NAGTNews - Vol 15 - No 10 - October 2016

An archive of past NAGTNews message is available to members at http://serc.carleton.edu/mailman/listinfo/nagt.
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1. Member Mogk Receives MSA Distinguished Public Service Award

Congratulations to NAGT member and Cutting Edge co-PI, David Mogk on being selected as the 2017 Mineralogical Society of America Distinguished Public Service Award. The Distinguished Public Service (DPS) Medal is awarded to individuals or organizations who have made important contributions to furthering the vitality of the geological sciences, especially but not necessarily in the fields of mineralogy, geochemistry, petrology, and crystallography.

Dave has made incredible contributions to the success of NAGT directly as well as through his tireless work on geoscience education projects such as On the Cutting Edge, Building Strong Geoscience Departments, Bringing Research on Learning to the Geosciences, Integrating Research and Education, and many, many others. There are few more deserving of accolades for their efforts to make geoscience a vibrant, dynamic, and welcoming community of disciplines.

Congratulations Dave! Rock on!

More about the award is available on the Mineralogical Society of America's website.

2. Traveling Workshops Program - Deadline October 15th

The deadline for applying to host a Traveling Workshop in the spring or summer of 2017 is October 15. The Traveling Workshops Program (TWP) brings national leaders in geoscience education to your campus or regional event. TWP consists of two different tracks – one for groups interested in improving Courses and one specifically focused on Departments and Programs in colleges and universities. Departments may also apply for a workshop combining aspects of both tracks.

Participants from prior workshops write:

"I go into tomorrow with a renewed enthusiasm for making us a better department and to make us an integral part of the University and community."

"Bringing the workshop to the department is a highly valuable vehicle for engaging the entire department, and I really can('t) say enough about this model. Kudos to the Building Strong Geoscience Program..."

To learn more about the TWP program and to apply, visit NAGT Traveling Workshops Program.

3. Have Ideas for the 2017 Earth Educators' Rendezvous?

The conveners of the 2017 Earth Educators' Rendezvous are soliciting community input as they begin planning the program for next summer's event. If you have suggestions for program-level themes, workshops you'd like to lead or participate in, or plenary speakers you think should be invited, please use the form on the Rendezvous website to let the leadership team know.

http://serc.carleton.edu/earth_rendezvous/2017/ideas.html

As a reminder, the 2017 Earth Educators' Rendezvous will be held in Albuquerque, NM from July 17-21, 2017. Keep an eye on the Rendezvous website for more details as they become available over the next few months.

4. NAGT Welcomes its Newest Elected Officers

NAGT welcomed its newest elected officers at the recent GSA Annual Meeting in Denver, CO. The new officers will serve in their respected positions for one year.

Anne Egger of Central Washington University is the newly elected President.

Don Duggan-Hass of Paleontological Research Institution was elected the new 1st Vice President.

David McConnell of North Carolina State University was elected 2nd Vice President.

Dr. Randall Richardson of the University of Arizona will serve as the Past President.

The newly elected Councilors-at-Large are Aisha Morris of UNAVCO and Jen Wenner of the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh.

Returning Councilors include Michael Phillips of Illinois Valley Community College; Suki Smaglik; John Taber of Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS); and Karen Viskupic, Boise State University.

Aida Awad of Maine East High School (Park Ridge, IL) will continue to serve as the Secretary/Treasurer.

Congratulations to all our newly elected officials. Thank you to all our NAGT leadership volunteers, past and present...NAGT could not do it without you.

5. Renew your NAGT Membership for 2017

NAGT is deeply thankful for everyone whose commitment to geoscience education leads them to become a member and support what we do. It's now time to start thinking about renewing your membership for 2017 and you can do that online at http://nagt.org/nagt/membership/index.html.

Remember that you can sign up for automatic renewals or multi-year memberships if you want to make it easy to continue to receive the benefits of membership without having to worry about letting them lapse.

6. InTeGrate Announces New Teaching Module

​Water Sustainability in Cities addresses the grand challenge of water system sustainability in cities, and includes aspects of hydrologic and atmospheric processes, clean water, low-impact development, green infrastructure, flood risk, and climate variability. The module consists of nine integrated lessons spanning approximately three weeks of classroom instruction. The lessons use data-driven exercises and the flipped classroom pedagogical approach. The lessons provide a foundation in urban water systems, basic hydrologic and atmospheric processes, and sustainable and resilient infrastructure planning and decision making. Overall, the module highlights the benefits of the interconnections of geoscience, engineering, and other disciplines in the pursuit of water sustainability in cities.

