Science Education Events and Programs

North Cascades Institute offers Teacher Workshops in field-based environmental education throughout the year at both its Environmental Learning Center and at outdoor locations throughout the Northwest. In more than 60 classes for children and adults, participants can study topics ranging from geology, history, and wildlife to nature writing and astronomy. The institute also has school and summer youth programs and a graduate program in environmental education.

Classes are available for teacher clock hour certification through the Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Many offer 400-level credit through Western Washington University.

The Yellowstone Association Institute, Yellowstone National Park’s official partner in public education, is a nonprofit field school operating with the mission of preservation through education. Field seminars cover a wide array of topics, including wolf recovery, grizzly bear ecology, birding by sight and sound, wildflowers and medicinal herbs, animal tracking, nature photography, park history, and geology and thermal features.

Seminars are taught by college professors, research scientists, park staff, and other experts. Most field courses last from one to four days and are limited to 13 participants.�Some courses are available for credit through Colorado State University or Montana State University.

Many courses are held at the historic Lamar Buffalo Ranch, located in the heart of Druid wolf pack territory in Lamar Valley. Other courses are based at park lodges or hotels in Gardiner, Montana. Camping is always an option.

See the earliest creatures of the Triassic Period to the monsters of the Cretaceous in a ‘life-sized’ IMAX � presentation. Join renowned paleontologists as they discover new fossils and uncover evidence that dinosaur descendants are still among us. Realistic and scientifically-accurate computer generated animation brings dinosaurs back to life in theatres worldwide.
Beginning in the 1920s, AMNH scientist and adventurer Roy Chapman Andrews, who is believed to be the inspiration for the Indiana Jones character, led five expeditions to the Gobi Desert. Andrews and his team found hundreds of dinosaur remains, many new to science, including the first Velociraptor, the first dinosaur nests with eggs, and fossils of early mammals that lived alongside dinosaurs in the Late Cretaceous Period. Andrews also happened to take along a Hollywood cameraman with him to film the expedition’s discovery. This rare and beautifully preserved footage, juxtaposed against the large-format footage of today’s expeditions, provides audiences with a unique perspective into field paleontology over time.
Visit the website for theatre listings.

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High school science department chairs and administrators are urged to nominate qualified science teachers to receive the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Leadership in Science Education Prize for High School Science Teachers.
The recipient will receive a monetary gift in the amount of $1,000 to support the development and continuation of the strategy, activity, or program. This honor will be conveyed by June 2008 for use during the 2008/2009 school year. The winner will be notified by AAAS, and an announcement will be displayed on the AAAS website and printed in Science magazine.

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Enter your school’s top artists in this nationwide�contest. Have your students create individual works of art or a giant group mural of any aquatic habitat with above and below the water views and plants and animals that live in the habitat. Each school should hold�its own art contest and may submit one entry for each grade (K-12) for individual artwork and one entry per grade category (elementary, middle, high school) for the group mural.

Each state will have a winner in each category. Nationwide winners in each category will be chosen from the state winners. Prizes for you and your students include signed Wyland lithographs, Wyland books for the school library, money for art supplies, invitations to a special awards ceremony to meet Wyland, and more.

This years website for Sun Earth Day--Space Weather Around the World includes a new calendar that features upcoming mission launches, conferences, NASA events, amateur astronomer events and star parties, museum exhibits, and local happenings relating to Sun-Earth Day.�View a new podcast and a featured Problem-Based Learning Activity--In the News--that focuses on space flight and features�Barbara Morgan's�STS 118 mission.

Did you know that it was Benjamin Franklin's fame as a scientist that gave him the international status and political access to succeed as America's premier diplomat? Organized in honor of Franklin's 300th birthday, this exhibition�offers insights into his life and his contributions in the fields of science, printing, community action, politics, and pop culture. It presents more than 250 original Franklin artifacts and more than 40 interactive devices, designed in the spirit of Franklin's curiosity, wit, and wisdom.

Organized by the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary, the exhibition will be displayed at the Atlanta History Center,�through October 14. Check the website to see when it will come to your area. Visit this website to download educational materials for three grade levels, as well as other essential Franklin resources. You'll find science and interdisciplinary lessons that meet national standards.

The Alliance for Science announces its second annual National High School Essay Contest. The topics are Evolution and Agriculture and Climate and Evolution.�High school students are invited�to submit essays of up to 1,000 words on one of�these two�topics. Refer to the website for essay ideas. Winning entries will receive a cash prize as well as education materials.
The Alliance for Science is also recruiting volunteers with evolution-related education or professional experience to assist with the contest, as well as donations (cash or author-signed evolution books preferred) to help build up an essay contest prize fund.

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To assist organizations in creating sun-safe outdoor areas, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) has announced the availability of grant applications for its Shade Structure Program. Any U.S. nonprofit organization or educational institution may apply for permanent shade structures for outdoor areas not protected from the sun, such as playgrounds, pools, and eating areas. Download an application from the website, which also has information about Sun safety.
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The National Council for Geographic Education’s Research and External Relations Committee will award research grants of up to $4,000 for projects lasting up to 24 months. The Miller Grants are intended to advance frontiers in geographic education by supporting and promoting innovative research in theory, practice, and application. Projects may focus on geographic learning and teaching at any age level from preschool to adult and at any scale from individual learners and teachers to national and international studies.
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The institute offers natural history and regional history field classes for K–12 educators. Participants can earn academic credit for their work. One- and two-day workshops and seminars in Seattle, Olympia, Vancouver, Portland, Spokane, and other northwestern cities expose teachers to outstanding presenters and result in vibrant learning communities.

Teachers also can enroll in distance learning courses for credit. Distance learning courses include science-, math-, and education-related courses, as well as interdisciplinary courses. The institute also allows teachers to design their own courses for continuing education credit.

For a catalog and more information, contact The Heritage Institute, P.O. Box 860, Clinton, WA 98236; 360-341-3020; e-mail [email protected].

This Department of Energy-sponsored program features an academic math and science competition and a model fuel cell car competition. The academic competition is a fast-paced question-and-answer contest in which students answer questions about Earth science, physical science, life science, math, and general science. The model fuel cell car competition challenges students to design, build, and race model cars. Teams are given car components to construct their model cars.�
Each regional championship team will receive an all-expense-paid trip to the National Finals. The high school national championship team will win its choice of three science-related trips, which include locations in the U.S. , France , and England . The middle school national champions will win a cash prize for their school and several sponsor-supplied prizes.

Each regional championship team will receive an all-expense-paid trip to the National Finals. The high school national championship team will win its choice of three science-related trips, which include locations in the U.S. , France , and England . The middle school national champions will win a cash prize for their school and several sponsor-supplied prizes.

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Mantis sponsors this award program in support of charitable and educational garden programs that enhance the quality of life in their host communities.�The�National Gardening Association�will select 25 gardens to receive a Mantis Tiller/Cultivator. Applications are welcome from all nonprofits; past winners include community gardens, schools, ministries, colleges, master gardening groups, and hospices.
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The International Brain Bee (IBB) is a live Q & A competition that tests the neuroscience knowledge of high school students. Young men and women from all over North America compete to determine who is the "best brain" on such topics as intelligence, memory, emotions, sensations, movement, stress, aging, sleep, addiction, Alzheimer's Disease, and stroke. In a two-step process, local competitions are held throughout North America, with the winners invited to the championship at the University of Maryland during Brain Awareness Week in March.

The IBB is an attempt to motivate our youth to learn about the brain, capture their imagination, and inspire them to pursue careers in biomedical brain research. Educators and scientists can start a brain bee in their city.

