Read the 2024 Annual Report
NAGT's 2024 Annual Report is now available! Learn about the organization and what we have been up to over the past year. The Annual Report includes: 
- Letters from President Reginald Archer and Executive Director Anne Egger
- Membership Statistics and Demographics
- Professional Development and Committee Activities
- Regional Sections & Topical Divisions
- Summary of Awarded Student Scholarships and Internships
- Information About 2024 NAGT Publications
- 2024 Financial Report
- Recognition of our 2024 Donors
- What's Coming in 2025 & 2026!
We encourage you to check it out.
Don't Miss Out! Facilitating Effective Group Projects in Geoscience Courses Workshop
Online - Wednesdays, January 22, January 29, and February 5, 2025
Be sure to register soon for our upcoming workshop where you can discover strategies to make course-based group projects a powerful tool for skill-building! Leverage discussions and hands-on activities to structure, facilitate, and assess group projects effectively. Get practical tools to help you set up groups, keep them on track, and manage conflict.
Register Today!
Deadline: January 15, 2025
NAGT endorses the 2027 National Survey of Science, Mathematics, Computer Science, and Engineering Education
NAGT is one of several organizations that has endorsed the 2027 National Survey of Science, Mathematics, Computer Science, and Engineering Education, led by Horizon Research, Inc. This will be the 7th iteration of the NSSME - the survey results have provided an invaluable picture of trends in K-12 teacher qualifications, curriculum and instruction, and resources. As part of our endorsement, we have the opportunity to provide input into the design of the survey.
Are you a user of the NSSME+ survey data? Please join Executive Director Anne Egger on Thursday, January 16, at 2 pm PT/3 pm MT/4 pm CT/5 pm ET to provide input on the overarching survey research questions. Learn more about the survey and the kind of feedback we will be providing. No registration is necessary.
Propose an NAGT-Sponsored Field Trip, Session, or Short Course for GSA 2025
Planning on proposing a session for the 2025 Annual Geological Society of America meeting, which will take place October 19-22, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas, and looking for NAGT sponsorship? Submit your request for sponsorship by January 24 in order to meet the GSA proposal deadline of January 31.
Request Sponsorship
by January 24, 2025
Apply now for Fieldcamp Scholarships
NAGT support students' participation in intensive field courses in any aspect of geoscience (including geophysics, soil science, hydrology, etc.) that focuses on students practicing skills of field observation, data collection, analysis and synthesis. Awardees are selected based on the importance of the field experience in meeting their educational and career goals, the quality of the field aspects of the course, and the importance of the financial award in allowing them to participate in the program.
Apply Now!
Deadline: February 14, 2025
Updated Data-Rich Teaching Activities: Community Contribution Tool Now Available for all SERC-Hosted Activities
The Community Contribution Tool (CCT) provides a way for the SERC-NAGT community of users to share in keeping valued online resources current. Many data-rich InTeGrate and GETSI modules were updated in 2024 and the CCT is now available on all SERC-host activities. The Guidance for Developing Robust Data-rich Activities, created during a 2024 Rendezvous workshop, supports the community in designing more durable activities from the start. The webinar, Updated data-rich activities to use in your classroom now!, scheduled for February 3, will overview the activities that have been recently updated and how the community can contribute to keeping our shared resources up-to-date.
Earth Educators' Rendezvous 2026
Save the date for the 2026 Earth Educators' Rendezvous, which will be held at the University of South Carolina, in Columbia, SC, July 20-24, 2026. Co-chaired by Barbra Sobhani and Alix Davatzes, with local host Katherine Ryker, the Rendezvous will continue to feature highly interactive workshops, roundtables, field trips, and more. The contributed program, co-chaired by Annie Klyce and Ginny Isava, will include talks, posters, and an opportunity to share your teaching activities. Keep an eye out for additional information and the opportunity to submit session and workshop proposals soon!
Sponsor EER26 Exhibit at EER26
Join the EER Email list to stay in the loop!
Draft NAGT Position Statements Open for Comment
The Advocacy Committee invites NAGT members to comment on two draft position statements:
- Responsibility to Teach Earth Sciences: NAGT affirms the importance and value of academic freedom in the Earth sciences classroom.
- The Value of Undergraduate Geoscience Courses and Programs: The National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT) holds that geoscience skills and knowledge are indispensable for individuals and communities to address complex socioscientific issues
Comments Due
by February 3, 2025
Get Involved in NAGT Leadership - Nominate Today
Nominations are open for Executive Committee, Section, and Division leadership positions. NAGT strives to have an inclusive and diverse leadership team. Our open nomination process is designed to foster broad participation in our leadership and programming. If you are looking for ways to have an impact on geoscience education, education advocacy, diversity and inclusion in the geosciences, GER, regional geoscience education, and more, a leadership role in an NAGT committee, Division, or section is a great next step!