Developed by Steven Burian​, ​University of Utah​; ​Manoj Jha​, ​​North Carolina A&T University​;​ Gigi Richard​, ​Colorado Mesa University​; and ​Marshall Shepherd​, ​University of Georgia​, Water Sustainability in Cities is a great fit for courses in environmental science, civil engineering, geology, water resources, Earth science and geography. ​

7. InTeGrate Fall Webinar Series Continues

The fall 2016 InTeGrate webinar series is off to a great start. Upcoming webinar topics include:

• Developing Students' Data Skills
• Energy and the Environment
• Water Sustainability
• Climate, Oceans, and Atmosphere
• Biosphere the Critical Zone
• Food Security

If you missed one or more of the previous webinars, each webinar topic page includes additional resources and a screencast of the webinar.

​For more details, visit the InTeGrate website at http://serc.carleton.edu/integrate/workshops/index.html.

8. AGU Reaffirms and Updates its Position Statements on K-12 Science Education and Earth History and Evolution

Earth and Space Sciences, Including Scientific Theories of Biological Evolution, Should be Taught in K-12 Education

The American Geophysical Union (AGU) has released a revision of its position statement on K-12 science education, "Earth and Space Sciences Should be Taught in K-12 Education." AGU also announced that it has reaffirmed its position statement on teaching Earth history and evolution, "The Scientific Theories of Biological Evolution and History of the Earth Should be Central Elements of Science Education."

Thank you to NAGT past president and current treasurer, Aida Awad, NAGT vice president, Anne Egger, and NAGT member Jennifer Saltzman, on their work reviewing and revising the position statement affirming scientific theories of Earth history and biological evolution in science education.

9. AGU/AGI Heads and Chairs Webinar - Advising Strategies for Improving Employment Placement of Your Students

AGU/AGI Heads and Chairs Webinars: The next webinar entitled "Advising Strategies for Improving Employment Placement of Your Students" is just around the corner. Join Aaron Johnson, the new executive director of American Institute of Professional Geologists, who will share his experiences at Northwest Missouri State University and their strategies in advising that greatly improved the success of their graduates in securing employment and helped expand the natural science department. The webinar will be held on Friday, 14 October 2016, from 1:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M. EST. Register here. If you missed any of the webinars, you can view all the previous recordings.

10. Getting Ready for the Sky Event of the Decade: The 2017 All-American Eclipse of the Sun

A Guide for How to Help Your Audiences, Students, and Community Understand and View it Safely

Saturday, October 15, 2016
10 AM - 2 PM ET
[if you cannot attend at that time, a recorded version will also be available]

A National Science Teachers Association Virtual Conference with

Dennis Schatz (Pacific Science Center)
and Andrew Fraknoi (Foothill College)
Featuring: Claire Raftery (National Solar Observatory)

On Monday, August 21, 2017, we will be treated to the first total eclipse of the Sun visible in the continental U.S. in almost 40 years. The spectacular total eclipse will be visible in a narrow band about 60 miles across, stretching diagonally across the country from a beach in Oregon to a beach in South Carolina. However, everyone in North America will see a partial solar eclipse, where a big "bite" will be taken out of the Sun. When the media and social media start discussing this spectacular event, students, parents, and public audiences will need information and guidance.

In this practical virtual conference, Dennis Schatz and Andrew Fraknoi, two experienced astronomers and educators, will:

• introduce the general topic of eclipses and what they can teach us;
• explain where, when, and how to view the 2017 eclipse safely;
• lead a series of NGSS-aligned hands-on activities for classrooms and informal science settings;
• show you how to get the most out of the new NSTA Press e-book of activities that is included in your registration fee: Solar Science: Exploring Sunspots, Seasons, Eclipses, and More;
• discuss how the teachers and informal educators can become a locus of eclipse education and outreach in their communities, including how to get a kit of safe-viewing glasses (with examples from what teachers are already planning);
• host an introductory discussion of the latest solar science with a scientist specializing in the study of the Sun with Dr. Claire Raftery from the National Solar Observatory.

This interactive program is ideal for teachers in grades 4 – 12, science curriculum specialists, park rangers, librarians, museum educators, youth group leaders, and anyone working with the public. There is a fee for registration.

For more information and to register, please go to: http://learningcenter.nsta.org/virtualconference

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Rock and Mineral Exchange

Available Samples

• Petrology Samples
• ophiolite, Tertiary sedimentary, misc metamorphic

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.

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Posted: Sep 20 2016
The Department of Earth Sciences at Montana State University invites applications for the position of Assistant Professor in Sedimentology/Stratigraphy. We seek an active teacher and researcher in the broad are of sedimentology who can contribute to our geoscience program inareas of sedimentary systems, basin analysis, or tectonostratigraphy.

Assistant Professor Igneous or Metamorphic Petrology - Montana State University Bozeman
Posted: Sep 15 2016
The Department of Earth Sciences at Montana State University invites applications for the position of Assistant Professor in Igneous or Metamorphic Processes. We seek an active teacher and researcher in the one of the areas of igneous or metamorphic petrology with a strength in field-based petrologic research.

Need help getting the word out about your position opening, event, or field trip? Advertise with NAGT!