SESD, an NSTA Associated Group, will hold a�preconference event�from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Seaport Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts,�prior to�the NSTA National Conference in Science Education. Topics to be addressed this year include:��

����•����Strategies for Teaching Inclusive Science
����•����The�Role of Advocacy, a legal perspective
����•����Collaborative Teaching, co-equals, co-partners
����•����Teaching�to Diverse Learning Styles
����•����Reducing Barriers�for all students
����•����Panel discussion--Inclusive science opportunities, then and now

For more information and registration materials, contact�[email protected]�or�[email protected].�
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Enjoy focused educational experiences that closely examine individual aspects of the Yellowstone ecosystem. You’ll learn about the park through the eyes of an animal tracker, a wolf biologist, a photographer, a geothermal scientist, and other noted experts through a combination of field excursions and classroom presentations. Winter courses run from November to March.

In this award-winning, authentic learning program used by schools and youth organizations worldwide, youth conduct research and publish their findings online. Recognition is given to the best projects in each of eight categories: local leaders, businesses, community organizations, historical landmarks, environment, music, art, and local specialties. This White House-endorsed program encourages youth to become community ambassadors by working collaboratively and using technology to share what they have learned. Students evaluate each other's projects by using a unique online evaluation tool.
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The program offers $30,000 in scholarships that can enable public- and private-school K-12 educators to take college courses. The maximum award is $5,000, payable over four years; 15 other recipients will get $1,000 each in funds payable over two years; 20 more teachers will receive one-time $500 awards. Educators must be employed by a U.S. public- or private-school district or U.S. public or private college or university at the time of application and at the time the scholarship is awarded and must have at least two years' teaching experience. (The program is not open to residents of Hawaii, New Jersey, and New York.)
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The American Industrial Hygiene Foundation (AIHF) is now accepting applications for its 2008–2009 scholarships. Since its inception in 1982, AIHF has distributed more than $900,000 to more than 44 schools and universities and 356 students.
AIHF is a nonprofit organization established by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) to award scholarships to students studying industrial hygiene and related disciplines. These scholarships enable talented students to complete their education and encourage the most promising scholars to enter the industrial hygiene profession.

NASA's Solar System Ambassadors are leading events across the nation in malls, classrooms, and on the radio to share the wonders of space exploration. The Solar System Ambassadors help the public follow the excitement of space exploration and get the latest results from spacecraft.
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The American Chemical Society is accepting applications for its Scholars Program, a financial support effort for underrepresented minority students in the chemical sciences. African American, Hispanic/Latino and Native American recipients are eligible to receive up to $5,000 per year, and awards are renewable. High school seniors and college freshmen, sophomores, and juniors in chemistry, chemical engineering, biochemistry, environmental science and related disciplines at two- and four-year colleges may apply for scholarships.

The goal of the program is to diversify the chemical sciences, both in academe and the workforce, by helping underrepresented minority groups obtain undergraduate degrees, and to encourage them to advance in chemistry or a chemically related field.

The Christopher Columbus Awards Program combines science and technology with community problem-solving. Students work in teams with the help of an adult coach to identify an issue they care about and, using science and technology, work with experts, conduct research and put their ideas to the test to develop an innovative solution. Maximum Award: $25,000, an all-expense-paid trip to Walt Disney World to attend the program's National Championship Week and a $2,000 U.S. Savings Bond for each student team member. Eligibility: middle-school-age (sixth, seventh, and eighth grade) children; teams do not need to be affiliated with a school to enter.

This National Association of Biology Teachers award recognizes outstanding teaching (grades 7-12) by a "new" biology/life science instructor within his/her first three years of teaching (when nominated) who has developed an original and outstanding program or technique and made a contribution to the profession at the start of his/her career. A recognition plaque is presented to the award winner at the NABT Professional Development Conference,and he/she also receives $500 and a complimentary one-year NABT membership.
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The Evolution Education Award, sponsored by The American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) and the Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS), recognizes innovative classroom teaching and community education efforts to promote the accurate understanding of biological evolution. The prize includes a combined $1,000 cash prize, a plaque to be presented at the NABT Professional Development Conference, and a one-year complimentary NABT membership.
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Teachers in eight U.S. states and Alberta, Canada, can apply for these grants. The program was developed by BP to recognize teachers for innovation and excellence in teaching energy or energy conservation in the classroom. Grants of $5,000 or $10,000 will be awarded directly to teachers depending on the budget request submitted with the application.
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The National Association of Biology Teachers Vernier Software and
Technology Ecology/Environmental Teaching Award honors a teacher who has successfully developed and demonstrated an innovative approach in the teaching of ecology/environmental science and has carried his/her commitment to the environment into the community. The maximum award is�$1,500.
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The Biotechnology Institute, the national organization dedicated to biotechnology education, has announced that Dow AgroSciences LLC and Eli Lilly and Company will be sponsoring the Dow AgroSciences-Lilly BioDreaming Poster Competition. This competition encourages K-12 students across the nation to use their artistic talents to create posters that showcase their understanding of the promise and challenges of biotechnology.

First implemented by the Biotechnology Institute in 2004, this competition educates young people about biotechnology and its immense potential for solving human health, food, and environmental problems. In 2006, more than 800 students from 81 schools in 26 U.S. states and Canadian provinces and territories submitted posters.

The competition encourages K-12 students in public and private schools and youth organizations to submit posters that express the role that biotechnology plays in our lives, our communities, or the world at large. The posters are grouped into four grade categories: K-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12. First, second, and third place is awarded in each grade category. Winners will receive prizes of $500, $250, and $100, respectively.

The artwork of the top 12 student winners will be displayed at the Biotechnology Institute's annual awards banquet during the Conference on Biotechnology Education, the BIO International Convention, and on the institute's website. The winners will then be invited to a special award ceremony to be held in June.

Students in grades 7-12 are invited to submit a 1,500-word essay about chosen topics on space. Winning entrants will receive a trip to Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, in July. Prize includes roundtrip transportation, accommodations for six days and five nights, meals, transportation to and from Huntsville Airport, and a flight suit. Estimated scholarship value is $1,500.
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The Minorities in Science and Engineering Project provides 10-week summer internships at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center for students attending Oakwood College, the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and Alabama A&M University. This internship is designed for undergraduate students majoring in science, engineering, mathematics, technology, or business administration. Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.�Contact Oakwood College Department of Research at�256-726-7114, or e-mail�Madeline Hereford.
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The Caltech YESS program is a three-week summer residential program for high-achieveing students interested in science and engineering. The program targets current high school sophomores and juniors who are traditionally underrepresented in science and engineering fields (Native Americans, Latinos, and African Americans). Others who believe they would benefit from this program are also encouraged to apply.

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Do you have an aspiring filmmaker age�7-13 living in your home?�A contest offered by MeetMeAtTheCorner.org, the website that allows�children to take virtual field trips of fascinating destinations, is asking all future Coppolas and Spielbergs to submit a video podcast interview of the most interesting person they know. Viewers will vote on their favorite submission. The winning filmmaker will receive a $250 cash prize. All videos must be 15 minutes or less in length, submitted on a MiniDV tape, and postmarked before the deadline.��

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These awards of $1,000 each will go to the classrooms that most effectively support the mission of living healthy lives through incorporation of the Blue Zones: places where people live the longest, healthiest lives. The awards will be judged by the Blue Zones’ board of education advisors and the Allianz Corporate Giving Community and will honor those educators who encourage innovative learning, improvement of kids' and communities' health, and development of financial literacy. Special emphasis will be given to teachers who show extraordinary behavior changes in students.

