Help us advocate for teaching and learning about Earth this Earth Day!
NAGT supports a diverse, inclusive, and thriving community of educators and education researchers to improve teaching and learning about the Earth. That's our mission, and we aren't changing any of those words. We are advocating for high-quality Earth education for all to drive change toward an equitable and inclusive system of geoscience education. Show your support for our work on Earth Day by making a donation to our program fund to support all of our work, including our advocacy efforts.
Members Matter!
Members enjoy discounted rates for all NAGT professional development. NAGT recognizes that our members are essential and wants to remind you that you get discounted rates for all NAGT workshops. We appreciate your support and hope that you will join us in a workshop today!
Advocating for Earth Science & Earth Scientists
We are deeply disappointed to share the news that this year, 39 promising young geoscientists will not have the opportunity to work with scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey. The NAGT-USGS Cooperative Summer Fellowship program has been running since 1965, matching promising undergraduate students at or near the end of their degree with mentors and projects at the USGS across all mission areas. This year, the federal hiring freeze extends to these temporary summer interns as well. Our partners at the USGS requested an exemption for this program but were denied.
The 3000+ previous interns have built on their experience at the USGS to make significant contributions to our country's scientific achievements, energy resource development, and economic prosperity. What can you do about it?
- Learn more about the NAGT-USGS Fellowship program.
- Contact your senators and representatives to let them know your thoughts.
- Donate to NAGT to help support this and other programs.
Nominations
Dorothy Stout Grant - Due April 15
Grants of $750 will be made annually in three categories: Community College Faculty, Community College Students, and K-12 Educators. Grantees will also be given a one-year membership to NAGT, including these member benefits.
Association Awards - Due April 15
Association awards are presented annually with nominations solicited from the community and awardees selected by committees. These awards include the following:
- Distinguished Service: Robert Christman Award
- Stimulation of Interest in the Earth Sciences: Neil Miner Award
- Excellence in Earth Science Writing and Editing: James H. Shea Award
- Excellence in Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: JEDI Award
Opportunity to Lead: Nominate Candidates for NAGT Committees
NAGT has several standing committees whose membership includes a combination of ex officio and at-large members. These committees have specific charges and tasks and report to the Executive Committee. These committees may not always be seeking new committee members, but your nomination will remain active for three years.
Journal of Geoscience Education
JGE seeks a new Editor-in-Chief
NAGT is seeking a new Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Geoscience Education to begin serving in late fall, 2025. We seek someone interested in geoscience education research and broadening access to education research. Candidates should have high standards and a willingness to support editors and authors in meeting those standards.
Learn More Apply by May 1, 2025
Article of the Month
Each month, the editorial staff of JGE selects a paper to be free to access. For April 2025, they selected Managing disruptions and dilemmas in online geoscience instruction during the early 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, by Kathryn Bateman, Brandin Conrath, Joy Ham, Anne Egger, Kristen St. John, and Thomas Shipley, published online in August 2024. Congratulations authors!
The Journal of Geoscience Education is always looking for submissions related to learning and teaching in the geosciences and related domains.
In The Trenches
In the Trenches (ITT) provides NAGT members 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 are 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.
In A Tribute to Jeff Callister: In their own words, authors Thomas McGuire and Heather McArdle celebrate the life and accomplishments of Jeff Callister who was very active in the geosciences community and greatly contributed to the current state of earth science education. Jeff was a guiding light who inspired everyone he touched.
Suggest ITT ContentSubmit an Article
Teach the Earth 
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.
April's Teach the Earth Featured Resource: Structural Control of Giant Rock Avalanches in Argentina
Students analyze the influence of bedrock structures on the locations of giant rock avalanches in Argentina. The activity is available in two versions: 1) a short case example that can be used as an in-class activity or as an exam question, and 2) an in-class jigsaw with homework preparations.
Teach the Earth Community Opportunity: Help us update data-rich activities
The current political climate raises concerns about the long-term availability of federal website data, crucial to many Teach the Earth resources. Help us ensure the future usability of these materials. Use the Community Contribution Tool (CCT) to upload updated files, local adaptations, and key data to activities you use in your classroom. Your contributions make a difference within your community of educators.
Workshops
Mentoring for Student Success
Tuesdays: April 29, May 6 & 13, from 1 PM EDT/12 PM CDT/11 AM MDT/10 AM PDT/9 AM AKDT/7 AM HST
This workshop is designed to equip mentors with tools and insights to support all students in being successful. We will reflect on different mentoring relationships and discuss strategies to establish expectations and effective communication. We'll finish up this workshop series by highlighting ways to foster mentee independence by creating mentoring networks and individual development plans. You can expect a highly interactive, synchronous online workshop in which you will get to know and learn from your colleagues and the workshop leaders.
