NAGTNews - Vol 26 - No 1

Initial Publication Date: January 8, 2026

Check Out NAGT's 2025 Annual Report

NAGT's 2025 Annual Report is now available! Learn about the Association and what we have been up to over the past year. The Annual Report includes:

Letter from NAGT President Rory McFadden
Letter from NAGT Executive Director Anne Egger
Reports from Committees
Membership
FY2025 Financial Report
Reports from Sections
Reports from Divisions
Professional Development
Supporting Geoscience Students
NAGT Publications
Coming in 2026
FY2025 Donor Recognition

Download a PDF version of the annual report »

View prior year annual reports »

Renew Your Membership for 2026

Thank you for being part of NAGT in 2025! To those who have already renewed for 2026—thank you for your continued commitment.

As a member, you're part of a vibrant community of geoscience educators advancing Earth education together. Your membership strengthens our collective impact.

If you haven't yet, renew now for 2026 to maintain access to member benefits, including:

This newsletter (access continues through March for 2025 members)
Journal of Geoscience Education and In The Trenches
Regional Sections and Topical Divisions
Discounted professional development
Leadership opportunities, awards, grants, and scholarships

Enroll in auto-renewal for uninterrupted membership.

Renew your membership for 2026 »

Students! Apply now for a Field Study Scholarship

Application Deadline: February 14

Each year, NAGT makes eighteen $750 awards to undergraduate students to facilitate their study of field geoscience. These awards, previously given to students who attend a traditional summer field camp, are now available for students attending field-based courses at any time of year and in any format: face-to-face, virtual, or hybrid. The intent of the awards is to 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.

Learn More Application Deadline is February 14

Advocacy Committee's Draft Position Statements Open for Comment

The NAGT Advocacy Committee invites members to provide feedback on two NAGT position statements. In accordance with the NAGT procedure for approval of position statements, these statements (one new, one revised) are available for review and feedback by the membership before being voted on by the NAGT Council. The deadline for comments is January 30, 2026.

Supporting Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the Geosciences

To advance Earth science education for all, it is critical that geoscience teaching, learning, and research be inclusive, conducted in ways that recognize and value diverse backgrounds, and are anti-racist, anti-ableist, and culturally responsive.

Teaching Biological Evolution

The National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT) recognizes that the scientific theory of biological evolution is a foundational and robustly supported concept of science and, therefore, must also be a cornerstone of science education.

Comments Due January 30

2026 Earth Educators' Rendezvous

University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC, July 20-23, 2026

Join us for the eleventh Earth Educators' Rendezvous (EER), held July 20-23, 2026, at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina. The EER consists of 1/2-day to multi-day workshops and oral and poster sessions, along with a Share-a-thon, exhibitor showcase, and opportunities to connect with colleagues and the community. The program is designed to support researchers and practitioners working in all aspects of Earth education, including college faculty, graduate and undergraduate students, informal educators, education professionals, and K-12 teachers who are interested in improving their teaching about Earth.

Get Updates on EER

Registration and submissions for abstracts and share-a-thon open January 16, 2026.

Submit a Design for the 2026 EER T-Shirt

Due February 15.

The EER Planning team is accepting design submissions for the 2026 Earth Educators' Rendezvous conference t-shirt! The design must include (1) the EER Swirl. (2) The following text in the Cinzel font style: Earth Educators' Rendezvous, Columbia, SC, and 2026. (3) Should be based on the local site and surrounding area. (4) Use 2–3 colors total for the design. We will be choosing t-shirt colors based on availability and price. And, (5) avoid very small design elements or thin lines that may be lost when the image is resized.

Submit a design by Feb 15

Sign up to be an EER Exhibitor

Share your products or services with EER participants by taking advantage of the University of South Carolina School of the Earth, Ocean, and Environmental Sciences venue. Exhibitors can showcase their products and services throughout the event in a dedicated exhibitor area and will have a dedicated time to share information during the Exhibitor Showcase.

Sponsor EER2026

Gain visibility for your organization, program, or institution with EER Participants who work in the Earth, ocean, and atmospheric sciences and allied fields in the full range of institution types and organizations around the country.

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 on 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 Rory McFadden.

Elections occur in June and terms begin at the NAGT Annual Council Meeting in October 2026. Self-nominations are welcome!

Learn More

Propose an NAGT-Sponsored Field Trip, Session, or Short Course for GSA 2026

Planning on proposing a session for the 2026 Annual Geological Society of America meeting? This year's GSA Connects returns to Denver, Colorado on October 11-14, 2026. If you are looking for NAGT sponsorship? Submit your request for sponsorship by January 31 in order to meet the GSA proposal deadline of February 19.

