View online supplements for In the Trenches at http://nagt.org/nagt/publications/trenches/index.html.
In This Issue
News & Announcements
- NAGT Executive Committee Meets in Ithaca
- STEM for All Video Showcase
- Opportunity to Submit Activities for Peer-Review
- Arizona State Science Standards: Open Comment Period
- Looking Forward to Lawrence, Home of the 2018 Earth Educators' Rendezvous
Upcoming Webinars
- 2018 AGU/AGI Heads and Chairs Webinar Series
- ASCN Webinar: The Change Maker's Toolkit--Preparing Faculty and Administrators to Make Academic Change Happen
- InTeGrate Webinar: Critical Zone Science--A Transdisciplinary Approach to Environmental Science
- NGSS Webinar: Integrating High School Earth & Space Science Into Chemistry
- InTeGrate Webinar: Teaching Ocean Sustainability Using Active Learning Techniques
Deadlines
- Final Call for OEST Award Nominations
- Connecting Earth Science and Sustainability to Teach the NGSS--Workshop Applications due June 8
- Approaching Deadlines for the 2018 Earth Educators' Rendezvous: June 3
- InTeGrate Workshops at the Goldschmidt Conference: Register by June 13
- Applications for the 2018 MATLAB Workshop are due June 15
- Nanoscience in the Earth and Environmental Sciences: A Workshop in Association with the 2018 Goldschmidt Conference
- Next Traveling Workshops Deadline is June 15
- Nominations for Outstanding TA Awards due June 15
- Submit Abstracts to NAGT-Sponsored Events at GSA by August 14
- AGU Launches 100 Facts Initiative to Celebrate the Organization's Centennial
- NSF Program Solicitation: Improving Undergraduate STEM Education
Section and Division Highlights
NAGT Community Kudos
NAGT Career Hub
- Visiting Instructor in Earth Sciences
- Geology Lecturer and Laboratory Director
- USGS/NAGT Cooperative Field Training Program
Rock and Mineral Exchange
1. NAGT Executive Committee Meets in Ithaca
Last month, NAGT's Executive Committee held their annual spring-face-to-face meeting in Ithaca, New York. The Executive Committee meets each spring to review current activities, participate in Executive Committee training, set goals, and approve plans for the upcoming fiscal year. One of the most exciting and productive topics at this year's spring meeting focused on NAGT's mission to increase diversity and inclusion in efforts to support broad participation across our organization. Billy Williams, Vice President for Ethics, Diversity and Inclusion at AGU, and Josh Villalobos, NAGT Councilor-at-Large and SACNAS member, joined via video link for an informative conversation and brainstorming session resulting in an ad hoc diversity committee that will present an action plan at the fall Council meeting at GSA. In addition to work on increasing diversity, meeting topics included review and approval of the fiscal year 2019 budget, planning for the Executive Director transition, professional development activities, publications, and membership.
Traditionally, the current NAGT President hosts the spring meeting. NAGT President Don Duggan-Haas, Director of Teacher Programming at the Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) in Ithaca, NY showcased two of PRI's facilities during our meeting: Cayuga Nature Center and the Museum of the Earth. In addition, the Executive Committee was able to take in some of the local geology, including visits to two of Ithaca's famous gorges--Buttermilk Falls State Park (in the snow!) and Taughannock Falls State Park. Thank you to Don for hosting an incredibly productive meeting and for the Executive Committee's leadership and commitment to NAGT.
2. STEM for All Video Showcase
The 2018 STEM for All Video Showcase will take place online from May 14 to May 21. This virtual, interactive event will feature approximately 200 videos of federally funded projects aimed at improving science, technology, mathematics, engineering, and computer science in formal and informal environments. They span the range of innovation in elementary school to graduate education. Many featured videos will address:
- Broadening participation & access to high quality STEM experiences
- Innovative practices transforming education
- Partnerships that advance education
- Research informing STEM learning and teaching
Researchers, practitioners, policy makers and the general public are invited and encouraged to view videos of interest and discuss them online with the presenters. The videos and discussions will be live starting May 14th. This is a great opportunity to network, find new resources and potential collaborators, and to share expertise.