To take part, go to the website and register for the Blue Zones, then check the box to indicate you wish to apply for an award. Next, implement a minimum of two Blue Zones programs into the classroom, school, or district. Once the programs are concluded, return to the Blue Zones website to complete the two-page online award application. The application will ask you to discuss the innovative ways you integrated the Blue Zones into your curriculum, share how the projects engaged the students, describe the outcomes of the projects, and relate any additional reasons why you believe you should receive this award.

The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans is pleased to announce a new graduate grant program that will enable its National

Scholar alumni to pursue graduate and doctoral degree programs. The

Horatio Alger "American Excellence Graduate Grant Program" was made possible by a $10 million donation provided by Chairman and Lifetime Association Member Dennis Washington and his wife Phyllis. The program will award up to $20,000 annually per scholar.
The application and qualifications will be available online from January 15-March 15, 2008. Finalists will be notified in April and will be required to complete a personal interview in Washington, D.C., in May. The first American Excellence Graduate Grant recipients will be announced in May 2008.

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Can an online course be hands-on? You bet! Take a six-week online course through the National Teachers Enhancement Network (NTEN), and experience an activity-rich course that models how to teach science inquiry. Spring registration is now open.

A new scholarship contest is now available to high school and college students who can put a creative twist on their career goals. The Labs Are Vital^TM Scholarship Contest is challenging students to find an innovative way to illustrate why clinical lab science is a cutting-edge and rewarding profession that makes a difference in the lives of patients. Contest entrants must submit a video, advertisement, or T-shirt design that encourages others to consider careers in laboratory medicine. Winners will receive scholarships valued at up to $2,500.�

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For additional details on the scholarship contest or lab science career information, visit www.labsciencecareers.com.

The Math and Science Partnership (MSP) program is a major research and development effort that supports innovative partnerships to improve K-12 student achievement in mathematics and science. MSP projects are expected to raise the achievement levels of all students and significantly reduce achievement gaps in the mathematics and science performance of diverse student populations. In order to improve the mathematics and science achievement of the nation's students, MSP projects contribute to the knowledge base for mathematics and science education and serve as models that
have a sufficiently strong evidence base to be replicated in educational
practice.

The Women in Science Award of the Maria Mitchell Association will recognize an individual who has worked to increase the participation and advancement of girls or women in science and mathematics.

In 2008, the Motorola Foundation will provide $4 million�to organizations that engage U.S. K-12 students and teachers in innovation, science, technology, engineering, and math. The Motorola Foundation funds initiatives that generate a love of science early in life and show a new generation of inventors that careers involving science and math are important, challenging, and possible. Priority will be given to projects that incorporate Motorola employees as volunteers. Requests for up to $100,000 will be considered.

Funds may help after-school programs, science clubs, and summer camps. Funds may also sponsor nationwide K-12 programs, including camps, clubs, museums, and online groups. Finally, funds may support teachers, who can bring to life even the most remote scientific or mathematical concepts to a student.

Students ages 8 through 18 are invited to write an essay of no more than 750 words describing how�they believe engineers will provide energy for the future.�All winning entries may be published on the EngineerGirl! website.�First-place winners will also receive a check for $500. Second-place entries will be awarded $250. Third-place entries will be awarded $100.

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This prestigious program seeks rising sophomore, junior, and senior
students majoring in�science, technology, engineering, and math for internships at NASA centers nationally.�The USRP will provide hands-on internships to undergraduates pursuing academic degrees that align with NASA's critical workforce competency needs. The internships will include mentors who are NASA scientists and engineers.�USRP provides students in the United States and U.S. territories�with hands-on, real-life research experiences that challenge, inspire and complement the students' academic education.
The 10-week summer session (deadline January 31)�includes a $6,000 stipend; the 15-week spring (deadline February 29)�or fall session includes a $9,000 stipend.
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The American Society of Human Genetics�third annual DNA Day Essay Contest questions are now posted and they are ready to accept submissions. Check out their site for more information and this year’s questions. The contest is open for middle and high school students.�
First-place winners receive $350, and teachers of first-place students win $2,000 to purchase classroom equipment. The second prize is $250; the third prize is $150.

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ComEd and the Adler Planetarium sponsor the second annual Shoot for the Moon essay contest to expose eighth graders to space exploration careers. The winner will receive a week-long trip to Space Camp in Alabama .
ComEd sponsors the Adler's permanent exhibition, Shoot for the Moon, which features the Gemini 12 spacecraft and tells the thrilling stories of American space exploration. As an extension of the sponsorship, ComEd is encouraging eighth-grade students throughout its service territory to consider the variety of jobs it takes to complete a space mission and draft a 200-word essay about how their lessons in science classes and everyday life would help them with a career in space exploration.
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The contest aims to challenge students to examine, question, and reflect on the importance and social implications of genetic research. Essays are expected to contain substantive, well-reasoned arguments indicative of a depth of understanding of the issues addressed by the selected essay question. Two separate categories exist: one for middle school and one for high school. Students choose a question to answer online and submit a response electronically. First-place winnders receive�$350, and teachers of first-place students win $2,000 to purchase classroom equipment. Second-place winners receive�$250, and third-place winners receive�$150.

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NOAA's Office of Education is now accepting applications for environmental literacy projects to promote changes in K-12 education in effort to expand the amount of Earth system science taught in the classroom and improve student learning of the subject. In total,
approximately $4 million in grants will be awarded.

Projects should be designed to increase knowledge of scientific phenomena and provide opportunities for the application of that
knowledge to environmental issues relevant to the students. Projects may incorporate NOAA data, data visualizations, and resources and to further the use of Earth System Science concepts related
to NOAA's mission goals.
Pre-proposals are required and are due Wednesday, Feb. 20. Full proposals are due Wednesday, June 25. This funding opportunity is located on grants.gov with the ID number of SEC-OED-2009-2001282.

It is important to find out if natural resources, such as water, exist on the Moon�because that could save us the cost of transporting these materials through space. The Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) mission is planning to search for water ice at the South Pole of the Moon, leveraging the information we learned from the Clementine and Lunar Prospector missions. Finding deposits of water ice would be a crucial step in deciding where to locate our human outpost on the Moon.

The challenge will be to design a lunar impact simulator and determine the optimal impact angle to give us the most information from the impact.

Registration for this challenge begins in February 2008, but�participants�can begin preparing now with some background references at the program's website. A Teachers Guide will be available in MS Word and .pdf formats.�

The Technology in the Works 2008 grant program will award up to� $75,000 for assistive technology research.�Awards will be given to researcher-vendor teams for short-term quasi-experimental evaluation studies of K-12 instructional and/or assistive technology. Letters of intent must be received on March 3, 2008, and the proposal must be received by April 2, 2008. Award recipients must secure matching funds of at least $15,000 to be eligible. Funds may be used to support an expansion of an already existing research project.

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Through GSRP, NASA awards fellowships for graduate study leading to research-based master's or doctoral degrees in science, mathematics and engineering fields related to NASA research and development. GSRP supports approximately 300 graduate students annually. Applicants must be currently enrolled or accepted as full-time students at an accredited U.S. college or university. Applicants must also be U.S. citizens.

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NASA's Undergraduate Student Research Program is currently accepting applications for 15-week Fall 2008 internships. These internships offer students the opportunity to work alongside NASA scientists and engineers at NASA's centers, laboratories and test facilities. Applicants must be U.S. college sophomores, juniors, or seniors with majors or course work concentration in engineering, mathematics, computer science, or physical or life sciences.

