In This Issue
News & Announcements
- NAGT Activities and Workshops at AGU
- Volunteer to Staff the NAGT Booth at AGU
- Renew Your NAGT Membership for 2020
- Consider an End-of-Year Donation to NAGT
- Suggest Topics and Speakers for NAGT Webinars
- Sharon Tahirkheli Accepts New Role as AGI Interim Executive Director
- Themed session at the joint NE/SE GSA section meeting this April, 2020 "Out of the Classroom, Out of the Box: Innovative Approaches to Geoscience Education"
- Check out NSF Fall Proposal Preparation Webinar Recordings
Upcoming Webinars
- NAGT Webinar: The Matrix Approach to Curriculum and Program Learning Outcomes Design - Nov 18
- NAGT Webinar: Getting Started in Environmental Justice Curriculum: Bridging Disciplines and Community - Dec 4
Deadlines
- Register now for AGU Workshops
- NAGT Outstanding Teaching Assistant Awards Nomination Deadline is December 15
- Next Traveling Workshops Program Application Deadline is January 15
Section and Division Highlights
NAGT Career Hub
- Environmental Geosciences: Tenure-line position as an Assistant, Associate or Full Professor at Virginia Tech
Rock and Mineral Exchange
1. NAGT Activities and Workshops at AGU
NAGT is proud to sponsor several workshops and events as part of the AGU Fall Meeting, taking place December 9-13, 2019, in San Francisco, CA. Be sure to check out the NAGT workshops and related educational sessions going on at AGU. You can see all the NAGT programming and associated sessions happening at AGU's Fall Meeting on NAGT's AGU web page.
See the deadline section below for workshops that are still available for registration.
Don't forget to stop by our booth (#314) for the most up-to-date information on upcoming NAGT workshops, educational resources, and teaching activities. We hope to see you there!
2. Volunteer to staff the NAGT booth at AGU
We are actively soliciting NAGT members to help staff the booth during the AGU annual meeting. This is a great way to meet other NAGT members from around the country and share your excitement about geoscience education. Your commitment and enthusiasm are critical to helping bring new members on board. If you've never volunteered at the booth before, it's easy! There will be experienced NAGT officers and staff on-hand to offer guidance and assistance across your shift. If you have even a little time you can share to represent NAGT, please contact Caroline Smith (csmith3@carleton.edu) in the Executive Director's Office and she can get you on the schedule. Remember, volunteering at the booth is also an excellent way to increase awareness of your own work and efforts--we're so proud of all that NAGT members accomplish!
3. Renew Your NAGT Membership for 2020
It's that time of year again--Fall marks the beginning of NAGT's membership renewal period! We encourage you to renew now so that you receive uninterrupted membership benefits in 2020.
NAGT is deeply thankful for everyone whose commitment to geoscience education leads them to become a member and support the work of the Association. Now is the time to start thinking about renewing your membership for 2020.
Remember that you can sign up for automatic renewals or multi-year memberships if you want to easily continue receiving membership benefits without worrying about letting them lapse. Please also consider an added donation this year--NAGT programs and activities are more innovative, far-reaching, and effective because of your support!
What makes NAGT? The answer is simple: our valued members. Whether you're interested in promoting Earth literacy, keen on joining a community of peers, passionate about teaching the sciences, or eager to learn about new teaching tools and resources, NAGT has so much to offer. Need a reminder of the great benefits of being an NAGT member? Check out the Member Benefits web page.
4. Consider an End-of-Year Donation to NAGT
5. Suggest Topics and Speakers for NAGT Webinars
NAGT sponsors a comprehensive webinar series that is sure to be your one-stop-shop for strengthening work in Earth education. The webinar series addresses themes such as improving teaching and learning, addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion in Earth education, implementing the NGSS, strengthening your department, and engaging with communities and society. The webinars provide opportunities for you to learn from your peers, as well as experts, and are designed to provide ample opportunity for discussion and interaction. Webinars feature novel and innovative work in Earth education research and pedagogy, new teaching materials, and classroom and professional experiences of people like you. The NAGT webinar series is free and we encourage you to invite your colleagues to attend.
NAGT invites you to share your suggestions for NAGT webinars: you may propose a topic, suggest a presenter, or express your interest in leading a webinar using the form on the NAGT webinars web page.
6. Sharon Tahirkheli Accepts New Role as AGI Interim Executive Director
The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is pleased to announce that longtime AGI Director of Scholarly Information Sharon Tahirkheli takes on an additional new role as AGI Interim Executive Director, effective immediately.