Request Sponsorship
by January 31, 2026

Abstracts due soon for the GSA Geographic Section Meetings

The GSA Section Meetings are happening this spring. These smaller meetings attract geoscience students, providing an opportunity to learn and network with others who live and work in your region.

Triple Joint Southeastern, North-Central, and South-Central: "Where Geoscience Converges on the Mighty Mississippi" in Memphis, Tennessee, March 8-1. Abstract deadline is January 13, 2026.
Northeastern: "New England and Beyond: Investigating the Lithosphere, Hydrosphere, and Anthroposphere" in Hartford, Connecticut, March 21-24. Abstract deadline is January 13, 2026.
Cordilleran: "Where the Mountains Meet the Sea - Loreto 2026" in Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico, April 21-24. Abstract deadline is January 13, 2026.
Rocky Mountain: "Geoscience at the Heart of the High Desert" in Albuquerque, New Mexico, May 17-20. Abstract deadline is February 24, 2026.

Journal of Geoscience Education

The Journal of Geoscience Education is always looking for submissions related to learning and teaching in the geosciences and related domains.

Submit a paper to JGE View the latest issue of JGE

Article of the Month

Each month, the editorial staff for the Journal of Geoscience Education (JGE) selects a paper to be freely accessible. For January 2026, they selected "A short-term critical zone geophysics program designed to recruit, retain, and foster community amongst 1st and 2nd year undergraduates historically marginalized in geosciences," by Kristina Keating, Kristin O'Connell, Gregory J. Mount, Jorden L. Hayes, Roman A. DiBiase, Susan L. Brantley, Yonesha Donaldson, and Angelo Tarzona, and published online July 21, 2025. Congratulations authors!

In The Trenches

A new year means new beginnings! Are you excited to teach a new class, try a new instructional strategy, or revise an old one? Consider writing up your ideas and sharing them in NAGT's online member publication, In the Trenches (ITT).

ITT is an interactive online publication designed to provide a venue for NAGT members to learn about and discuss teaching strategies and resources, the work of NAGT committees, sections, and divisions, and other ideas relevant to Earth educators and education researchers. Share your work through ITT!

Suggest ITT Content Submit an Article

Teach the Earth

Teach the Earth (TTE) 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.

Featured Exemplary Resource

Exploring Patterns: ENSO on the Global Stage, by Cynthia M. Fadem at Earlham College, employs a case-study approach to enable students who have become familiar with the El Niño-Southern Oscillation to examine the reality of ocean surface temperature data. Students analyze a time series of SST anomaly maps to create an ENSO timeline. You can implement this teaching collection as part of the Climate of Change InTeGrate Module, Unit 3, or as a standalone activity.

Nominate Outstanding Earth Science Teachers

Nominations due February 1

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. Eight 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.

Learn More

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!

Mentoring for Student Success Workshop

Online Workshop: February 23, 25, and 27, 2026, 12:00 pm PT | 1:00 pm MT | 2:00 pm CT | 3:00 pm ET (2 hours)

Are you ready to take your mentoring to the next level? This three-day, interactive online workshop is held in real time to empower mentors with practical tools and fresh insights to better support students as they navigate their research experiences. Through guided discussions and hands-on activities, participants will reflect on their own journeys as mentees and mentors, explore strategies for setting expectations and communicating effectively, and collaborate to address common mentoring challenges. Together, we'll focus on fostering student belonging, growth, and independence, helping them thrive as emerging geoscientists. Expect a supportive, participant-centered virtual space where you'll connect, share ideas, and learn alongside fellow mentors and facilitators.

Learn More Register by Feb 1

Course Design Workshop

Online Workshop: June 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, and 24, 2026, 9:30 am - 11:00 am PT | 10:30 am - 12:00 pm MT | 11:30 am - 1:00 pm CT | 12:30 - 2:00 pm ET

Are you developing a new course or revising a course you have taught before? This workshop will help you use backwards design to generate assessments and instructional activities that meet both content and skills-based objectives. This highly interactive, synchronous online workshop will provide time for you to build foundational knowledge of best practices for course design, share strategies and exchange ideas with colleagues, work independently on developing your course, and provide and receive feedback from peers.

Registration is Open!

Workshop for Early Career Geoscience Faculty

In-person at Macalester College, St. Paul, MN | June 21-25, 2026

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.

Learn more about the workshop and apply by March 31

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.

Request a Traveling Workshop

Catch past NAGT Webinars on YouTube!