Anytime during this week-long virtual event, visitors can:
- Locate videos of interest by grade level, keyword, or state
- Engage in online conversations with the presenters
- Suggest how their own work, expertise and experience might connect with that of the presenters
- Provide questions, comments and feedback
- Share the site with their collegial and social media networks
- Vote for their favorite videos through facebook, twitter, or onsite
You can find more information about the event here. Using the search bar on the website, you can also easily locate the videos of two of NAGT's sponsored projects using their respective ID codes: InTeGrate (1309) and EarthConnections (1180).
3. Submit Your Teaching Activities for Peer Review by June 1
NAGT is actively soliciting community members to submit teaching activities for our online education portal Teach the Earth. Teach the Earth supports teaching and learning about the Earth by providing online resources for educators in the geosciences and related fields. This collection of teaching materials already encompasses over 5,000 adoptable and adaptable classroom activities across Earth-related disciplines!
Do you want to share your knowledge to help further strengthen this important collection of community resources? Do you want to publish a peer-reviewed teaching activity online? To contribute your activity to Teach the Earth, just use the Contribute an Activity Form on the Teach the Earth website.
Activities are welcome at any time, but those that are submitted to the portal by June 1 will be included in the Activity Review Camp taking place at the 2018 Earth Educators' Rendezvous in July. Activities prioritized for review will be those submitted from NAGT members, those submitted by representatives of NAGT's sponsored projects, and those submitted within the last year. You can learn more about the Peer Review Process here.
4. Arizona Science Standards Open Comment Period
Each year some states develop and publish new or revised science standards for use by K-12 schools and teachers. We encourage our members to read and comment on these standards and to alert the NAGT Advocacy Committee when the standards do not reflect and promote the teaching of good science and good geoscience in particular.
NAGT's Advocacy Committee was recently contacted by the National Center for Science Education (NCSE) regarding Arizona's K-12 Science Standards, which were posted for public review and comment in late March. The NCSE was particularly concerned with how the standards addressed evolution, but also with the apparent lack of expertise behind the Earth and space science standards.
If you would like to review and comment on the standards, you can do so online by clicking the red "DRAFT Science Standards Survey" button on this webpage, where you'll be able to download a copy of the standards and complete a survey. We especially encourage members who live in Arizona to participate in this process. The Standards are long; it is fine to scroll through, find the the areas with which you are familiar, and comment only on those.
If you submit comments, we would appreciate receiving a copy for our records. If you feel it would be appropriate for NAGT to submit a letter highlighting specific concerns, please let us know at nagtservice@nagt.org. The comment period closes on May 28.
5. Looking Forward to Lawrence, Home of the 2018 Earth Educators' Rendezvous
Don't underestimate the allures and abundant natural beauty of Kansas. This year's Earth Educators' Rendezvous will take place in Lawrence, and we've compiled a list of five reasons to look forward to visiting the city. Come for the Earth Educators' Rendezvous (really, you don't want to miss it!), stay for reasons ranging from award-winning food to extraordinary scenery.
1. The Earth Educators' Rendezvous will take place at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, in KU's brand new Earth, Energy, and Environment Center. Opening this month, the Center boasts state-of-the art technology, beautiful architecture, and an arboretum of rocks from across the country that tell the geologic history of North America. There will be plenty of learning, networking, and resource sharing to capture your attention at ground-level during the conference, but don't forget to look up in the atrium to see the 45-foot mosasaur fossil chasing a sea turtle in testament to when cretaceous Kansas was covered by a shallow sea.
2. Today, the closest approximation of an ocean found in Kansas is the state's Flint Hills region, which encompasses over 1.6 million hectares extending throughout much of eastern Kansas and contains the largest remaining area of unplowed tallgrass prairie in North America. This area includes the Konza Prairie Biological Station, where conference participants can elect to take a field trip organized by the Earth Educators' Rendezvous. Notably, the native tallgrass prairie of the Flint Hills has been preserved thanks to the region's geology; the combination of thin, rocky soils and steep slopes precluded cultivation of the native vegetation.
3. Prior to Kansas' statehood, the Arapaho, Cheyenne, Comanche, Kansa, Kiowa, Osage, Pawnee, and Wichita tribes all considered present-day Kansas their home. Today, Kansas is home to four Indian reservations: the Iowa, Kickapoo, Potawatomi, and Sac and Fox. In Lawrence you will find both the Haskell Indian Nation's University (the country's premier inter-tribal university) as well as the Haskell Cultural Center, a museum that celebrates the strength and resiliency of Native American youth and serves as a steward of living Tribal materials, traditions and cultural arts. When in Lawrence, you'll be ideally positioned to learn more about our country's Native American heritage.
