News
- NAGT Activities at AGU
- Suggest Topics and Speakers for NAGT Webinars
- Renew Your NAGT Membership for 2021 and Help Spread the Word
- Consider an End-of-Year Donation to NAGT
- Student Recognition Opportunity: Nominate a Student for an NAGT Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award
- Apply to Present an Activity at the Geophysical Information For Teachers (GIFT) Share-a-thon at AGU
- New Dorothy LaLonde Stout Lecture and Award from AGU's Education Section
Awards and Recognition
- Rebecca L. Dodge of Midwestern State University Honored for Service to AGI
- Scott Burns, Professor Emeritus at Portland State University, Named a 2020 Sigma Xi Fellow
Webinars and Workshops
- Nov 17: Developing a Sense of Place During Distance Learning NAGT Webinar
- Dec 1: Building Inclusive STEM Communities through Partnership with Students: The Being Human in STEM (HSTEM) Initiative NAGT Webinar
- January 10-15: America's Geoheritage Workshop II: Identifying, Developing, and Preserving America's Natural Legacy Virtual Workshop
Deadlines
- November 15: Registration deadline for the NAGT Developing a Sense of Place Webinar
- November 29: Registration deadline for the NAGT Building Inclusive STEM Communities through Partnership with Students: The Being Human in STEM (HSTEM) Initiative Webinar
- December 4: Application deadline for America's Geoheritage Workshop II: Identifying, Developing, and Preserving America's Natural Legacy - Part II: Geoheritage Virtual Writing Workshop
- December 15: Nomination deadline for the NAGT Outstanding Teaching Assistant Awards
- January 15: Application deadline for the Traveling Workshops Program
- Career Hub: Ongoing
Section and Division Highlights
From Our Members
- University of California Museum of Paleontology's newest addition to our award-winning 'Understanding' series: Understanding Global Change
- The GEO Indigenous Summit 2020: 7-9 December 2020, Online
NAGT Career Hub
- Geology Tenure-Track Position, Department of Earth Sciences, The University of South Alabama
- Assistant Professor in Earth Science Discipline-Based Education Research
- Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Geoscience Education at California State University, Fullerton
Rock and Mineral Exchange
1. NAGT Activities at AGU
NAGT is proud to sponsor several events as part of the AGU Fall Meeting, taking place December 1-17, 2020, online. Be sure to check out the NAGT-sponsored 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. We also invite you to check out this year's NAGT virtual booth for AGU.
2. Suggest Topics and Speakers for NAGT Webinars
NAGT sponsors a comprehensive webinar series that is designed 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 also 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.
3. Renew Your NAGT Membership for 2021 and Help Spread the Word
Fall marks the beginning of NAGT's membership renewal period. We thank you for your commitment to geoscience education: renew now to receive uninterrupted membership benefits in 2021. You can also sign up for automatic membership renewal so you don't have to remember every year.
Two other things you can do when you renew: first, spread the word to your colleagues and students about the benefits of NAGT membership. Second, consider including an additional donation to support NAGT's programming, stipends for student participation, or other general support.
Thank you for helping to support a diverse, thriving, and inclusive community of geoscience educators and researchers.
4. Consider an End-of-Year Donation to NAGT
5. Student Recognition Opportunity: Nominate a Student for an NAGT Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award
NAGT recognizes outstanding teaching assistants in geoscience education twice a year, with up to 30 awards annually. Both undergraduate and graduate teaching assistants are eligible for the award. Award winners receive a one year membership in NAGT, which includes an online subscription to the Journal of Geoscience Education and our In The Trenches quarterly magazine. Nominations can be made on the online nomination form, and deadlines are December 15th and June 15th.
Student members, we invite you to check out opportunities for awards and scholarships available through NAGT, careers and internships advertised in the NAGT Career Hub, and a multitude of ways to get more involved with the organization.
6. Apply to Present an Activity at the Geophysical Information For Teachers (GIFT) Share-a-thon at AGU
K-12 Educators are encouraged to apply to present in a special session, called a "Geophysical Information for Teachers (GIFT) Share-a-thon," at the upcoming AGU Fall meeting. In this session, K-12 teachers will share resources and ideas that are freely available for use in Earth and space science (ESS) education with other K12 educators. Each presenter will have 7-9 minutes to present.
The "GIFT Share-a-thon" is being organized and facilitated by the Next Generation Science Standards in Earth and Space Science (NGSS-ESS) Working Group, which is a collaboration between the National Earth Science Teachers Association (NESTA), the National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT), and the American Geosciences Institute (AGI), with logistics provided by the American Geophysical Union (AGU).
Review of applications will begin on November 23, 2020, and will continue until all presentation spots are filled.
7. New Dorothy LaLonde Stout Lecture and Award from AGU's Education Section
The American Geophysical Union has announced the Dorothy LaLonde Stout Lecture, a new named lecture and award for 2021. The award is named for Dorothy LaLonde Stout, the first female president of NAGT, to recognize her extraordinary life-long contributions to Earth science education. She was a dedicated parent, revered educator, exemplary leader, and respected scientist, and her contributions to the geoscience education community were wide and varied. Scheduled to be presented for the first time at the 2021 AGU Fall Meeting, The Dorothy LaLonde Stout Lecture will recognize significant contributions in Earth and space science education and public outreach by an individual or team. Learn more about the lecture and award on AGU's website.