Did you miss a webinar hosted by NAGT? Check out the NAGT Webinar Series YouTube Channel! Find a selection of recordings from webinars in the series and sponsored projects at your fingertips. Remember to subscribe!

Regional Sections

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 web pages to learn more about your Section and efforts to engage and support geoscience education in your region.

Eastern Section

Join us for the Eastern Section's Spring 2026 meeting, hosted by Callan Bentley at Piedmont Virginia Community College in Charlottesville, Virginia, May 14-16, 2026. If you have not attended a meeting in several years, or have never attended a meeting, why not make the plans now and consider joining us in Charlottesville, Virginia, for the spring 2026 meeting? Be sure to check out our newsletter: Fall 2025 NAGT-ES Bulletin CB.pdf.

Pacific Northwest Section

Our next annual meeting will be hosted in June 2026, at Highline College in Des Moines, Washington by Jacob Selander, jselander@highline.edu. More information on our upcoming June 2026 meeting or the June 2025 Annual Meeting in Portland, Oregon can be found on the section's annual meeting web page.

Rocky Mountain Section

Be sure to find us at the Rocky Mountain GSA Conference in Albuquerque, May 17-20, 2026.

Topical Divisions

Geo2YC Division

The Geo2YC Division is a home for NAGT members who have a shared professional interest in geoscience education at two-year colleges. Two-year college faculty are an integral part of NAGT. Explore the seasonal Geo2YC Newsletter!

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.

Join GER

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. Do you want to know what we've been up to? Do you want to stay informed about how the Teacher Education Division supports you, as members of NAGT and TED? Find us on Facebook!

Join TED

Exchanging Knowledge in Geoscience Education Research

Online - Friday, January 16, 2026, 9:30 am - 10:30 am PT | 10:30 am - 11:30 am MT | 11:30 am - 12:30 pm CT | 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm ET

Are you interested in enhancing your research design and methodology skills in an informal, collaborative setting? The GER Monthly Knowledge Exchange is here to help! This casual, interactive monthly online gathering seeks to create a forum for the GER (Geoscience Education Research) community to ask questions and get input from peers without the pressure of formal presentations, build collective capacity, and share resources, ideas, and experiences on a specific topic. No prep required, just bring your curiosity and insights to share!

January 2026 Topic: Debriefing from the "Status of the Field of DBER Workshop"

Join the Meeting:

Join Zoom Meeting https://sc-edu.zoom.us/j/83347861230
Meeting ID: 833 4786 1230

We'd love your input! Suggest a topic for a future session by adding it to our topic calendar.

Also, visit the summary of shared insights from our prior meeting on "Using expert panels to develop a codebook."

Let's learn and grow together. See you there!

Instructor Survey: Do you use analogies in your geoscience classroom?

Complete the survey by February 10, 2026

Do you use analogies in your geoscience classroom? Do you teach upper-level/majors courses? If yes, please consider participating in our survey-based study! We are exploring geoscience instructor perspectives on analogies in upper-level geoscience courses. This short 10-15 minute digital survey will ask questions surrounding how you, as an instructor, use analogies in your classroom, what analogies you find yourself using, and how you feel about analogy effectiveness. Compensation in the form of a $20 Amazon gift card will be offered to the first 75 participants.

Before beginning the survey, take a second to think about what analogies you have used throughout your time as a geoscience instructor. You will be asked to provide an example.

If you are interested in participating, please click the following link to access the survey: https://niu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_39tJYadtTdT289U

The survey will be open until February 10th, 2026, after which compensation will be emailed to the first 75 participants.

CIRES-CEEE Resilient Futures Teacher Workshop 2026

Boulder, Colorado: July 28-30, 2026

Pre-registration is now open for the 2026 Resilient Futures Teacher Workshop! Middle school and high school educators are invited to a three-day in-person teacher workshop. Engage with sessions on education resources, including scientist talks, lab tours, and networking sessions by CEEE, NOAA, and friends. This session will cover topics such as climate science, natural hazards, water resources, climate mental health, data literacy, and more. Participants will leave with a variety of classroom-ready lessons and activities. They can receive a 20-hour PD certificate OR 1-2 Continuing Education credits from the University of Colorado Boulder upon course completion.

After pre-registration closes, a small registration fee will be required when the official registration opens. Participants who complete the course will receive a gift card.

Pre-Register Today

Looking to connect with a wide audience in the geoscience education community? Post your job openings, postdoctoral positions, internships, assistantships, or undergraduate research opportunities on the NAGT Career Hub! Your posting will be featured on the NAGT Career Hub website, posted on NAGT's social media, and included in next month's NAGTNews newsletter!