4. Did you know that attending this years' Rendezvous will put you into contact with acclaimed culinary experiences? Kansas is a great place to sample the unmistakable flavors of Kansas City-style barbecue as well as famed Kansas beef served in steakhouses across the state. Other comfort foods abound: fried chicken, homemade pies, field-fresh produce, and milk and cheese from working farmsteads sold at the Lawrence Farmers' Market. The Rendezvous Town Hall at the conference, sponsored by NAGT's Midcontinent Section, will also feature complementary ice cream from the K-state dairy department. Learn more about this "legen-dairy" ice cream here.
5. Still looking for reasons to love Lawrence? When you visit this city, you'll be standing at the default starting point for Google Earth. That's because the director of engineering for Google Earth, Brian McClendon, is a KU alumnus. Stay at the center of things and don't miss out; reserve your place now at the 2018 Earth Educators' Rendezvous!
1. 2018 AGU/AGI Heads and Chairs Webinar Series
The American Geosciences Institute is collaborating with the American Geophysical Union's Heads and Chairs program to provide critical support for geoscience academic departments. One of the key activities of this collaboration is a monthly webinar series that is open to anyone, but which is specifically designed to address issues raised by geoscience department chairs. Topics will range from data management needs of faculty, to using e-portfolios to document student success, to implementing effective policies while teaching in the field. The next webinar in the series, The Current and Mid-21st Century Geoscience Workforce, takes place May 11 at 1PM ET. Registration should be completed using this form.
2. ASCN Webinar: The Change Maker's Toolkit--Preparing Faculty and Administrators to Make Academic Change Happen
On Wednesday, May 16 at 12:30PM ET, presenter Julia M. Williams will lead a free webinar for ASCN (the Accelerating Systemic Change Network) on the subject of The Change Maker's Toolkit: Preparing Faculty and Administrators to Make Academic Change Happen.
Within the higher education community, there are repeated calls for changing the way we educate STEM students. These calls for change extend beyond the classroom experience to the curriculum, co-curricular experiences, and institutional levels. And yet, despite the development of research-based teaching strategies, innovative co-curricular projects, and many years of funding and development from a variety of foundations and corporations, change in STEM education is not pervasive. The lack of systemic change points to an important problem with the approach to change that the STEM education community has pursued thus far.
Change has been targeted at the course and curriculum levels, focusing on teaching and learning methods and proving their efficacy. These beneficial activities have not, however, fostered the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) in motivation, communication, collaboration, and persuasion that are the foundation for change on larger, more institutional levels. These change strategies are well documented in the literature of other disciplines, such as organizational psychology and behavior, but have not been brought into the conversation within STEM education in a rigorous, accessible way. This presentation poses a central question: Can we overcome limits that prevent the diffusion of new ideas, and can we overcome barriers to the adoption of effective practices, by focusing on the change agents themselves in terms of their skills and change expertise? The focus of this webinar is on the change maker's toolkit, the set of KSAs that can help change agents meet and conquer their change project challenges.
If you are interested in participating in this webinar, please register here by Monday, May 14.
3. InTeGrate Webinar: Critical Zone Science--A Transdisciplinary Approach to Environmental Science
On Thursday, May 17 at 2PM ET, presenters Tim White, Ashlee Dere, Adam Wymore, and Justin Richardson will lead a free webinar on the subject of Critical Zone Science: A Transdisciplinary Approach to Environmental Science. Earth's critical zone (CZ) is the uppermost layer of Earth's continents, which supports ecosystems and humans alike. CZ science aims to understand how interactions among rock, soil, water, air, and terrestrial organisms influence Earth as a habitable system. Thus, CZ science provides the framework for a holistic-systems approach to teaching Earth surface and environmental science, especially related to environmental sustainability. Participants in this webinar will be introduced to the basic concepts of critical zone science and observatories as well as a transdisciplinary full-semester, university curriculum that introduces upper-division students to CZ science. At the end of this webinar, participants will have a basic understanding of the critical zone, what it is and how it is studied, stressing societal relevance of the concepts; awareness of the upper-level undergraduate semester-long course entitled "Critical Zone Science" and how materials could be used in courses or curriculum; renewed interest and enthusiasm for teaching transdisciplinary Earth surface and environmental science. Registration for this webinar should be completed by Tuesday, May 15.