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The Motivating Undergraduates in Science and Technology (MUST)�Project, funded by NASA, is a joint partnership�among the Hispanic College Fund, the United Negro College Fund Special Programs, and the Society for Hispanic Professional Engineers. MUST awards scholarships and internships to undergraduate students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The MUST Project is open to all undergraduate students and is particularly focused on engaging students from underserved and underrepresented groups to enter STEM fields.

Students can apply for�Students as Professionals Helping Educators Research the Earth (SPHERE), an eight-week education and research program at Christopher Newport University (CNU) and NASA Langley Research Center.�Eligible students must attend an accredited U.S. college or university and must be at least rising sophomores with majors in sciences, engineering, or mathematics. Chosen students will work in small teams with university mentors and NASA scientists on cutting-edge research projects linked to ongoing missions.

A competitive stipend will be paid along with one for meals. For students from outside the area, housing will be provided in CNU dorms at no extra cost, along with travel assistance. Students from minority-serving institutions and from historically underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply. E-mail questions to Dr. S. Raj Chaudhury.

Action for Nature (AFN) seeks applications from students ages 8-16 for its Young Eco-Hero Awards program. The program recognizes the individual accomplishments of young people who have carried out environmental action projects. Projects must concern environmental advocacy and health, protection, or research. Winners will receive a cash award.
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AAAS will meet�in Boston with the theme�"Science and Technology from a Global Perspective."�Understanding Obesity and Childhood Nutrition: A Special AAAS Public Engagement Event�will take place on�February 17, 1:15 p.m.- 5:30 p.m., at the Boston Marriott Copley Place.�

Meeting highlights include more than 150 symposia on topics such as

• Under Thin Ice: Global Warming and Predatory Invasion of the Antarctic Seas

• Last Best Chance for Tuna: Learning from the Cod Collapse

• What Is a Planet?

• Preparing for the Health Effects of Climate Change

• Progress in Cancer Prevention

Plenary lectures will be delivered by AAAS President David Baltimore; Nicholas Negroponte, founder and chair of One Laptop Per Child; Peter Piot, executive director of UNAIDS and Under Secretary-General of the United Nations; and others.

The Biotechnology Institute, the national organization dedicated to biotechnology education, has partnered with Genzyme Corporation and Invitrogen Corporation to support and encourage teachers’ efforts to introduce biotechnology into high school classrooms. The�award recognizes exemplary teaching at the high school level that has positively impacted students’ understanding of biotechnology’s promise and challenges. The winners receive cash awards of $10,000, $5,000 and $2,500 respectively and are chosen by a panel of judges from academia, research, and the industry, from among the institute’s network of Teacher-Leaders. These educators serve as models for their colleagues on how to incorporate biotechnology into the classroom and act as a resource for their peers.
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Millions of novice and accomplished bird watchers can make their
fascination with nature add up for science and for the future during the 11th annual Great Backyard Bird Count, led by Audubon and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. During Presidents' Day weekend, February 15-18, 2008, anyone can count birds from wherever they are and enter their tallies online at www.birdcount.org. These reports create an exciting real-time picture of where the birds are across the continent and contribute valuable information for science and conservation.

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Become a creative inventor, an engineer, and a mathematician for a day at the National Building Museum's National Engineers Week festivities. (The museum in located in Washington, DC.)�The museum welcomes families, scout groups, and all curious visitors to debunk the myths of engineering and to discover how engineers turn their ideas into reality. Visitors will enjoy a day-long festival packed with demonstrations, competitions, and hands-on fun for all ages.�

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This online distance learning workshop will run for�eight weeks and is designed for educators of grades 6-12.�The workshop will focus on four general sections of Earth and environmental science curriculum: geology, ecology, hydrology, and atmospheric conditions.�Participants will be provided with background information, classroom presentations, lessons, and activities in these areas.�
This workshop will start with an orientation at Brevard College with the�Pisgah Forest Institute (PFI)�staff (but if you are a great distance away from Western North Carolina, it is not necessary to attend).�This course is geared to participants that are unable to travel to�PFI's week-long summer workshops.��

Engineers Week (EWeek) is an event of the National Engineers Week Foundation, a coalition of more than 75 professional societies, corporations, and government agencies that aims to ensure “a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce by increasing understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers among young students and by promoting precollege literacy in math and science.” EWeek 2008 offers these activities.

The documentary will premiere on the Discovery Channel February 17, 9 pm EST.�It discusses the new possibilities of resurrecting dinosaurs through genetic engineering. The story presents a great deal of genetics in a very digestible�fashion, including a fair amount about Evo-devo with geneticist and author Sean Carroll.�
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This 12-week online course is designed to assist environmental educators and natural resource professionals in evaluating their education programs. Participants have the opportunity to develop and apply skills in designing evaluation tools such as surveys, observation forms, and interview and focus group guides.�
This course was developed as a cooperative effort between the Environmental Education and Training Partnership (EETAP) at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) National Conservation Training Center. Participants may�earn three undergraduate or graduate credits from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.�All participants, regardless of location, are eligible for the in-state tuition rate.�The course is also offered as a non-credit workshop for those who are not seeking college credit.�

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Beginning in February, science and math educators can participate in Vernier Software & Technology’s free hands-on workshops.�� Attendees will learn how to integrate computer and handheld data-collection technology into any science or math curriculum.
At each�four-hour session, Vernier trainers and attendees will explore the many ways that data-collection technology can be used to enhance learning in any chemistry, biology, physics, math, middle school science, physical science, or Earth science classroom.� Participants will learn how to collect data using the LabQuest, the interface designed by Vernier.�
Each workshop includes lunch or dinner and a training manual.� Educators also have the option of earning two (quarter) Graduate Science credit hours through the Portland State University Center for Science Education�(approximate cost is $70 per credit hour).�Refer to the website for specific dates, times, and locations.
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Tune in for another season of Education News Parents Can Use. Each month during the school year, the series will address timely education topics of equal interest to parents, educators, and school leaders alike. The show is televised nationwide�8 p.m.- 9 p.m.�Eastern Time�on hundreds of local government, education, and public access channels,�The Learning Channel,�and the Dish Network.�

This month, the series will feature�"Dropout Prevention: Helping All Students Get on Track for Success."�This theme will address key issues such as

The Space Telescope Science Institute has announced its Summer Student Program for college undergraduates. The program will run 10 weeks from June through August 2008. STScI is located in Baltimore, MD, on the Homewood campus of Johns Hopkins University.
The program�features one-on-one student interaction with a scientist working at the Institute. The diverse range of scientific interests includes the study of Earth’s solar system, interacting binary stars, quasars at the edge of the universe, and the quest for intelligent life elsewhere. The goal is to place students in a true research environment where students will participate directly in research, including data acquisition, reduction, and interpretation. At the end of the program, students will present their summer's work at an informal symposium of their peers and mentors.

The Summer Student Program is oriented toward upper-division college undergraduates, typically students between their junior and senior years. Most participants are physics or astronomy students, but applications are welcome from anyone with enough interest and experience in science who wants to take part in a research experience. Foreign students are welcome to apply. Applications are due Feb. 20, 2008.

University of Rochester's Department of Chemistry will continue this program, which is sponsored by the National Science Foundation. A stipend and housing are provided,�and travel funds are available.