Rebecca L. Dodge of Midwestern State University Receives the 2020 William B. Heroy Jr. Award for Distinguished Service to AGI
The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) has recognized NAGT member Dr. Rebecca L. Dodge, Professor Emeritus at Midwestern State University, as the 2020 recipient of the William B. Heroy Jr. Award for Distinguished Service to AGI. Dr. Dodge has longstanding ties to AGI's Environmental Program both as a co-author of an Environmental Awareness Series publication and as a member of AGI's former Environment Geoscience Advisory Committee, where she represented the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG).
Through her work on an online professional development course in Earth and Space Science, Dr. Dodge has contributed to AGI's education mission for several years. The online course addresses the needs of secondary science teachers, who are often asked to teach Earth science courses, but who may have previous training only in other disciplines. To date, more than 150 teachers have benefited from this course.
"Rebecca's work on behalf of AGI in educating the public has been an inspiration," said AGI Interim Executive Director Sharon Tahirkheli. "She has advanced AGI's mission of service to the geoscience community, and she is an excellent choice for this year's Heroy Awardee."
The Heroy Award is named after William B. Heroy Jr.'s exemplary service to AGI. Heroy's professional accomplishments were exceeded only by his love of geology and his commendable modesty in the face of such achievements.
Scott Burns, Professor Emeritus at Portland State University, Named a 2020 Sigma Xi Fellow
NAGT member Scott Burns, Professor Emeritus Portland State University, is part of the inaugural cohort of Sigma Xi Fellows 'for distinguished contributions to geology, soil science, terroir and wines, Sigma Xi, community organizations, teaching, mentoring, lifelong learning, and colleagues worldwide.'
Burns' research is focused in environmental (radon) and engineering geology (landslides), geomorphology, soils (terroir of wine), and Quaternary geology (Missoula Floods). Burns has been honored with a number of awards for his teaching, including the Faculty Senate Chair Award at Louisiana Tech University in 1987, the Distinguished Faculty Award from the Portland State Alumni Association in 2001, and the George Hoffmann Award from PSU in 2007. He has authored over 100 publications and has had over 25 research grants. His most famous book, Cataclysms on the Columbia, the Great Missoula Floods came out in 2009. Burns has been the president of the Faculty Senate and chair of the department at three different universities. He actively helps local TV stations and new media bring important geological news to the public.
Sigma Xi (The Scientific Research Honor Society) is the largest multidisciplinary honor society for scientists and engineers. Its mission is to enhance the health of the research enterprise, foster integrity in science and engineering, and promote the public understanding of science for the purpose of improving the human condition. Sigma Xi Fellow distinction is awarded on a competitive basis to long-time members who have been recognized by their peers for their distinguished service to Sigma Xi and their outstanding contributions to scientific enterprise.
NAGT Webinar: Developing a Sense of Place During Distance Learning
Tuesday, November 17, 1:00pm PT | 2:00pm MT | 3:00pm CT | 4:00pm ET: Sense of place helps students contextualize their learning, engage in systems thinking, and connect more personally with course content. How can we adjust our curriculum and facilitation to help students develop a sense of place, when we can't be in a place together? In this webinar, we will explore several approaches for incorporating sense of place into distance learning, including taking virtual field trips, tapping into local knowledge, and using a community's shared experience as a springboard. Join webinar speakers Steve Semken, Carrie Ferraro, and Tara Laidlaw, for this one-hour webinar. Register for the free webinar by Sunday, November 15.
NAGT Webinar: Building Inclusive STEM Communities through Partnership with Students: The Being Human in STEM (HSTEM) Initiative
Tuesday, December 1, 1:00pm PT | 2:00pm MT | 3:00pm CT | 4:00pm ET: Following a four-day sit-in protesting the experiences of marginalized students on campus, faculty, students, and staff at Amherst College have worked to build the Being Human in STEM initiative, which seeks to encourage participants to recognize how their humanness shapes their experiences in STEM, to read the literature on past diversity and inclusion efforts in STEM, and to construct meaningful partnerships focused on action projects to enhance everyone's sense of belonging in STEM. This webinar will discuss the Being Human in STEM initiative and share concrete strategies that we've developed through partnership with students to enhance the inclusiveness of our STEM classrooms. Join webinar speaker, Sarah Bunnell, for this one-hour webinar. Register for the free webinar by Sunday, November 29.
America's Geoheritage Workshop II: Identifying, Developing, and Preserving America's Natural Legacy Virtual Workshop
January 10-15, 2021: Celebrate America's Geoheritage! The U.S. National Committee for Geological Sciences is convening a workshop to develop a community vision to encourage the identification, protection, and development of Geoheritage sites across America. This is an opportunity for you to learn more about America's Geoheritage initiatives, to contribute to this most important project, and to build networks with colleagues who are dedicated to preserving and promoting Geoheritage sites across the country.