To nominate for a Section or Division position, contact the leader of that Section or Division.
Nominations are open for the following national positions:
- 2nd Vice-President - A four-year commitment: the 2nd Vice-President transitions to 1st Vice-President, President, and Past President over four years.
- Councilors-at-Large (2) - Serve a three-year term.
Questions about national positions can be directed to the chair of the nominations committee, Past-President Reginald Archer.
Elections occur in June and terms begin at the NAGT Annual Council Meeting in October 2025. Self-nominations are welcome!
Journal of Geoscience Education
Article of the Month
Each month, the editorial staff of JGE select a paper to be free to access. For January 2025, they selected Integrating the plate tectonic and rock genesis systems for secondary school students, by Amy Pallant, Christopher Lore, Hee-Sun Lee, Stephanie Seevers, and Trudi Lord, published online on October 1, 2024. Congratulations authors!
The Journal of Geoscience Education is always looking for submissions related to learning and teaching in the geosciences and related domains.
The Geological Mind: A joint effort between NAGT and GSA Today
Be sure to check out "The Geological Mind" in the January 2025 issue of GSA Today and learn the cognitive science behind how geologists use mental simulations of geological processes to evaluate hypotheses in "Channeled Scablands, Northwest U.S., and Runnable Mental Models" by Thomas F. Shipley and Basil Tikoff.
"The Geological Mind" is a featured year-long series of essays co-authored by NAGT members Basil Tikoff, a structural geologist, and Tim Shipley, a cognitive scientist, and edited by Executive Director, Anne Egger. You may be familiar with Basil and Tim's work from the Spatial Thinking Workbook or their many other collaborative efforts to elucidate how geoscientists think.
Explore Exemplary Teach the Earth Activities 
Teach the Earth is a portal to thousands of resources from dozens of Earth Education websites. Managed by NAGT, this portal supports teaching and learning about the Earth by providing online resources for K-12 and undergraduate educators in the geosciences and related fields. Resources include classroom activities, course descriptions and syllabi, information about pedagogical strategies, topical collections, and more.
January's Teach the Earth Featured Resource: Introduction to Systems Thinking - What is a System?
This unit introduces systems and systems thinking. The unit is easily adaptable to any course and includes an introduction of terminology, motivation for using systems thinking, and practice reading, as well as interpreting and evaluating systems diagrams.
In The Trenches
Contribute your original content to the new In the Trenches (ITT). ITT provides the chance to contribute and start a professional conversation about successful strategies you've used in your teaching, administration, mentoring, outreach, research, publishing, or any other venue that you think would be of interest to other NAGT members. Articles will be published online as they are finished, and each article will include a threaded discussion board, providing the community with the opportunity to comment on the article, ask the author(s) questions, and interact with other NAGT members. Access to the articles and interactive discussions is a benefit of your membership in NAGT. Sign up to receive updates as new articles are released and browse by categories.
Suggest ITT ContentSubmit an Article
Taylor & Francis Book Discount For NAGT Members!
As NAGT publishes with Taylor & Francis, members are entitled to a 30% books discount on any full-priced CRC Press or Routledge book. To acquire this discount and see other journals you have access to, visit your NAGT Member Homepage and select Journal Access. This is one of many of our membership perks!
Nominate an Outstanding K-12 Earth Science Teacher
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/province winners. Individuals may apply themselves or nominate a colleague for the award. Click on the link below to learn more.
Submit a Nomination
by March 1, 2025
Do you have good news related to your geoscience education work that you would like to share with the NAGT community? Submit it to NAGT's Community Kudos!
Facilitating Effective Group Projects in Geoscience Courses Workshop
Online - Wednesdays, January 22, January 29, and February 5, 2025
Join our upcoming workshop and discover strategies to make course-based group projects a powerful tool for skill-building! Through discussions and hands-on activities, you'll learn to structure, facilitate, and assess group projects effectively. Each session provides practical tools to help you set up groups, keep them on track, and manage conflict, ensuring a meaningful experience for your students. Sessions take place online on Wednesdays: January 22, January 29, and February 5, 2025.