The primary focus of this program is full-time, hands-on research. Each teacher will be a working member of a specific research team in the Chemistry, Biochemistry, or Chemical Engineering Departments. One of the team members will work closely with the teacher to provide day-to-day guidance. The research work will be supplemented by a short course, seminars, discussion groups, and workshops that provide more structured opportunities for learning. The�program offers exceptional academic research, along with exposure to undergraduate and graduate education in a university setting.
Teachers also participate in hands-on workshops on computer-based technologies useful for instruction. Workshops culminate with production of websites. Workshops take place in a computer classroom and accommodate teachers without prior experience. A short course on photoinduced charge transfer will be offered during the program.

For more information, contact Professor Thomas R. Krugh or�Marguerite Weston.�

In this presentation,�Elfrieda H. Hiebert discusses the need to make science vocabulary education a priority in grades one through four.�If the concepts (and vocabulary) of science are not taught in those grades, students in middle school and beyond will be faced with an inordinate number of challenging words, representing complex and unknown concepts.
Elizabeth Stage, director of the Lawrence Hall of Science at the University of California, Berkeley, will discuss the implications of the findings from the recent study that indicates a significant decrease in the amount of time devoted to science instruction.�P. David Pearson, dean of the Graduate School of Education/University of California, Berkeley, will discuss how the Seeds of Science/Roots of Reading project has supported students’ vocabulary and literacy learning with science content.
The webcast will take place 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.Pacific Time. To register or to find out more information about this Webcast, please click here.


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This event allows thousands of women engineers, with support from their male counterparts, to directly mentor more than one million K–12 girls and young women with firsthand experiences in engineering.�On February 21 and in programs throughout the year, women engineers and their male counterparts will reach girls with workshops, tours, online discussions, and a host of hands-on activities that showcase engineering as an important career option for everyone.�See the website for more details and resources for encouraging girls in science, math, and engineering.

The Engineer Your Life campaign and coalition launches on February 20 as part of Girl Day 2008. An outgrowth of the Extraordinary Women Engineers Project (EWEP), Engineer Your Life aims to make a national impact on the way engineering careers are presented, particularly to college-bound high school girls. Three new messages developed and tested by EWEP–-creativity has its rewards, explore the possibilities, and make a world of difference-–form the centerpiece of the national campaign. The Engineer Your Life website, a guide to engineering for high school girls, is at www.engineeryourlife.org.

Thousands of educators will come to the Hilton New York to attend the third annual Teaching & Learning Celebration. The celebration features internationally known speakers (such as Jane Goodall, Jean-Michel Cousteau, and Ann Curry),�compelling panel discussions, and hands-on workshops that can't be found anywhere else.
Science and global awareness will once again take center stage at the 2008 event, according to conference organizers.� The event offers educators access to nationally renowned speakers, 90 hands-on workshops and over 100 vendors distributing information and samples.�Speakers and panels are designed specifically for elementary, middle, and high school teachers, administrators, and policy makers.
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The 2008 Summer Science Program at New Mexico Tech is open to high school juniors and is limited to 36 students per campus.
This six-week residential enrichment program�offers gifted high school students the opportunity to complete a challenging, hands-on research project in celestial mechanics.
By day, students learn college-level astronomy, physics, calculus, and programming. By night, working in teams of three, they take a series of telescopic observations of a near-earth asteroid and write software to convert those observations into a prediction of the asteroid's orbit around the sun. Stimulating guest speakers and field trips round out the curriculum.�
This prestigious program has drawn young scientists from around the world for 50 years, accelerating their intellectual and personal development and inspiring them to seek equally challenging educational and career paths.

The Environmental Science Institute (ESI)�and the Jackson School of Geosciences present the 52nd Hot Science-Cool Talks Outreach Lecture Series: "Our Energy Future" by Dr. Michael Webber.
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NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate will
accept applications from undergraduate and graduate students between Feb. 22 and Mar. 17, 2008, for its fall 2008 scholarship program. The purpose of this new scholarship program is to attract
highly-motivated students to aeronautics and related fields.

Undergraduates in their second year of study can earn up to $15,000
per year for two years, and graduate students can earn up to $35,000
per year for three years. Money can be used for tuition, room and
board, and other school-related expenses. Students also can apply for
optional summer internships at NASA research centers to earn an
additional $10,000 in stipends.

Students who have not committed to a specific academic institution or
program can apply, but if accepted into the scholarship program, they
must be admitted into a suitable aeronautical engineering program or
related field of study at an accredited U.S. university by the fall
of 2008. All applicants must be U.S. citizens.

As part of�its Chemists Celebrate Earth Day celebration, the American Chemical Society (ACS) is sponsoring an illustrated haiku contest for students in grades Kindergarten-12. A haiku is a three-line poem with five syllables in the first line, seven in the second, and five in the third.
Winners will be selected in each of the following categories:
• K – 2nd grade
• 3rd – 5th grade
• 6th – 8th grade
• 9th – 12th grade
The first-place winner in each category will receive $200; the second-place winner will receive $100.

The 236th American Chemical Society (ACS)�National Meeting�and Exposition will be held at the Philadelphia (Pennsylvania)�Convention Center this summer. The full-day High School Chemistry Day Program will be held on Sunday, August 17. This program, which focuses on the needs of high school chemistry teachers, is a regular feature of all ACS national meetings.
High school teachers or college professors who are considering presenting a session for this program are urged to submit proposal ideas as soon as possible to High School Day co-chair Bill Bleam. Abstracts of proposals must be submitted to ACS on its OASYS system by mid-March, pending pre-approval of the proposal topic. Preference will be given to local (to Philadelphia) educators.

University of Pennsylvania's Penn Science Teacher�Institute�offers advanced degree programs in chemistry education for high school teachers and integrated science education for middle grades (5-9). These are three-year programs with a focus on science content as well as developmentally-specific pedagogy. �

The workshop, hosted by the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (NMS) and sponsored by the Gulf of Mexico Foundation, will help you learn about coral reef ecosystems and the National Marine Sanctuary Program, specifically the Flower Garden Banks NMS, located in the Gulf of Mexico. The workshop consists of two days of a land-based workshop, followed by three days of SCUBA diving in the sanctuary. All applicants must be previously SCUBA certified and have a fair amount of open-water diving experience. Applications for 2008 will be available in January.

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CHANCE (Connecting Humans And Nature through Conservation Experiences) is a professional development program for inservice and preservice high school teachers from all over the country.�The purpose of this program is to immerse the participant in the biodiversity of selected Costa Rican habitats using an experiential learning approach. The course will also focus on the conservation and research programs of selected tropical rainforest ecosystems and the plight of endangered sea turtles species.�
CHANCE represents a partnership between The Pennsylvania State
University and the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The course will take place on the Penn State campus.�

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Dr. Richard Paul�is not only one of the leading theoreticians in Critical Thinking; he is also a distinguished teacher.�The Foundation for Critical Thinking will host a three-day workshop on Richard Paul’s teaching design. The workshop will be held at the Berkeley Doubletree Hotel and Marina, near the UC Berkeley Campus. Availability is limited and interested parties are urged to register early.
Richard Paul's workshops, like his classes, are designed to foster the intellectual engagement of every student in every class, and so this�workshop is designed to acquaint attendees firsthand with the "Paulian manner." Teachers, curriculum designers, administrators, and students who attend the class will be taught by Richard Paul for six hours, during which Paul will demonstrate how he is making strategic teaching decisions each step along the way.�He then will help attendees design the first 10 class sessions of any given class they choose to teach (in the manner he would teach it, were he them).�
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The Science center for Teaching, Outreach, and Research on Meteorology (the STORM Project) at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) in Cedar Falls will sponsor this summer short course. This intensive, one-week course is designed specifically for middle school and high school science teachers and is limited to 24 participants. Participants will learn about conceptual models and computer-based tools used to study and forecast air quality and develop classroom activities in air quality. STORM seeks to produce a set of activities for national distribution. Participants who develop exceptional activities may have the opportunity to work with STORM in the following academic year to refine the set of materials developed in the summer course. This development team will receive a modest stipend in addition to that noted below.
Tuition, on-campus housing, meals, course materials, a $1,000 stipend and two graduate credits from UNI will be provided by STORM. Travel support based on round-trip mileage will also be provided.��
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This six-week institute, supported by the National Science Foundation, is intended to help prepare teachers to teach physics and physical science effectively as a process of inquiry. The laboratory-based curriculum used in the Institute, Physics by Inquiry (Wiley & Sons), was developed by the Physics Education Group at the University of Washington (UW). It emphasizes the development of fundamental scientific concepts and reasoning skills as well as the ability to relate the formalism of science to real-world phenomena. Participants receive 10 upper-division credits at the UW and a stipend. Tuition is waived. Funds may be available to help defray lodging costs for out-of-area teachers (the location is University of Washington).

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The Foundation for Critical Thinking will host this event at the Berkeley Doubletree Hotel and Marina near the�University of California-Berkeley campus. With a focus on "formulado preguntas esenciales" (asking essential questions), the entire academy will be conducted in Spanish. Rush Cosgrove, a fellow at the Foundation for Critical
Thinking, will administer the course. Availability is limited, and
teachers, curriculum designers, administrators, and students who wish to attend should register early. The Thinker's Guide to the Art of Asking Essential Questions� will be used throughout the event.

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The grants provide funding to programs that support or provide job skills or education for all people, with a special emphasis on disadvantaged youth. The maximum award is $25,000. All 501(c)3 organizations may apply.
Proposals must be submitted between February 29 and March 14 for funding in�May 2008 and between June 2 and June 16 for funding in September 2008.

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The Foundation for Critical Thinking will host Fostering Ethical Reasoning Across the Curriculum at the Berkeley Doubletree Hotel and Marina near the UC Berkeley Campus.�The workshop will be administered by Linda Elder, president of the Foundation for Critical Thinking and executive director for the Center for Critical Thinking.�Availability is limited, and interested parties are urged to register early.
Ethics is the study of decisions or behavior that benefits or harms persons and creatures.�Human behavior can be either praised ethically (if someone acts to benefit the welfare of others) or criticized (when someone acts so as to harm others). This session will focus on fostering ethical reasoning abilities in students.


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The Foundation for Critical Thinking�will host a three-day workshop on Engineering Reasoning with Rob Niewoehner,�U.S. Naval Academy Director of Aeronautics. The workshop will be held at the Berkeley Doubletree Hotel and Marina, near the UC Berkeley Campus.�
Designed for the engineering educator as well as the industry leader, the workshop will focus on contextualizing the concepts of critical thinking as they apply to any engineering discipline. It asks, “How can we help young engineers to recognize and articulate the important questions at the heart of all high quality engineering reasoning?" Here the workshop develops the elements of reasoning, the intellectual standards and the intellectual traits as templates for analyzing engineering thinking.�It also asks, “How can we diffuse critical thinking skills through our instruction and business practices?"�It then directly addresses the challenges posed by the thorniest of ABET 2000 “a-k” criteria: lifelong learning, teamwork, ethical and professional responsibility, and effective communications.
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The rich history of rivers and their value as a natural resource are the topics of these�one- and two-day workshops. During the interactive workshop, participants will spend most of the day on the river, taking part in such activities as strolling through island forests, examining mussel shells, and watching a commercial fisher pull in his or her nets. Participants will hear presentations on watersheds, the impacts of pollution, river stewardship, invasive species, and reforestation, among others.

The Big River Education Workshop is presented by Living Lands & Waters, East Moline, Illinois, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the beautification and restoration of America’s major rivers and to educating people about environmental issues.

The Landsat Image Mosaic of Antarctica (LIMA) is the first-ever true-color high-resolution satellite view of the Antarctic continent enabling everyone to see Antarctica as it appears in real life. This new view of Antarctica will revolutionize Antarctica research. The LIMA website is designed as part of the�International Polar Year�to familiarize people with Antarctica, to explore the richness of its features, to learn about why Antarctica matters to us all, and to explain and demonstrate how scientists use satellite imagery to study the continent.
During this challenge,�participants will become the scientists who study the features on Antarctica using a major scientific tool: curiosity. They will develop a research question and argue the value of studying a feature based on this new view of Antarctica.
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The New York Section of the American Chemical Society proudly sponsors MARM 2008.�The theme is "Chemistry and Health," but the conference stretches far beyond this topic into all chemical disciplines, and chemical education is a major focus of Saturday and Sunday programming. This includes the NY-ACS Undergraduate Research Symposium (free MARM registration for URS presenters), regional Chemagination competition, Project SEED poster sessions, ACS Student Affiliates activities, NY Section Nichols Teacher Forum, chemical demonstrations, and hands-on probe-ware workshops. A full-day free Process Oriented Guided-Inquiry Learning (POGIL) workshop is offered on Saturday, followed by a full day of chemical education presentations on Sunday.
Nominations for regional precollege and college teacher awards are being accepted and precollege educators are offered significantly discounted registration. Abstracts for oral and poster presentations are encouraged and can be submitted via the MARM website.
MARM 2008 will be held at Queensborough Community College of the City University of New York.
The Chem Ed portion of MARM targets precollege and college teachers, researchers, and high-school and undergraduate students.

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The Summers of Discovery program at the NIEHS is part of the National Institutes of Health Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research (NIHSIP).The NIEHS is located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Scientists at the NIEHS are committed to sharing with students and educators the intensity, excitement, sense of discipline, and tremendous satisfaction that careers in science can impart to those who pursue them.
The Summers of Discovery program provides internships to outstanding high school, undergraduate, and graduate students interested in pursuing careers in the biomedical/biological sciences to work on a research project that entails exposure to the latest biochemical, molecular, and analytical techniques in a given field. Participants are selected by scientific mentors from the NIEHS Division of Intramural Research.
The research mentoring experience is supplemented by a series of seminars and workshops featuring some of the Institute’s leading researchers and staff that provide participants with a good overview of environmental health sciences. There is also a poster session at the end of the summer (usually the last Wednesday of July) where participants display the results of their research efforts and respond to questions as they would when participating in a national scientific meeting.��
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The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), announced the application period for summer research training opportunities at its Intramural Program (IRP) facility in Baltimore, Maryland. The internship program—now in its 21st year—is part of NIDA’s commitment to introducing the science of addiction to some of the best and brightest young scientists in America.

Students who are accepted to the program will work closely with some of the world's leading addiction scientists in an environment devoted exclusively to state of the art biomedical research. The IRP facility includes numerous basic research laboratories, a brain imaging facility, and an outpatient treatment clinic. Examples of research projects include: drug-seeking behavior in rats, smoking cessation, genomic studies for nicotine dependence, and the effects of methamphetamine and cocaine on the brain.