4. NGSS Webinar: Integrating High School Earth & Space Science into Chemistry Classes
On Thursday, May 17 at 4PM ET, presenter Martin Schmidt will lead a free webinar on the subject of Integrating High School Earth & Space Science into Chemistry Classes. With NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards) requiring Earth & Space Science in high school, some schools are choosing to integrate the NGSS Performance Expectations and DCIs into their existing biology, chemistry, and physics courses. There are numerous connections between Earth science and chemistry - after all, chemistry is the study of matter, and all the matter we use comes from Earth systems. If Earth is a big sphere of chemicals, how did those elements and compounds form and how did they come together to make the Earth? When we include plate tectonics and weathering in chemistry, we see the Earth is an active chemical refinery that even has life-and-death differences, since chemical composition variations in magma largely determine whether a volcano is explosive or not. This webinar will work on connecting Earth science facts and processes to topics already present in high school chemistry courses, thus opening up a whole world of interesting chemistry knowledge while also meeting NGSS requirements. Interested participants should register for this webinar by May 15.
5. InTeGrate Webinar: Teaching Ocean Sustainability Using Active Learning Techniques
On Monday, May 21 at 1PM ET, presenters Michelle Kinzel, Cara Thompson, and Astrid Schnetzer will lead a free webinar on the subject of Teaching Ocean Sustainability Using Active Learning Techniques. The InTeGrate Ocean Sustainability Module introduces the importance of oceans, basic ocean processes, and the impacts of oceans on human health. During this webinar, the presenters will provide a quick overview of all six units covered in the InTeGrate Ocean Sustainability module and discuss two units in depth:
- Unit 1: Ocean Circulation and Health, which explores modern ocean circulation and how these patterns are expected to be altered by climate change.
- Unit 4: Oceans in Peril: Pressures on Ocean Ecosystems, which explores how modern climate change impacts grey whale behavior.
The in-depth presentation of these units will provide participants with examples of how to challenge students to think about the interconnectedness of Earth's systems and how humans can alter marine systems and their inhabitants. At the end of this webinar, participants will have learned where to access the materials required for the InTeGrate Ocean Sustainability module; what topics are covered in the module; and how to implement Unit 1 (Ocean Circulation and Health) and Unit 4 (Oceans in Peril) in their classrooms. Registration for this webinar should be completed by Friday, May 18.
1. Last Call to Submit Nominations for the OEST Awards
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. The deadline for submitting nominations for the Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Award for the MidContinent, New England, and Southwest sections is May 15. Remember, you can also nominate yourself!
2. For High school and middle school science teachers: Announcing an August workshop on teaching about Earth, sustainability, and the NGSS--Workshop Applications due June 8
High school and middle school science teachers who are interested in sustainability and want to be on the leading edge of developing and adopting instructional materials that support implementation of sustainability concepts and the NGSS are invited to submit an application to attend a workshop entitled Connecting Earth Science and Sustainability to Teach the NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards). The workshop will take place at IslandWood, a beautiful environmental learning center located in Bainbridge Island, WA. There is no fee to attend, and lodging, meals and supplies are provided. Participants will also receive a $500 stipend. The workshop will be led by teacher educators and curriculum developers Kathyrn Baldwin (Eastern Washington University) and Anne Egger (Central Washington University).
Applications for the workshop are due Friday, June 8. Middle and high school teachers are especially encouraged to apply.
As part of this workshop, participants will:
- Discuss the role of sustainability in the NGSS and in their science teaching
- Learn about the InTeGrate instructional resources and their alignment with the NGSS
- Develop scaffolds and supporting resources to support implementation of the InTeGrate materials in the middle and high school science classroom
- Develop action plans for their own classroom, school, and/or district to implement three-dimensional learning opportunities that address sustainability
To learn more about the format, expectations, application process, and selection criteria of this workshop, please visit this webpage.
3. Approaching Deadlines for the 2018 Earth Educators' Rendezvous
The 2018 Earth Educators' Rendezvous will take place July 16-20 at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. Approaching deadlines include:
The late poster and share-a-thon submission deadline has been extended to June 3. Don't miss out on the chance to share your work and/or research with fellow Earth educators!
The deadline to pre-order a Rendezvous t-Shirt (ensures you will receive a t-shirt in your desired size) is June 15.
Be sure to book your Rendezvous housing soon! Check out the housing options on the conference Travel and Lodging webpage. Most blocks are available to take reservations until mid-June.