Webinar: Updated Data-rich Activities to Use in your Classroom Now
Online - Monday, February 3, 11 AM Pacific | 12 PM Mountain | 1 PM Central | 2 PM Eastern (1 hour)
Join presenters Sean Fox (SERC), Beth Pratt-Sitaula (EarthScope Consortium), Ellen Iverson (SERC), and Sandrine Matiasek (CSU Chico) for an overview of the recently updated InTeGrate and GETSI activities, and learn how the community can contribute to keeping these resources current. This webinar is designed for everyone, whether you're new to InTeGrate and GETSI or an experienced user. We will cover the updated activities and how to use the Community Contribution Tool (CCT), now available for all activities hosted in the Teach the Earth collection. Participants will also have the opportunity to discuss improvements to activities and the utility of a new guidance document to help ensure the robustness of both new and existing data-rich activities. Come learn how you can contribute your updates to these and other TTE activities to help keep them timely, relevant, and useful for the geoscience community.
Early Career Geoscience Faculty Workshop
In-person - June 22-26, 2025, with an optional virtual visit to NSF June 27
Faculty in the first three years of their position are invited to join this multi-day workshop that features sessions on topics including effective and engaging teaching strategies, designing a course, conducting research projects with students, balancing professional and personal responsibilities, managing time, and establishing a research program. Build your network and community of early career peers.
Course Design 2025 Workshop
Online - Wednesdays, June 4, 11, and 18, 2025
A highly interactive synchronous online workshop in three sessions! Ready to level up your course design? Join our interactive 3-part workshop to align assessments with your course goals and connect with peers for feedback and support. Register by May 28! Get ready to design or redesign your course with our interactive Course Design Workshop! Using backward design principles, this 3-part online workshop helps you create assessments and activities that align with your course goals. Join us for hands-on sessions on June 4, 11, and 18, 2025, where you'll explore best practices, collaborate with colleagues, and receive valuable feedback to refine your course plan. Open to educators at all stages.
Preparing for an Academic Career in the Geosciences Workshop
Online - August 4-8, 2025, exact dates and times to be determined
This online workshop is designed specifically for graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and others interested in pursuing academic careers in the geosciences. Workshop facilitators will lead sessions and provide guidance that will help participants become stronger candidates for academic positions and succeed in academic jobs. More information will be coming soon!
Learn More About Our Workshops
Traveling Workshops: Bring Our Experienced Leaders to You
The Traveling Workshops Program (TWP) brings NAGT's professional development program to you, working with you to customize a workshop to meet your group's needs. The TWP has well-tested workshop sessions on adapting to change, (re)designing your courses and curriculum, inclusive mentoring, supporting all students, and more. Are you preparing for a program review or responding to feedback from one? Have you seen changes in the faculty in your department through new hires or retirements? Do you feel you could do a better job serving your students? We can help you! Choose your workshop or learn more about the program.
Learn more about the history of the Traveling Workshop Program in the April 2024 In the Trenches and the June 2024 AGU's Eos.
The North Central Section Needs YOU!
Calling all North Central Section Members - time to get involved and have your voice heard. With the adjustment of the new sections, members in IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, MO, eastern ND, eastern NE, OH, eastern SD, WI, Manitoba, Nunavut, western Ontario, and Saskatchewan are NEEDED. We are looking for people who would love to get involved (as a section officer) or be a state representative and help us identify great work being done in the geoscience world in your state. Contact Michelle Cauley at michelle.cauley@dakotacollege.edu to see what opportunities are available! Let's showcase our amazing region!
Geo2YC Division
Come be part of the NAGT-Geo2YC community! The Geo2YC Division is looking for volunteers to serve on our Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award committee. Committee members are responsible for reviewing nominations on a quarterly basis, communicating with awardees, and preparing a short write-up about the awardees for the quarterly Geo2YC newsletter, Foundations. We are also looking for a volunteer to support the efforts of the NAGT webinar committee. This committee meets virtually several times a year to plan and recruit for the NAGT webinar series. Having a 2YC voice on the committee helps to ensure topics of interest to our community are included in the webinar offerings. If interested in these positions, email Karen Layou (Geo2YC newsletter editor) at klayou@reynolds.edu for more info.
Geoscience Education Research (GER) Division
The Geoscience Education Research Division (GER) is committed to the promotion of high quality, scholarly research in geoscience education that improves teaching and learning in K-12, higher education, and informal learning environments.
Teacher Education (TED) Division
The NAGT Teacher Education Division (TED) seeks to improve geoscience teaching by improving teacher content and pedagogical knowledge and by encouraging research on best teaching practices.
- TED is in search of a new Media Director! We have a great leadership team. All that's missing is you!
- Check out this short article on climate change resources compiled by TED, Interdisciplinary K-12 Climate Change Resources
- Don't forget to renew your NAGT and TED memberships!
Do you want to know what we've been up to? Do you want to inform how the Teacher Education Division supports you, as members of NAGT and TED? Find us on Facebook!