Unlocking Student Potential: Supporting Equitable and Effective Teaching and Mentoring - A Professional Development Opportunity for Faculty and Graduate Students
Bloomington, MN - May 18, 2025
Looking to boost your teaching & mentoring? Join our interactive short course on May 18 at the 2025 NSF GAGE/SAGE Community Science Workshop in Bloomington, MN—designed for faculty & grad students in geoscience. Stipends available! Sponsored by the National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT).
Course Design Workshop 2025
Online - Wednesdays, June 4, 11, and 18, 2025, from 12-2:30 PM EDT/11 AM-1:30 PM CDT/10 AM-12:30 PM MDT/9-11:30 AM PDT/8-10:30 AM AKDT/6-8:30 AM HST
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.
2025 Preparing for an Academic Career in the Geosciences Workshop
Online - August 4-8, 2025, from 11 AM-2 PM EDT/10 AM-1 PM CDT/9 AM-12 PM MDT/8-11 AM PDT each day/7-10 AM AKDT/5-8 AM HST
"I participated in both the Preparing for an Academic Career in the Geosciences Workshops and the Workshop for Early Career Geoscience Faculty. They were FUNDAMENTAL to my career success!" - Amy Williams
Register now for this highly interactive week-long synchronous online workshop! This workshop is designed specifically for graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and others interested in pursuing academic careers in geoscience. Workshop facilitators will lead sessions and provide guidance that will help participants become stronger candidates for academic positions and succeed in academic jobs.
In-person Instructor Workshop: Teaching Near-surface Geophysics to Undergraduates from Intro to Majors
Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado - July 29-31, 2025
Geophysics methods can be applied to a wide range of societally important topics, from natural hazards to groundwater resources to forensics and provide a powerful way to engage students in Earth science and allied fields. This workshop equips undergraduate Earth science instructors to incorporate near-surface geophysics into undergraduate courses, featuring GPR, seismic, resistivity, and RTK-GPS methods. Sponsored by NAGT. Travel support available.
Virtual Instructor Workshop: Teaching in the field with SfM and RTK-GPS/GNSS
Online - August 11-15. See program details for the workshop schedule.
Learn structure from motion (SfM) and GPS surveying so you can teach the methods in your undergraduate Earth and environmental science courses. Free instrument loans during the workshop. Sponsored by NAGT.
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.
Webinars
NAGT Webinars are on YouTube!
Did you miss a webinar hosted by NAGT? Check out the NEW NAGT Webinar Series YouTube Channel! Find a selection of recordings from webinars in the series and sponsored projects at your fingertips. Remember to subscribe!
Spring 2025 CLEAN Webinar Series
Online - Monday, April 14 at 8-9:30 PM EDT/7-8:30 PM CDT/6-7:30 PM MDT/5-6:30 PM PDT/4-5:30 PM AKDT/2-3:30 PM HST
Hope and Transformative Climate Action, with Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, is the last webinar in this series brought to you by the Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network (CLEAN) and the Institute for the Study of Knowledge Management in Education (ISKME). CLEAN and ISKME partnered to bring together climate researchers, K-12 educators, and climate literacy resources to build a community of leaders to collaborate in a webinar series this spring. Registration required.
Math for Earth Science Majors: Building Confidence, Skills, and Success
Online - Thursday, April 24 at 4 PM EDT/3 PM CDT/2 PM MDT/1 PM PDT/12 PM AKDT/10 AM HST
Struggling to help your Earth science majors build the quantitative skills they need? Join us for this dynamic webinar designed for undergraduate instructors. Learn how the 14 math and statistics modules developed by The Math Your Earth Science Majors Need project can seamlessly integrate into your courses, reinforcing key math and stats concepts in a geoscience context. Discover ready-to-use, self-paced resources that have been shown to boost student confidence and success across a range of courses and institutions. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your students' math skills—and your teaching!
Geochemical databases as an entry point to working with big data
Online - April 30 at 11 AM EDT/10 AM CDT/9 AM MDT/8 AM PDT/7 AM AKDT/5 AM HST
Familiarity with big data is necessary for students to be competitive in the geoscience workforce. While the tools evolve over time, the ability to handle, evaluate, and present data is timeless and requires practice with datasets that are often messy and complicated. Why not use real data to teach and learn the basics? This interactive webinar will introduce participants to the NSF-supported IEDA databases that archive chemical analyses and other valuable metadata from rocks, minerals, and volcanic glasses published in the literature. Come see some practical approaches for using big data in the classroom and examples of how students have engaged with it. We invite you to contribute your own ideas to existing activities or create new ones.