Sign up to receive Rendezvous updates to be the first to know about other conference news.
4. InTeGrate Workshops at the Goldschmidt Conference: Register by June 13
The 2018 Goldschmidt Conference takes place August 12-17 in Boston, during which time InTeGrate will host two associated workshops on the subject of Engaging Students in Understanding the Earth System as it Intertwines with Key Societal Issues. The first workshop, taking place Tuesday, August 14, is designed for K-8 teachers. More information about the workshop, including the program and instructions for completing registration by the deadline of June 13, can be found here. The second workshop, taking place Thursday, August 16, is designed for high school teachers. The workshop program and information about completing the registration by the deadline of June 13 can be found here. Space is limited for both workshops, so please do not delay in registering if you are interested in participating.
5. Apply by June 15 for the 2018 Teaching Computation in the Sciences with MATLAB, a Special Peer-led Workshop Experience
You are invited to an NAGT-sponsored workshop taking place October 14-16, 2018 at Carleton College: Teaching Computation in Science with MATLAB.
For the past 3 years, MathWorks has hosted a faculty-led, 3-day workshop on teaching computation with MATLAB. Each year, participants gain new tips for transforming and refocusing their courses and even department curriculum; colleague contacts; and MATLAB tools they wouldn't have discovered otherwise.
The goal of the workshop is to increase educator competency and effectiveness at teaching computation and science, simultaneously transferring the required computational skills and science knowledge to their undergraduate students. MATLAB offers a great platform for enabling scientific exploration and discovery while making programming accessible to students, all within a single, well-architected course. The workshop program includes:
- Talks by experienced faculty on teaching computational skills and quantitative thinking
- Panel discussions for sharing best practices on key topics and challenges in science education
- Working group sessions to tackle curriculum-related challenges and develop approaches
- Technical share fairs to review each other's teaching approaches, tools, and modules
- Presentations of MATLAB features and on-line resources for teaching and learning MATLAB
- An opportunity to participate in and grow the community of MATLAB educators
Note on cost: Attending the workshop is free-of-charge, and accommodations are reasonably priced. Stipends for travel are available on a limited basis upon request.
6. Nanoscience in the Earth and Environmental Sciences: A Workshop in Association with the 2018 Goldschmidt Conference
From August 11-12, conveners David Mogk, Michael Hochella, and Jim Ranville will lead a workshop in association with the 2018 Goldschmidt Conference on the subject of Nanoscience in the Earth and Environmental Sciences: From Theory to Practice.
Nanoscience is a frontier area of research that provides abundant opportunities in many different scientific and engineering disciplines. Currently, Earth and environmental sciences are underrepresented in their participation in this revolutionary field of study, which contributes roughly $2 trillion to nano-enabled products annually. There's an amazing arsenal of analytical methods available to characterize the identity, morphology, composition (bulk and surface), chemical state, atomic structure and related chemical and physical properties of nanoparticles, nanosheets and nanorods. This workshop will focus on practical aspects of using this instrumentation (e.g., AFM and Electron microscopy, surface analysis, fractionation methods, ICP-MS, light-scattering, among many others) in doing nanogeoscience. Topics to be covered include sample collection in the field, sample preparation/preservation, and instrumental data acquisition, reduction, and representation. The workshop will include invited presentations, group discussions, and hands-on demonstrations of modern software packages applied to authentic datasets. Instrument vendors will be invited to demonstrate their latest instruments directly, remotely, or in principal via detailed descriptions and demonstration of representative images and datasets. Participants are encouraged to bring examples of their own procedures and protocols to demonstrate to the group and receive feedback. Outcomes of this workshop will be an online "toolkit" of methods and procedures that will be available for use by the entire community in research and instruction. Opportunities to participate in the US National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure program will also be described.
To learn more about the workshop goals and program format, and to register, please visit this website.
7. Next Deadline for the Traveling Workshops Program
The Traveling Workshops Program (TWP) brings national leaders in geoscience education to your campus or regional event. Designed for departments, institutions, or groups of institutions with shared interests, TWP offers workshops on strengthening cross-campus environmental and sustainability programs as well as supporting the success of all students. The TWP is a part of NAGT's integrated Workshop Program.
