[neact] FWD:MassBaP Professional News week of December 8, 2008


MassBaP       Professional News       week of December 8, 2008
Space Camp Scholarships! As recently posted in the NSTA Reports, the Honeywell Corporation provides for 200 scholarships for educators to attend Space Camp at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL, June 13-July 2. If you have not had the opportunity to visit one of the NASA visitor Centers previously, the Marshall Space Flight Center's relationship with Space Camp dates back to the beginning of the Space Shuttle program and has been recognized as a tremendous experience for educators in particular and "campers" of all ages. To receive a scholarship to attend this program makes it an even more attractive opportunity. For more information, go to the Honeywell web site at: www51.honeywell.com/hhs The deadline is Dec 31, 2008. 



DISCOVER THE UNIVERSE: NASA/NSTA WEB SEMINAR:
Dec. 16, 2008 and Jan. 20, 2009
Join NASA and NSTA for two free Web seminars featuring NASA scientists and education specialists. The seminars will focus on key science concepts -- Earth's place in the universe; light, energy, and optics; and models and evidence in science -- as participants investigate how NASA's space-based missions extend the legacy of observation and discovery that Galileo Galilei initiated when he turned his telescope to the skies in 1609. Presenters will share their science expertise, answer questions from the participants and provide information regarding educational Web sites. Designed for educators of grades 5-12, the 90-minute seminars will begin at 6:30 p.m. EST on Dec. 16, 2008, and 6:30 p.m. EST on Jan. 20, 2009. To learn more about these seminars and to register online, visit <http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/fall08/NASA/webseminar.aspx>http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/fall08/NASA/webseminar.aspx. 



CLIMATE DISCOVERY ONLINE COURSES FOR EDUCATORS - REGISTRATION OPEN:
Pre-registration deadline: Jan. 1, 2009
The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) offers a series of six and seven week online courses for middle and high school teachers that combine geoscience content, information about current climate research, easy to implement hands-on activities, and group discussion. There is a $225 fee per course (save $25 if you register by Jan. 1). The courses run concurrently from January 23 through March 15, 2009. * CD 501 Introduction to Earth's Climate is designed to guide participants through the basics of climate science, integrating content, classroom activities, and community-building discussions to help middle and high school educators understand the answers to common questions about climate. * CD 502 Earth System Science: A Climate Change Perspective explores Earth as a system from the perspective of climate and global change, describing the interactions between the various parts of the Earth system, including human activities, and how they all affect our climate. * CD 503 Understanding Climate Change Today presents some of the current and predicted impacts of global warming on our planet and human societies. This course explores how climate models are developed and used to understand likely scenarios of future climate and how current scientific research is improving the quality of climate predictions. 
For complete course schedule and registration information, visit
<http://ecourses.ncar.ucar.edu/>http://ecourses.ncar.ucar.edu



2009-2010 EINSTEIN FELLOWSHIPS FOR K-12 TEACHERS:
Applications Due: Jan. 13, 2009
The Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship is a paid fellowship for K-12 math, science, and technology teachers. Einstein Fellows spend a school year in Washington, DC, serving in a federal agency or on Capitol Hill. Placement opportunities with federal agencies vary slightly year to year, but may include NASA, National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. To be considered for an Einstein Fellowship during the 2009-2010 school year, one must apply and submit three letters of recommendation online at https://applicationlink.labworks.org/applicationlink/default.htm. For more information about the Einstein Fellows program visit www.trianglecoalition.org/ein.htm or contact Liz Burck at burckl@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 



15th Annual Space Exploration Educators Conference, Feb. 5-7, 2009:
Register today for the 15th Annual Space Exploration Educators Conference, to be held Feb. 5-7, 2009, at Space Center Houston. This conference is for all K-12 educators. Activities presented use space-related themes to teach across the curriculum and can be used for science, language arts, mathematics, history and more. Attend sessions hosted by scientists and engineers working on the International Space Station, Mars exploration and the planets beyond. Hear from astronauts who will be leading the charge in exploration. Learn about the bold vision to send humans back to the moon and off to Mars. Attend sessions presented by educators and receive ready-to-implement classroom ideas. Attendees can earn up to 24 hours of continuing professional education credit. For more information and to register for the conference, visit <http://spacecenter.org/TeachersSEEC.html>http://spacecenter.org/TeachersSEEC.html <<http://spacecenter.org/TeachersSEEC.html>http://spacecenter.org/TeachersSEEC.html> . If you have any questions about the conference, please call 281-283-7773 or email <file:///C:/Program%20Files/Common%20Files/Microsoft%20Shared/Stationery/seec@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>seec@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <<mailto:seec@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>mailto:seec@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> . 



Massachusetts Academy of Sciences Introduction:
Please allow me to introduce myself, Dr. Margaret (Peg) Riley, in my role as President of the newly created Massachusetts Academy of Sciences. Massachusetts is one of the few states in the nation that, until recently, did not have a state academy. The MAS has grown out of a shared sense that the State needs some entity that can serve as an umbrella to coordinate and enable the diversity of science-based efforts across this state. Our mission is to promote public understanding and appreciation of the sciences, to support scientific research, education and workforce development in areas relevant to the needs of the state, and to provide consultative or advisory services on matters of science to the Governor, and to local, state, and federal agencies.
The Academy officially announced its presence at the recent American Association for the Advancement of Science 2008 meeting in Boston. Our reception was, simply put, tremendous. From the Leaders of the National Academy of Sciences and our sister State Academies to the numerous scientists, science educators, and interested public in attendance, the response was overwhelmingly positive. A detailed description of the MAS is available at our web site: http://www.massacadsciences.org/.
My goal with this letter is to inform you that our State finally has an Academy of Sciences and to offer its services. We are in the process of launching a new MAS web site that will serve as THE central repository in the commonwealth for STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) based information critical to educators, students, parents, scientists, legislators, and industry. As an engaged member of the science-education community, I ask for your help in making this site as rich, user-friendly, and exciting as possible. If you are aware of information that you feel must be available at this site or simply have topics you would like to see covered, please contact us with your suggestions, ideas, questions or concerns. Send your replies to assistant@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To further aid in our understanding of the needs of the science education community, we have created a questionnaire (attached here and posted on our website) that we have been distributing at the conferences we attend. We hope that you will consider emailing your responses to us at assistant@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Please note that we treat every reply as confidential, our goal is to simply obtain a firm understanding of the challenges you face as you devote yourself to educating our youth.
Let me close by offering my personal thanks for your contributions to science education. Please know that the MAS is here for you and will do everything in our power to help in your efforts to teach the youth in our state about the wonders of STEM subjects. 



My very best regards,



Dr. Margaret (Peg) Riley

President,Massachusetts Academy of Sciences

Professor,Department of Biology

University of Massachusetts Amherst



Caroline Goode, MA Coordinator
NSTA's Building A Presence for Science (MassBaP)
Christa Corrigan McAuliffe Center for Education and Teaching Excellence
Framingham State College
100 State Street
Framingham, MA 01701
<http://www.christa.org/>www.christa.org

Caroline Goode, Program Director
Southeast Regional PreK-16 STEM Network
508-454-5426
<mailto:good783@xxxxxxxxxxx>good783@xxxxxxxxxxx
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