The Summer 2008 Internship Program is for students aged 16 years or older who are enrolled at least half-time in high school, have finished high school, or are attending an accredited U.S. college or university. All internships pay monthly stipends based upon education levels, but housing costs are not paid. To be eligible, candidates must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.� The internships run a minimum of eight weeks, with students generally arriving at the NIH in May or June.�

Like many of the research training programs at the NIH, the Summer Internship Program is very selective. NIDA is particularly interested in recruiting students who are from disadvantaged backgrounds and from ethnic groups whose participation in science has been traditionally limited.�

Sally Ride Science Festivals bring together hundreds of middle school girls for a festive day of science and socializing. Each festival features a keynote by astronaut Sally Ride; workshops for girls, given by local veterinarians, astronomers, microbiologists, and engineers; workshops for parents and teachers on ways to support girls’ interests in science and math; and a street fair with cool hands-on activities, booths, food, and music.
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Are you a biology teacher who wants to

•�� �Update your teaching skills and your science background?
•�� �Pursue a master’s degree in science? or
•�� �Follow your interest in biology by conducting biological research?

The General Biology program is a summer-oriented graduate program (with a year-round option) designed specifically for middle and high school biology teachers. Teachers in the Master’s Program in General Biology conduct biological research. The research can take place in any of the more than 20 biological science departments at the University of Arizona or in the laboratories of our partners throughout the state.�Research can take place in research labs or in the field, depending on what area of biology you are interested in addressing. The research experience provides an opportunity to conduct authentic biology research on a topic interesting to you, and teachers in our program write a M.S. thesis on their biological research projects.

Teachers in the Master’s Program also adapt or develop curriculum that transfers their research experiences into lessons that they can share with their students. The lessons enrich the students’ experiences and allow them to share in the excitement of scientific research.

M.S. degree requirements (32 units of credit) are typically completed in four summers for those who participate on a full-time basis each summer. The time to degree may be decreased for teachers who take courses online during the school year. Teachers who participate part-time may take up to�six years to complete their requirements.

Limited scholarships are available. For more information, contact Ellie Warder at�520-621-5903.
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Are you a motivated secondary school science teacher? Do you want to make a long-lasting impact? Do you want to help advance science education in schools? The Weizmann Institute of Science is offering you the opportunity to participate in a unique 10-day seminar at a top science education institute where you will:

• be exposed to cutting-edge research by top scientists;
• develop leadership in school science education;
• establish international collaborative initiatives with like-minded colleagues; and
• advance your science teaching strategies.

All lectures will be in English. Furher details and application forms are available on the website. The number of participants is limited.

Immerse yourself in the�North Carolina�mountains this summer as you learn cutting-edge environmental science.�Visit Grandfather Mountain, an international U.N. Biosphere site,�home to 47 rare and endangered species.�Interact with K-12 educators from�the�United States and from around the world.�Learn about environmental topics and their global significance.�Research scientists share their expertise on air�and water�quality, mountain ecosystems, sprawl,�native medicinal plants,�the importance of GIS and�GPS to global projects, and more.� Field work, environmental monitoring, and special presentations about the culture and history of the Appalachian mountain people round out the workshop.�
Contact Dr. Harriett Stubbs of North Carolina State University for�more details.
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The University of Washington Schools of Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy are jointly sponsoring the Amazon Healthcare Expedition: Pharmacy From the Rainforest, Global Perspectives in Healthcare, taking place�in Peru. The program will examine the links between the environment and health. While this is a continuing education program for the health professions, the topics are universal in nature and speak to current global health issues and concerns. Interested parties, including teachers and their spouses or partners, are welcome�to attend.
In addition to structured continuing education activities, participants
will also have the opportunity to tour the jungle floor, to ascend to�the top of the rainforest biome for a walk along the longest canopy
walkway in the Western Hemisphere and to learn about the life,
biodiversity and people of the Amazon through other enriched activities.
International Expeditions is the operational partner�for this program. For further information, call 800-633-4734, or visit the website.
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This initiative was launched in 2005 in partnership with the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund and the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) to encourage minority students to consider careers teaching math and science. Over the next five years, the Siemens Foundation will provide $1 million in scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students majoring in education and enrolled at the historically black colleges and universities that are members of the two organizations. This program marks the first time the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund and the UNCF have collaborated in an effort to target students at both private and public historically black colleges and universities. The funds will be administered by the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund and the UNCF and will be awarded based on academic merit and financial need.
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The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Challenge 20/20 program provides an opportunity for schools--public and private, elementary and secondary--to develop globally based, experiential curricula and to build educational partnerships with schools around the world. Challenge 20/20 students form authentic bonds with students from across the globe. They learn firsthand about cross-cultural communication. Together, the teams tackle a real problem. Upper-school students may have an opportunity to share their experiences at the NAIS Institute for Student Leaders.
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Join the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration�Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Alpena, Michigan, as they host a week of expeditionary programming from Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of Monterey, California. The Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center is the venue for live Immersion Presents broadcasts, hands-on activities, and programs with NOAA scientists. The expedition team will explore many of Monterey Bay 's fascinating ecosystems--including estuaries, kelp forests, and submarine canyons.�Contact Cathy Green ([email protected]) to schedule your classroom for this unique telepresence experience.
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Eighty scholarships of $5,000 will be awarded to sophomore and junior undergraduate students in two categories: those studying fields related to the environment and Native American students studying fields related to the environment, health care, or tribal public policy.
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The program is the oldest field program associated with the National Park Service. Seminars can show educators how to design and implement an outdoor education experience for their students that aligns with science standards.�

The Rocky Mountain Nature Association (RMNA)�offers hands-on field seminars in Environmental Science, Outdoor Skills and Hiking, Cultural History, Natural History, Art�and Nature Writing, and Photography.�RMNA offers a premier classroom without walls just outside of Rocky Mountain National Park.�In more than 65 courses for children and adults, participants can study topics ranging from geology, ecology, history, culture, and wildlife to nature writing and photography.

Teachers can receive teacher recertification units for full-day and multi-day seminars, as approved through Centennial Board of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES).��See�http://BOCES_Teacher_Threads.pdf�for a list of seminars.

Join the NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Alpena, Michigan,�as they host a week of expeditionary programming from Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of Monterey,
California. The Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center is the venue for
live Immersion Presents broadcasts, hands-on activities, and programs
with NOAA scientists. The expedition team will explore many of Monterey Bay's fascinating ecosystems--including estuaries, kelp forests, and submarine canyons.

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The New Jersey State Museum announces the inaugural season of the Sunday Science Lecture Series.�The series, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored in part by the Friends of the New Jersey State Museum. Scholarly yet family-friendly lectures will be presented in the museum’s auditorium by world famous researchers in the fields of paleontology, paleo-artistry, and archaeology.�
On March 9,�Dr. Peter Dodson, University of Pennsylvania professor and paleontologist, will describe his dinosaur-hunting adventures on four different continents.���

Each talk begins at 5 pm and light refreshments will be served.� Auditorium galleries will be open to the public at 4 p.m. each Sunday, prior to the lecture. Reservations are encouraged.��

Deepen your knowledge of the life, Earth, and physical sciences with these online graduate science courses. Each of the 10 six-week courses immerses the learner in a collaborative investigation of�topics from evolution to ocean dynamics to quantum physics.�All courses are taught by museum scientists and educators and highlight current, cutting-edge research.�Sign up early and receive a $50 discount off the price of each course.

Courses may meet your local professional development needs, including degree, certification, NCLB, and salary gradation requirements. Check the website for complete information, including free sample resources--essays, videos, and interactives--from all of the online courses.�
The International Baccalaureate (IB) program�now offers its teachers the SOS program. Teachers earn up to four graduate credits and IB professional development credit.