Application deadlines for the 2017-2018 academic year:
- June 15, 2018 (for Fall 2018/Winter 2018 Workshops)
- October 15, 2018 (for Spring 2019 Workshops)
- January 15, 2019 (for Summer 2019 Workshops)
8. Nominations for Outstanding TA Awards due June 15
Each year, NAGT recognizes outstanding teaching assistants in geoscience education with up to 30 awards annually. Both undergraduate and graduate teaching assistants are eligible for the award. Award winners receive an one year membership in NAGT, which includes an online subscription to the Journal of Geoscience Education and the new In The Trenches quarterly magazine.For more information about the award and how to nominate your teaching assistant, see the program page.
The deadline for nominations is June 15.
9. Submit Abstracts to NAGT-Sponsored Events at GSA by August 14
NAGT is pleased to sponsor a variety of symposia and sessions at the 2018 Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America held in Indianapolis, Indiana from November 4-7. We hope you'll consider submitting abstracts to these sessions highlighting key issues of importance to geoscience educators at all levels. You can view the list of sponsored sessions here. Abstracts are due August 14.
10. AGU Launches 100 Facts Initiative to Celebrate the Organization's Centennial
For their 2019 Centennial celebration, AGU is collecting relevant and meaningful facts and figures about Earth and space science. From all the facts provided, 100 will be chosen to showcase monthly on AGU's social media accounts starting in May 2018 and running through December 2019 (five facts x 20 months = 100). AGU intends for these facts to showcase the history, breadth and success of geoscience research, as well as the scientists whose work has had a real impact on peoples' lives. They also hope to identify and communicate about issues and discoveries that are important as we move into the future.
To support this effort and submit a fact for potential use, please us this form.
11. NSF Program Solicitation: Improving Undergraduate STEM Education
Through the NSF Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE) initiative, the agency continues to make a substantial commitment to the highest caliber undergraduate STEM education through a Foundation-wide framework of investments. The IUSE: EHR program is a core NSF undergraduate STEM education program that seeks to improve the effectiveness of undergraduate STEM education for both majors and non-majors. The program is open to application from all institutions of higher education and associated organizations seeking support for projects that have the potential to improve student learning in STEM through development of new curricular materials and methods of instruction, and development of new assessment tools to measure student learning. In addition to innovative work at the frontier of STEM education, this program also encourages replications of research studies at different types of institutions and with different student bodies to produce deeper knowledge about the effectiveness and transferability of findings. To learn more about this opportunity, including the requirements for submitting a proposal, read the full announcement. Beginning in FY 2018, there will be no single date deadlines for Exploration and Design proposals, which may be submitted any time from October 1, 2017 and onward. Please note, however, that proposals received after May 1 will be held over to the subsequent financial year for possible award (for example, awards will be made in FY 19 for proposals received after May 1, 2018).
Eastern Section
- The 2018 NAGT Eastern Section annual meeting will be held at Millersville University of Pennsylvania in scenic Lancaster County on June 7-9. The registration for the meeting will occur at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday at: WM. H. Bolger Conference Center Gordinier Hall 30 South George Street Millersville, PA 17511 Please note all registrations must be completed in advance of the meeting. There will be no on-site registration. A preview of the conference highlights and presenter forms can be found in the NAGT Eastern Section newsletter.
MidContinent Section
- The deadline for submitting nominations for the Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Award for the MidContinent section has changed from March 31 to May 15. Remember, you can also nominate yourself!
New England Section
- The deadline for submitting nominations for the Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Award for the New England section is May 15. Remember, you can also nominate yourself!
Pacific Northwest Section
- The Pacific Northwest Section's Annual Conference will take place June 27 to 29 in the Portland, Oregon area. Initial plans call for a conference on Wednesday with field trips on Thursday and Friday. Stay tuned for details as they develop.
Southeastern Section
- Tennessee Educator Don Byerly Passes: Don W. Byerly (1933-2018), Professor Emeritus University of Tennessee at Knoxville died April 25, 2018 of complications from heart bypass surgery. Byerly began his teaching career as a lecturer at UT Knoxville in 1957, finishing his PhD at UT in 1966, remaining there until retirement in 2000. Byerly was the founder of the Tennessee Earth Science Teachers (TEST) in the 1987 and was very active as a member of southeastern NAGT. Byerly was well-known for his commitment to undergraduate education and teacher development, having run nearly twenty GeoCamps in Tennessee and GeoTreks around the country exposing pre-service teachers to Earth sciences. Earlier in his career he ran the University of Tennessee field camp near Dayton, Tennessee. He was the 1999 recipient of the Neil Miner Award, recipient of TEST's Ptero Award for his contributions to Earth science education, and was named a Fellow of the Geological Society of America in 2015. Byerly was the author of The Last Billion Years: A Geologic History of Tennessee (2013).