Tahirkheli has provided leadership in the field of geoscience information for more than 30 years. She currently oversees GeoRef, AGI's premier bibliographic database for the geosciences, as well as other information products and services such as the Glossary of Geology, additional online databases, and open geoscience information collections. She was instrumental in establishing GeoScienceWorld, an aggregate of linked and interoperable earth science journals, and participated in the development of the Digital Library for Earth System Education (DLESE) and the Multilingual Thesaurus of Geosciences
7. Themed session at the joint NE/SE GSA section meeting this April, 2020: "Out of the Classroom, Out of the Box: Innovative Approaches to Geoscience Education"
This session focuses on nontraditional or informal learning approaches across the geosciences. We encourage contributions on learning that occurs outside the regular classroom, e.g., innovative approaches to learning experiences in the field, in settings such as museums, libraries, and community organizations, or through extra-curricular events and activities.
Abstract submissions are due by December 10, 2019.
NE/SE GSA takes place March 20-22, 2020, in Reston, VA
8. NSF Fall Proposal Preparation Webinar Recordings
While both webinars have already taken place, recordings are available: The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Undergraduate Education in collaboration with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) offered two 90-minute webinars about preparing proposals for the NSF Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE) program. Please feel free to share this announcement to encourage new applicants.The webinar on November 5th provided an overview of the IUSE program while highlighting the recent changes to the solicitation.The webinar on November 13th specifically focuses on the Institutional and Community Transformation Track (ICT) of the IUSE Program.
You can access these and other recordings from the NSF Proposal Preparation Webinars website from AAAS ARISE.
1. NAGT Webinar: The Matrix Approach to Curriculum and Program Learning Outcomes Design
Presenter: Dallas Rhodes, Humboldt State UniversityEvent date: Monday, November 18, 2019
Time: 1:00 pm Pacific | 2:00 pm Mountain | 3:00 pm Central | 4:00 pm Eastern
Matrix mapping provides a rich graphical portrait of curriculum content and can be used as a starting point for program assessment. Learn about the basics of curricular program mapping, the variety of options available in the use of matrices, and see examples of real completed program matrices. Read more...
Register by Friday, November 15.
2. NAGT Webinar: Getting Started in Environmental Justice Curriculum: Bridging Disciplines and Community
Presenter: Sarah Fortner and Nancy McHugh, Wittenberg UniversityEvent date: Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Time: 11:00 am Pacific | 12:00 pm Mountain | 1:00 pm Central | 2:00 pm Eastern
The presenters will discuss strategies for engaging students in environmental justice to encourage embedding conceptions of justice in their research questions and activities, increasing their effectiveness in working with and through communities. They will describe opportunities to expand student perspective-taking and cross-disciplinary understanding through collaborating and provide examples of environmental justice network building that co-advance student and community outcomes. Read more...
Register by Monday, December 2.
1. Register now for Workshops at AGU
The following AGU workshops are still open for registration:
Make Your Course More Effective and Societally Relevant, Monday, December 9, 2019 (2:30-4:30pm), $25
Fostering Diverse Inclusive and Equitable Communities in Geoscience Field Experiences, Tuesday, December 10, 2019 (8am-11am), $25Read more about Education Sessions and Activities at the 2019 AGU Fall Meeting.
2. NAGT Outstanding Teaching Assistant Awards Nomination Deadline is December 15
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 a one year membership to NAGT, which includes an online subscription to the Journal of Geoscience Education and our In The Trenches quarterly magazine. The yearly membership starts January 1st of the upcoming year.
The undergraduate student awards are the gift of Thomas Hendrix, Grand Valley State University. Tom was the recipient of the 1994 Neil Miner award and he also served as President of NAGT and as editor of the Journal of Geoscience Education. The graduate student awards are funded by NAGT. Nominate a TA by December 15.
3. Next Traveling Workshops Program Application Deadline is January 15
The NAGT 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.
Application deadlines for the 2020-2021 academic year:
- January 15, 2020 (for Summer 2020 Workshops)
- March 15, 2020 (for Fall 2020 Workshops)
- June 15, 2020 for (for Fall 2020/Winter 2021 Workshops)
- October 15, 2020 (for Winter/Spring 2021 Workshops)
GER Division News
This month's GER Spotlight is Dr. Anne Egger, Associate Professor at Central Washington University in the Department of Geological Sciences and Science Education. Dr. Egger focuses on exploring big datasets to better understand the landscape of geoscience education and education research. She will be taking on the role NAGT Executive Director this December and was recently elected as 2019 Geological Society of America Fellow. Check out the full November 2019 Spotlight here!