American Geosciences Institute's Critical Needs Assessment
AGI has recently posted documents developed through the Critical Needs Committee and member feedback. NAGT Executive Director, Anne Egger served on the committee representing NAGT.
Documents are formatted as stand-alone briefing papers informing policymakers on geosciences' importance to economies, infrastructure, innovations, national security, public safety, and international collaborations. AGI encourages using these documents when visiting with policymakers at all levels. The Critical Needs documents represent a starting point for a website that serves as a living resource, providing timely information to supplement the topics identified as critical needs. Learn more at Critical Needs: Geosciences Meeting the Needs of the Nation.
AGU Bridge Program Student Applications Open Now
Interested in Graduate School? Apply through the AGU Bridge Program! The AGU Bridge Program offers one, free application to be considered by 45+ graduate geoscience departments. Applications open annually in December and close in March. Students identifying as Hispanic, Black/African American, American Indian, Pacific Islander, Alaskan Native or Native Hawaiian are especially encouraged to apply. Learn more at agu.org/bridge-program
Sign up to find out more at an upcoming Applicant Office Hour: 17 January, 1-2pm ET, 21 February, 1-2pm ET, 12 March, 1-2pm ET
Girls* on Rock - engaging high school girls in the geosciences through a backcountry expedition!
Applications are open now for Girls* On Rock (GOR), a FREE pre-college program engaging youth in the geosciences through a 12-day wilderness expedition in the Rocky Mountains filled with scientific research, artistic expression, and technical rock climbing. The program is designed for girls*, ages 16-17, from backgrounds that are historically underrepresented in the geosciences and have faced barriers to partaking in similar experiences. We do not evaluate based on grades or prior outdoor experience—our focus is on engaging diverse youth who are eager to grow. We particularly welcome those who face barriers to similar experiences. Everything participants need, including gear, is covered, and we work with participants to get funding for travel from all over the United States. We need your help, as geoscience educators, to identify girls* who might be excited about this adventure and who would benefit from our mentorship and leadership opportunities.
Visit our website, Girls* on Rock to learn more and reach out to gor@colorado.edu with any questions!
*We welcome all girls* including cis girls, trans girls, and any girl-identified youth, as well as non-binary and gender non-conforming youth.
ADVANCEing FieldSafety Training Program Launch
ADVANCEing FieldSafety is excited to share the official launch of the ADVANCEing FieldSafety training program! The training program was developed to help the field-going community in creating and building safe and welcoming field environments. The training program consists of an asynchronous online course, a virtually facilitated debrief workshop, and an accompanying toolkit full of resources and templates for you and your team to use in the field. Visit our website to learn more!
Sign up for the ADVANCING FieldSafety online course, the synchronous debrief workshop, and check out our toolkit to support field teams in planning welcoming, inclusive, and safe field campaigns.
Survey Exploring Connections between University Field STEM & Outdoor Programming
If you are a university STEM instructor interested in field education OR if you are involved in outdoor experiential education (academic, co-curricular, private sector) and you have questions that keep you up at night, please consider completing this survey. It should take 15 minutes or less.
This survey study is being conducted to:
- Better understand the landscape of STEM (e.g., biology, ecology, geology, environmental studies, etc) and Outdoor Experiential Education and Recreation Program (academic and co-curricular) field activities
- Identify the current extent to which university STEM and Outdoor Experiential Education and/or Recreation programs are already collaborating across the higher education landscape in the United States,
- Identify potential opportunities and barriers to developing such collaborators, and
- Identify potential stakeholders (like you?) who would be interested in working further to develop such collaborations at their local institution(s).
Please share with anyone or group lists that you feel might be interested!
Paid Summer Research Opportunity for Undergraduates - NSF Center for Oldest Ice Exploration (COLDEX)
The application window is December 1, 2024 - February 1, 2025.
Boise State University - Assistant Teaching Professor of Climate Science
Review of applications will begin on January 13, 2025, and continue until the position is filled.
University of Texas at Austin - Assistant Professor of Practice in Geoscience Education
Accepting applications now
Auburn University - Multiple MS/PhD in Geology, Geography, and Earth Systems Science
Due January 15 to be considered for funding
Clemson University - Assistant Professor in Earth Sciences
Apply by January 15, 2025 for full consideration
University of Alabama - Geoscience Teaching Assistant Professor
Closes August 1, 2025
Available Samples 
Desired Specimens
- A small rural school needs a classroom rock and mineral collection
- Science Department Head/Earth Science Teacher
- Deformation Microstructures
- #50States50Rocks
- Precambrian chert. Stromatolites
Post in the Rock and Mineral Exchange