Southwest Section
- The deadline for submitting nominations for the Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Award for the Southwest section is May 15. Remember, you can also nominate yourself!
GER Division
- Upcoming GER events and opportunities:
- At the 2018 Earth Educators Rendezvous, the GER division will host a breakfast on Wednesday morning at 7:45am before the Advancing Transdisciplinary Dialogue in Geoscience Education Research workshop being led by Cory Forbes and Caitlin Callahan. We hope to see you there!
- GER is hosting a 2018 GSA Session: T84. Making Sense of Methodologies and Theoretical Frameworks in Geoscience Education Research.
- Know a researcher worth spotlighting, have an article worth reading, or an opportunity worth sharing? Submit to the GER Exchange using this queue. Self nominations are welcomed. Check out the latest edition of the GER Exchange for even more division highlights.
- On April 24, the GER division hosted the Academic Paths in GER Webinar. If you weren't able to join us, check out the screencast on the GER Webinars page of the NAGT site.
Geo2YC Division
- On Wednesday, July 18 the Geo2YC Division will host a happy hour reception at the Earth Educators' Rendezvous in Lawrence, Kansas. Watch the Rendezvous program page for more details including the location.
-
Do you work with an adjunct faculty member who does great work and deserves to be recognized? Are you an adjunct faculty who has done something worth recognition? Please fill out the nomination form to recognize the great work our adjunct faculty do to support student learning at two-year colleges. The form must be filled out in one session. We ask for brief descriptions of reasons for nominations and contact information at the department and school level to assure full recognition. Anyone may nominate a faculty member for the Award, including self-nominations. Winning adjuncts will be featured in the future editions of Foundations and will receive a complimentary one year membership to the Geo2YC division.
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!
Patrick Belmont has been selected as Utah State University's 2018 Faculty Researcher of the Year. Patrick's work focuses on watershed hydrology, landscape erosion, sediment transport, and river channel morphodynamics with applications over both geologic and human timescales. The award recognizes his research group's contributions over the past several years as well as his dedication to translating his science into meaningful insights for policy and management. You can watch a video about Patrick and his research here.
Bryan Schuerman of Lincoln Middle School was recently recognized by the West Virginia State Senate for being named 2017 Outstanding Earth Science Teacher (OEST) of West Virginia and for demonstrating outstanding teaching in the classroom. The following is Senate Resolution #21 from State Senators Beach, Strollings, Facemire, Prezioso and Plymale, voted on and passed by the entire State Senate, to congratulate Bryan Schuerman on his achievement: "Resolved by the Senate: That the Senate hereby recognizes Bryan Schuerman for being named the 2017 Outstanding Earth Science Teacher for the State of West Virginia, and the Senate extends their gratitude and appreciation for his dedication and commitment to his students and the State of West Virginia."
Congratulations, Patrick and Bryan!
Visiting Instructor of Earth Sciences
Posted: May 3 2018
The Earth Science Program at Adams State University announces a one-year visiting position for a broadly trained earth scientist to join a vigorous faculty committed to excellence in undergraduate education. Expertise in one or more of the following areas is highly desirable: geomorphology, climatology, natural resource management, and remote sensing.
Geology Lecturer and Laboratory Director
Posted: Apr 26 2018
The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville seeks to hire a Geology Lecturer and Laboratory Director to start August 1, 2018, for a a 12-month full-time non-tenure track academic faculty appointment with a competitive salary and full benefits. The job duties include: 1) teaching introductory geology courses in either physical, historical, environmental, or planetary geology, and 2) coordinating laboratory sections for the undergraduate classes (~100 lab sections per year), managing the lab supplies and equipment, and continuously developing the content of the labs.
USGS Cooperative Field Training Program
Started in 1965, the NAGT-USGS Cooperative Summer Field Training Program is the longest continuously running internship program in the earth sciences. Over the past fifty years, more than 2,300 students have participated in this program with an impressive number of these individuals becoming full-time employees of the USGS. The deadline for nominations is October 16, 2018.
Need help getting the word out about your position opening, event, or field trip? Submit your posting to the new NAGT Career Hub!
Available Samples
Desired Specimens
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.
