sedimentary, misc metamorphic
Desired Specimens
Precambrian chert. Stromatolites.
Are you looking for new specimens for your collection? Do you have extra samples to share with colleagues? Post in the Rock and Mineral Exchange.
