USGS Education Newsletter

November 2008

USGS Education on the Web
Recently, the USGS Education Web site (http://education.ugsg.gov ) has grown to be one of the most frequently visited sites at www.usgs.gov. The centerpiece of the site is the Educational Resources section, where content is sorted by educational level (primary grades, secondary grades, and undergraduate education) and by subject area. The site also links to a variety of additional resources. Take a look at the newly released Videotaped Lectures, a compilation of Menlo Park talks that can be searched by scientific topic. Liz Colvard in Menlo Park (ecolvard@usgs.gov, Tel 650.329.4498) takes lead for managing the content of the site, and she welcomes your comments and suggestions.

…And Hot Off the Press
The Education Office has compiled a listing of research grant, internship, and employment opportunities at USGS for students and undergraduate and graduate faculty. General Interest Publication 80 is now available through the Pubs Warehouse at http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/usgspubs/gip/gip80.

Looking Back: Earth Science Week
Everyone agrees—This year’s Earth Science Week theme, “No Child Left Inside,” presented a particularly good opportunity to showcase USGS science, and our scientists and staff took full advantage of the possibilities. From submitting favorite outdoor locations for the ESW Web site to hosting a variety of activities for young and old alike, USGS embraced this annual event with creativity and energy. Visit the Earth Science Week Resource Page at http://education.usgs.gov/common/ESW2008.html to see how we celebrated this important week.

Looking Ahead: National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Annual Meeting
The city of New Orleans will host the annual NSTA national meeting this year, March 19-22, 2009. The USGS provides a 3-booth exhibit for this event, and our science documents, maps, posters, and other takeaways are among the most sought after at the conference. If you have items you’d like to contribute or suggest that we consider, please contact Bob Ridky (rridky@usgs.gov, 703.648.6872). Better yet, consider spending an afternoon or a couple of days with us as we encourage America’s science teachers to discover the usefulness of USGS science. If you think you’d like to help at the booth, please contact Bob. Learn more about NSTA and the conference at http://www.nsta.org/.

What Americans Should Know
Sponsored by the National Science Foundation, The Earth Science Literacy Initiative (ESLI) seeks to establish the fundamental understandings and supporting concepts that all Americans should know about the earth sciences. The USGS hosted ESLI’s first organizational meeting in April, and Bob Ridky serves on its steering committee. The present draft document was developed, shaped, and revised by scientists working in earth science research and the educational community by way of a two-week online workshop of 350 participants in May and a 35-participant writing workshop in July. Several USGS scientists contributed to these developmental efforts. Because of its validity, authority, and succinct format, the ESLI framework will be influential in a wide variety of scientific, educational, and political settings. Read more about this important project at http://www.earthscienceliteracy.org/.

For the Young at Heart
Popular singing group The Jonas Brothers has filmed a public service WebCast for the Department of Interior to encourage kids to spend more time outside. Check it out at http://getoutdoorsitsyours.gov/message-jonas.cfm.

Again, thank you for your support of USGS Education. We’ll be in touch again soon.

(If you do not wish to receive this update, please let us know, and, we'll remove your name from our list. Likewise, if you know someone who you believe might like to hear what’s going on in Education, kindly send along an email address to Cher Cunningham, Education Assistant, at ccunning@usgs.gov, Tel 703.648.6872.)