To prepare for the writing workshop, the organizers have convened a webinar series this Fall; all webinars are recorded. The last two webinars are Tuesday, Nov. 17 (Geoheritage and Geoscience Education), and Tuesday, December 1 (Geoheritage and Research Initiatives) at 11 ET/10 CT/9 MT/8 PT (registration is free via those links). Read more about and apply for the virtual workshop by December 4.
November 15: Registration deadline for the NAGT Developing a Sense of Place Webinar (webinar takes place on Nov 17)
November 29: Registration deadline for the NAGT Building Inclusive STEM Communities through Partnership with Students: The Being Human in STEM (HSTEM) Initiative Webinar (webinar takes place on Dec 1)
December 4: Application deadline for America's Geoheritage Workshop II: Identifying, Developing, and Preserving America's Natural Legacy - Part II: Geoheritage Virtual Writing Workshop (workshop takes place January 10-15, 2021)
December 15: Nomination deadline for the NAGT Outstanding Teaching Assistant Awards
January 15: Application deadline for the Traveling Workshops Program
Ongoing - NAGT Career Hub: NAGT Career Hub allows institutions and organizations to advertise geoscience education related job openings, postdoctoral positions, internships, assistantships, and undergraduate research opportunities. All Career Hub postings are also featured in the NAGTNews e-newsletter and on NAGT's social media. Learn more about posting your opportunity to Career Hub.
GER Division
- Are you interested in joining a small group of writers? Do you want to develop a regular, scheduled, and committed writing practice? Would you like to give and receive feedback (or just generally chat about writing projects) with colleagues? Currently a small writing circle is meeting each Friday online from 11:00 am to 2:00pm ET, and is open to receiving new members. The writing circle is a continuation of writing retreats that were held at prior Rendezvous. If interested, please contact Peggy McNeal, pmcneal@towson.edu
TED Division
- Feel free to post time-critical info on the TED Division Facebook page.
Geology Tenure-Track Position, Department of Earth Sciences, The University of South Alabama
The Department of Earth Sciences at the University of South Alabama invites applications for a full-time (9 month), tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Geology, starting January 1st, 2021. We seek candidates with research experience in Sedimentology, Sedimentary Petrology, Stratigraphy, and/or Paleontology.
Assistant Professor in Earth Science Discipline-Based Education Research
The Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences (EOAS) at the University of British Columbia (UBC) invites applicants for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professorship in Earth Science Discipline-Based Education Research. We seek an innovative researcher and educator who will conduct internationally-recognized research on the development, application, and assessment of best-practices in Discipline-Based Education Research (DBER), with a focus on experiential learning in the Earth Sciences (e.g., Geology, Geological Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Oceanography, Atmospheric Sciences, Geophysics, Hydrogeology). Experiential learning is defined here as an educational process that engages students with authentic situations and applications in classroom, laboratory or field settings, and includes experiences that occur outside of a traditional university learning space.
Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Geoscience Education at California State University, Fullerton
The Department of Geological Sciences invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professorship in Geoscience Education beginning August 2021. CSUF is a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to increasing campus diversity. We seek a geoscience educator who develops, applies, and evaluates new geoscience teaching innovations and curricula, and conducts innovative geoscience education research. We expect candidates to show evidence of an existing or developing, active, externally funded, student-centered research program. We seek a scholar who demonstrates interest and ability to teach courses in geoscience education and general geology at various levels including; general education, lower- and upper-division undergraduate, and graduate courses.
Do you need to advertise a position opening, event, or field trip? Submit your posting to the NAGT Career Hub!
University of California Museum of Paleontology's newest addition to our award-winning 'Understanding' series: Understanding Global Change
Understanding Global Change is a free online toolkit for discovering why the climate and environment changes, your place in the Earth system, and paths to a resilient future. Whether you are interested in formal K-16 education or self guided exploration, use this website to investigate how human activities and non-human processes interact to shape the world around us, and to construct models that explain what drives global change. You can also learn more about the Understanding Global Change project and how to utilize their resources from their websites that are part of the NAGT-sponsored Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network (CLEAN) project.
The GEO Indigenous Summit 2020 7-9 December 2020, Online
Join Indigenous leaders from around the world as they discuss Indigenous-led innovation in Earth observations data, science and technology. The GEO Indigenous Summit, taking place Dec 7-9, online, will build on the GEO Indigenous hackathon, bringing together Indigenous knowledge and state-of-the-art science and technology, as well as the global GEO community. No registration is required; the Summit is open to everyone, everywhere!
Themes will include COVID-19, Women Empowerment, Education, Climate Change, Disaster Risk Reduction, Indigenous Data Sovereignty, and Knowledge Transfer. The Summit will also feature a lightning talk session. To submit a lightning talk and be considered for a lightning talk complete this form by the 25th of November 23:59 CEST. Read more about the Summit here.
Organizing Committee: Titus Letaapo, James Rattling Leaf Sr., Mario Vargas Shakaim
Available Samples
Ophiolite, Tertiary sedimentary, misc metamorphic
Desired Specimens
Precambrian chert. Stromatolites
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.