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is sponsoring scholarships of up to $450 off the registration fee for its three-day workshops.�The workshops introduce K-12 teachers, administrators, curriculum developers, university faculty, and other specialists to the Atlas of Science Literacy and other Project 2061 resources. The precise number of scholarships will depend on the number of applications submitted and selected for each workshop.

The next two workshops will take place in Washington, D.C., on these dates:�

•����March 11–13, 2008 (scholarship application deadline has now passed)
•����October 15–17, 2008�(scholarship application deadline September 5)

Other dates/locations will be added for the coming year.

Virginia high school students can compete for a place on teams that will chart a mission to Mars this summer. NASA Langley Research Center created the Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars, an educational program with online coursework and an all-expense-paid residential summer academy open to high school juniors in the Commonwealth.

Offered via the Internet from April through June 2008, the interactive course consists of ten lessons and a final project that allows students to build their knowledge of NASA, America 's space exploration goals, and key STEM skills. Master educators will work with students online, providing guidance and feedback on assignments, quizzes, and each participant's final project.
Upon successful completion of the coursework, scholars will spend six days with educators, scientists, engineers, and technology mentors at NASA's Langley Research Center during July 27 through Aug. 1, 2008. There they will divide into teams, challenged with solving how to get to, live and work on, and integrate a manned mission to Mars.

The Virginia Scholars program is open to high school juniors throughout Virginia . Forty students will be accepted.

From San Francisco to New York, in museums, universities, classrooms, and in the privacy of one's own home, (and of course on Second Life), people�will be�celebrating Pi on March 14.�It's the 20th anniversary of the celebration of Pi Day,an international holiday born at San Francisco's Exploratorium.�In an era when math and mathematicians have become�popular again, it's worth recounting how Pi Day came to be and why it is that people go to the Exploratorium and gather around the Pi Shrine to perform pi-related rites and eat ritual food--be it apple pie or pizza pie--in honor of this special number.��
Pi Day celebrations culminate on March 14 at 1:59pm. That's
the third month, the fourteenth day, at 1:59pm, corresponding to the
first 6-digits of Pi. March 14 is also Einstein's�birthday. Visit the website for all Pi-related links and materials.

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The program will recognize campuses and campus leaders for their efforts to solve global warming issues. Mark Earth Day 2008 by bringing fun and educational programming to your campus! At 7 p.m. Eastern Time, you’re invited to host a live broadcast featuring positive, practical solutions to global warming being implemented by higher education campuses around the country.

The Geologic and Natural History of Iceland tour will provide educators with an opportunity to explore and collect firsthand observations and data for personal or for classroom use. Participants will learn about Iceland geology including plate tectonics, sea floor spreading, "Hot Spots," volcanology, and glaciology. They will also investigate the native flora and fauna�and will look into the culture and settlement patterns of the people of Iceland.

The American Meteorological Society's Maury Project is a nationwide K-12 teacher enhancement program based on the study of the physical foundations of oceanography. A summer workshop for master teachers and supervisors will be held at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, during July 14-25, 2008. Teachers who are members of groups underrepresented in the sciences or teach significant numbers of students from underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply. A stipend, housing, food, and travel will be provided, and three semester hours of tuition-free graduate credit may be earned.
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The fourth annual marathon, a 24-hour internet and teleconference event, runs from noon (Eastern Time) March 26 through noon March 27 at�the website.�Presentations and Q&A sessions originate from points around the globe to heighten awareness of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics issues among precollege, college, and young career women.� Honorary Chair of the 2008 Global Marathon is Judy Spitz, senior vice president and CIO of Verizon Business.
Check the website for more information about the marathon.

ACEI is a professional organization of teachers, teacher educators, administrators, college students, parents, and other child care personnel whose mission is to promote and support in the global community the optimal education and development of children, infancy through middle childhood, and to influence the professional growth of educators and others who share our commitment to the needs of children in a changing society.
ACEI's conference will be held at the Westin Peachtree Plaza, located in the heart of the convention district in Atlanta, where attendees will be just steps away from the new Georgia Aquarium. This is an ideal setting for learning, networking, and sharing as educational peers consider how best to inspire our children to achieve their highest potential.��
Conference highlights will include more than 225 workshops, research sessions, and panel discussions led by internationally and nationally renowned experts in the fields of early and middle childhood education; concurrent sessions on such topics as “Learning from the Past, Living in the Present, Reaching for the Future,” “Education in a Global Community: Implications for Teaching and Learning,”� “Changing Landscapes: Creating Safe Environments for All Children,” and “Teaching for Peace: Consensus or Controversy?”
Richard Allington, Professor of Education at the University of Tennessee, will be the opening keynote speaker. He is an award-winning national authority on literacy research, and his vast knowledge of school mandates and the challenges that educators face will enrich educators' knowledge.
Register by February 9, 2008, for reduced rates.
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Join NSTA at the 56th National Conference on Science Education. Listen to invited keynote speaker Barbara Morgan’s fascinating history as an elementary school teacher and astronaut logging more than 305 hours in space. Take advantage of ready-to-use lesson plans developed by experts and handed out to attendees. Win a well-equipped science classroom (one for each grade band) provided by top exhibitors in the Ultimate Classroom Giveaway. Don’t miss your chance to improve upon your professional development skills through entertaining workshops, events, and networking.
Register by February 8, and save as much as $109 if you are an NSTA member.

This award recognizes and rewards the outstanding teacher out of eight award winning programs selected to receive the SeaWorld Environmental Excellence Award, which for 2007-2008 consisted of $5,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to attend the NSTA National Conference in Boston, March 27-30, 2008. The deadline for next year will be November 30, 2008.

Teachers will have an opportunity to solve contemporary plant-related biology problems and explore career connections featuring the technology and skills that support modern plant science. The Plant IT Careers, Cases, and Collaborations project announces 2008 Summer Institutes offered at Texas A&M University.�The theme is "classroom investigation cases in plant forensics, environmental monitoring, and seed biotechnology."�

Explore the investigative case learning process and collaborate with fellows, scientists, and science educators to integrate IT (data, images, models) in collaborative investigations and develop case materials tailored for your students (July 7-18). Practice new skills and examine student learning by morning activities in student summer camps (July 21-25).

Fourteen high school teachers will be selected to receive stipends and expenses for 17 days in residence at Texas A&M University.�For details on this NSF ITEST funded project, see�the website,�or e-mail [email protected].

The PlantingScience program announces 2008 Summer Institutes. Sixteen high school teachers will be selected to receive stipends for�nine days in residence at Texas A&M University.

Sixteen people will have an opportunity for field study in the Galapagos Islands and Amazon Rainforest of Ecuador.�The course is designed to offer instruction on the principles of ecology, processes of evolution, biogeography, and lessons from nature that can guide us toward sustainable human communities.�The trip will be led by classroom teacher Linda Freeman and English-speaking Ecuadorian guides.

Spend the�first week on a family-owned yacht traveling to�nine islands of the Galapagos archipelago,�observing blue footed-boobies, giant tortoises, and�land and marine iguanas. Walk on active volcanoes, study reef organisms during snorkeling explorations, and learn about conservation initiatives.

During the second week, follow in the footsteps of the great explorers as�you journey into the Amazon Rainforest, discovering the secret lives of rainforest wildlife with a guided hike in Aliñahui’s private tropical rainforest reserve, and gain insight into native Amazonian culture with a full-day immersion in a local Quichua community.�Learn about�rescue and rehabilitation of mammals at the Amazoonico Center. An optional�three hours of half-price graduate credit is available through Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio. Itinerary can be found here.
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