Learn about your Regional Section
NAGT Regional Sections are the grassroots of geoscience education in North America. The 2023 reorganization of Sections focused members' efforts on regional issues. If you haven't connected with your section leadership, we encourage you to do so! Check out the Regional Section Webpages to learn more about your Section and efforts to engage and support geoscience education in your region.
NAGT 2025 Eastern Section Meeting
The eastern section invites all members and potential members of NAGT from any section to register and attend our three-day meeting in Erie, Pennsylvania May 1, 2, and 3, 2025. The banquet room in the Hampton Inn Erie South, located near the intersection of Interstates 79 and 90, will be our base of operations. Join us there for meetings, workshops, social events, and departure point for field trips. The Saturday banquet will be held at the Colony Bar & Grille. Hampton Inn rooms are available on a first-come basis. Registration forms and meeting information can be found on the Eastern Section NAGT Page.
NAGT-PNW Section Annual Conference
The Pacific Northwest Section Annual Conference will be held June 26-28, 2025 in Portland, Oregon at the University of Oregon Concordia Northeast Campus. This year we are excited to announce that our conference is being held in parallel to, and co-located with, the Cascadia Region Earthquake Science Center annual stakeholders meeting (learn more about the 2025 program). We look forward to interactions between the NAGT and CRESCENT conference participants. Join us to meet colleagues from around the Pacific Northwest, share teaching techniques, and explore some amazing geology!
NAGT-RM at 2025 GSA-Rocky Mountain Section Meeting
Rocky Mountain Section of NAGT will be at the 75th Annual Rocky Mountain Section meeting in Provo, Utah May 18-20, 2025. Find us at our booth and the many educational sessions. If you are interested in helping at the booth, email Cheryl Manning, clbmanning@gmail.com.
Geo2YC Division
Apply for a Geo2YC Faculty Professional Development Grant by April 15!
The Geo2YC Division wants to support your work this summer with a Faculty Professional Development Grant. Need financial support for travel to a summer conference? Planning a professional development event in your area? Apply for a Geo2YC Faculty Professional Development Grant to promote your efforts for geoscience education. Applications are due on April 15.
April 28 - Geo2YC Fireside Chat 
Join us for the next Fireside Chat (open to all members - feel free to invite colleagues) on Monday, April 28 at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT. Our topic of discussion is Promoting Geoscience in Uncertain Climates. Many of our members have seen changes to curricula, programs, and institutional priorities, as declining enrollments and budgets impact our classrooms. How do we best prepare students for an ever-changing workforce landscape? Come share your experiences and ideas!
Fireside Chat Zoom Link Join Geo2YC
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
ESRI Information Session & TED Meeting
April 22, 7-8 p.m. ET. Learn about free GIS mapping tools and resources for Earth Science classrooms, including MapMaker, GeoInquiries, and StoryMaps. Software and activities supporting fieldwork with students will also be shared.
Learn More Join the Meeting Here
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. 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!
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Register Now for the 2025 NSF GAGE/SAGE Community Science Workshop!
Registration is open for the 2025 NSF GAGE/SAGE Community Science Workshop, taking place from May 18–21, 2025, in Bloomington, Minnesota. This workshop brings together researchers and educators using geophysical data from the GAGE and SAGE facilities in their research and education efforts. Attend to get up to date on the latest geophysical science of the planet, network with scientists, and learn how to get involved with the facilities and leverage the data in your work! Register by Friday, May 9th.
Shape the Future of Geo-Ed Professional Development
The NAGT-NESTA K12 Collaborative is excited to be developing a new professional learning program designed specifically to support classroom teaching of Earth and space science. We developed a survey to collect information to inform the design of the program.
We invite you to help shape the future of geoscience teacher professional learning. We know your time is valuable, so we've designed this survey to be quick and easy to complete, yet packed with opportunities for you to share your expertise. Your feedback is absolutely critical to ensuring this program meets the real needs of educators like you and helps prepare students for success. Please take a moment to complete the survey now!
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 and 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. Please share with anyone or group lists that you feel might be interested!
STUDENT OPPORTUNITY: Fresh Solutions to Salty Struggles Summer Camp for Undergrads: Exploring Soil Salinization Dynamics
Application Deadline: April 30, 2025
Bucknell University - Visiting Assistant Professor of Geology & Environmental Geosciences
Application reviews began March 24, 2025, and will continue until the position is filled.
Available Samples 
Desired Specimens
- A small rural school needs a classroom rock and mineral collection
- #50States50Rocks
- Precambrian chert. Stromatolites
- Science Department Head/Earth Science Teacher
- Deformation Microstructures
Post in the Rock and Mineral Exchange