Midcontinent Section News
The Midcontinent Section of NAGT is sponsoring two sessions at the 2020 GSA South-Central Meeting in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 9-10, 2020. Please considering submitting an abstract by December 3, 2019. The two sessions are:
T26. Strengthening Student Engagement, Inclusion and Learning in the Geosciences, K-Higher Ed
Improving student engagement, inclusion and learning are at the forefront of many educators' and administrators' minds, and key to increasing enrollment in the geosciences. This session welcomes submissions on any topic related to improving geoscience education or outreach, at any level from K-Higher Education. Organizers: Brendan Hanger, Aida Farough, Liane Stevens and Wendi Williams
T27. Hands-on Teaching Demonstrations in Geoscience Courses
This is a geoscience education session that highlights innovative teaching practices through audience participation. Authors will present micro-demonstrations of effective teaching activities that illustrate geologic concepts in geoscience courses. Presentations should have an audience-participation component. Assessment results and reflections on effectiveness are encouraged. Organizers: Michael T. DeAngelis and Rene A. Shroat-Lewis
Call for Vice President Nominations
The Midcontinent Section of NAGT (MCNAGT) is looking for nominations for Vice President (President-Elect). The elected person will serve as Vice President (President-Elect) of MCNAGT beginning in January 2020 through December 2020,with automatic transition to President of MCNAGT from January 2021 through December 2021. Nominations, including self-nominations, will be accepted until the end of November. Elections will be held in early December via an online process. Nominees must be from within the section membership of the MCNAGT, which includes the states of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Questions and nominations should be directed to Michael DeAngelis (mtdeangelis@ualr.edu), University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Eastern Section News
The Eastern Section invites is looking for volunteers on a steering committee to help organize a special meeting abroad that will involve holding thematic talks and field trips during a two-week cruise in August 2021. Interested members may contact Jason Petula at jpetula@millersville.edu by November 30, 2019.
Take Part in an NAGT-sponsored Survey on Incorporation of Energy Issues into Earth and Environmental Education
The National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT) and the Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences (AESS) are conducting a survey to understand the extent to which energy issues are incorporated into Earth and environmental education. We invite you to respond to the survey, which should take no more than 10-15 minutes to complete.
The survey will help NAGT and AESS and other organizations determine how best to advance Energy, Earth and Environmental Education (E4). The survey is funded by NSF grant #1924673 to the Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College.
Please share this invitation to other earth and environmental educators at secondary and postsecondary institutions.
Your response is requested by November 22, 2019. Thank you very much for your assistance.
Rendezvous 2021 Site Host Invitation
The selection process has begun for hosting the 2021 Rendezvous. We welcome all those who are interested in hosting the Rendezvous at their home institution.
See here for more detailed information on Rendezvous host site requirements. If you are ready to submit your application to host, please apply here. All proposals must be received by December 18, 2019.
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!
Environmental Geosciences: Tenure-line position as an Assistant, Associate or Full Professor at Virginia Tech
The Department of Geosciences at Virginia Tech (geos.vt.edu) invites applications for a tenure-line position as an Assistant, Associate or Full Professor in the area of Environmental Geoscience. Viable areas include, but are not limited to nanogeoscience, geochemistry, Earth materials, critical zone science, biogeoscience, and hydrogeoscience. The successful candidate will establish a vibrant research program that is recognized for scientific excellence, attract extramural funding from multiple funding agencies, provide effective instruction, advise a diverse population of undergraduate and graduate students, and grow professional leadership. The ideal candidate will apply experimental, computational, analytical, or field approaches to any of the broadly defined areas of environmental geosciences. A full list of faculty responsibilities are provided in the Virginia Tech Faculty Handbook.
The Department of Geoscience is a vibrant community of 30 faculty and instructors with expertise across the spectrum of geosciences. The Department is internationally recognized for research excellence and has a rich history of research and innovation with state-of-the-art instrumentation that includes ion microprobe (SIMS), electron microprobe, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and fluorescence, Raman spectroscopy, laser ablation ICP-MS, gas source IR-MS, and the VT Advanced Research Computing Facility. Additional information can be found at the following links: Nanoscale Characterization and Fabrication Laboratory or Advanced Research Computing.
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.
