[neact] Fwd: Science Matters/MassBaP Professional Opportunities

Building A Presence for Science in Massachusetts www.nsta.org/sciencematters  Supported by funding from the Christa Corrigan McAuliffe Center, Framingham State College   Professional Opportunities           week of December 21, 2009   MassBaP is changing its name!!  As per NSTA, Building A Presence for Science is now known as Science Matters.  I will continue to include “MassBaP” with the title, however, as this is what we have used since 2003.  Just be aware that when you see or hear “Science Matters” it means MassBaP.  Go to nsta.org/sciencematters and click on “Teachers” to go to the BaP homepage.   NIH Office of Science Education Blog:   Nation’s Education Reform Initiative Unlikely to Be Harmed by States’ Fiscal Crises, Date: December 10, 2009  This week's blog begins “According to the executive director of the National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO), the nationwide fiscal crisis will probably not be the vulnerable spot in President Obama's education reform initiative.”   Executive Director,  Scott Pattison stated that  “during past difficult financial times, most states treated funding for K-12 education more favorably than other budget items.”  Read more at: Nation’s Education Reform Initiative Unlikely to Be Harmed by States’ Fiscal Crises http://science.education.nih.gov/ChangingCoursesBlog.nsf/archive?openview&title=STEM&type=cat&cat=STEM  Log in to comment on the Blog question(s) of the day: ·         Have you thought about how you could become a part of improving STEM education in your community? Are you passionate about the state of STEM education in our country today?  Do you agree that America's science and math education is on the line??  Changing Courses is a virtual community that spotlights efforts of all STEM stakeholders and you are invited to be a part of this community and to engage in discussions focused on all matters of STEM education.  Changing Courses is a (weekly) blog written by the National Institute of Health's (NIH) Office of Science Education (OSE) Education Outreach Coordinator, Bradie Metheny.   Sign up now for National Green Week 2010! Calling on all educators! Enroll in National Green Week 2010 by Dec. 15, 2009 and be entered into a raffle for free garden kits (gloves, tools, seeds), IXG Green Packs (reusable drink & snack containers, shopping bag and an organic tee) and cash prizes to jump-start your green program and be eligible for a $5,000 grant! National Green Week 2010 (Feb. 1-5, 2010) Green Education Foundation (GEF) is mobilizing millions of students from across the nation to participate in environmental educational programs during National Green Week 2010. GEF’s comprehensive curriculum provides Pre K-12 schools with extensive standards based lessons coupled with the following hands-on eco challenges: Ø  Green Thumb Challenge—Join the largest youth gardening initiative in history calling on classrooms and schools to plant 10,000 indoor or outdoor gardens during the spring of 2010! GEF’s website provides gardening instructions, checklists for school approvals, plot location guidelines; container garden suggestions, funding resources (including grant templates) garden plans, vegetable and flower suggestions and much more. Green Thumb Challenge lessons link gardening to science, math, language arts, creative arts and technology. Summer student internships and community service programs will be available along with an online professional development course for teachers. Ø  Waste-Free Snacks—Students nationwide will participate in the largest school based waste-reduction program of all time by simply pledging to carry their drinks and snacks in reusable containers for the week. The goal is to eliminate 500,000 pounds of trash from schools and landfills. Ø  Green Energy Challenge—Students will audit their classrooms, schools and homes to find energy leaks and correct them in an effort to reduce energy consumption. Don’t wait, enroll today at www.GreenEducationFoundation.org   Eyes in the Sky II Seeks Grade 9 to 12 Science Teachers: Eyes in the Sky II is a long-term professional development program that prepares high school science teachers to use NASA data and visualizations along with other geospatial information technologies. Throughout the program, teachers and students investigate both global and local environmental issues. The program includes four parts: 1) a 12-week online Web course, consisting of three 4-week modules; 2) a 7-day face-to-face summer workshop held onsite at a NASA research center; 3) one year of classroom implementation, ending with a virtual student showcase; and 4) an ambassador program for providing professional development for other teachers in participants' schools or districts. Grade 9 to 12 science teachers will benefit from this program. Through participating, teachers will: 1) become proficient using NASA data and geospatial analysis tools; 2) receive a $1000 stipend for completing the online course and the 7-day summer workshop; 3) receive an additional $1000 stipend as compensation for delivering professional development as an Eyes in the Sky II Ambassador; 4) equip their students with geospatial technology skills that are in increasing demand in the workplace; and 5) obtain optional graduate credit through Northern Arizona University. For more information about the Eyes in the Sky II program, including the online application visit http://serc.carleton.edu/eyesinthesky2/index.html <http://serc.carleton.edu/eyesinthesky2/index.html> . Applications are due by January 15, 2010. We expect this will be a popular program. As there are a limited number of openings available, first consideration will be given to early applicants. If you have further questions, please contact Carla McAuliffe (Carla_McAuliffe@xxxxxxxx) or Erin Bardar (Erin_Bardar@xxxxxxxx).   NOAA's Teacher at Sea Program: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Teacher at Sea (TAS) program gives teachers a clearer insight into our ocean planet, a greater understanding of maritime work and studies, and increased environmental literacy by fostering an interdisciplinary research experience. The program provides a unique environment for learning and teaching by sending kindergarten through college-level teachers to sea aboard NOAA research and survey ships to work under the tutelage of scientists and crew. Then, armed with new understanding and experience, teachers bring this knowledge back to their classrooms. NOAA's Teacher at Sea Program is accepting applications until December 31, 2009, for its 2010 Field Season. Please visit “About the Program” to learn about TAS and “How to Apply” to access application materials. A National Conference on Science Education—Philadelphia 2010: Looking forward to what’s in store for science education next year, teachers and administrators can count on unmatched face-to-face professional development through NSTA’s annual event. Scheduled for March 18-21 in historic Philadelphia, program strands include: Meeting the Unique Needs of Urban and Rural Science Learners Connecting Content: Between, Within, and Among Subjects Closing the Digital Generation Gap Between Teachers and Students Rekindling the Fires of Science Teaching and Learning The kickoff begins on Wednesday, March 17, with ten content-driven, in-depth institutes (PDIs) and their follow-on pathway sessions along with a research dissemination conference called Keeping Elementary Primary: Current Research and Best Practices for Quality Instruction. Beginning Thursday, attendees can find symposia with follow-on web seminars and intensive short courses meant to build content knowledge in a wide range of topics critical to teachers in all science disciplines. Nearly 2000 concurrent sessions are available for every grade band and for the newest preservice teacher to the career professional who writes curriculum or policy. Add to that, we offer terrific field trips, networking with peers and pros, and speakers like Bill Nye the Science Guy and Greg Marshall, a scientist, inventor, and filmmaker, who developed the Crittercam. Visit www.nsta.org/philadelphia for more information. January 22 is our earlybird deadline. From the NSTA Calendar: Don't Miss These Opportunities: Honeywell Educators at Space Academy Scholarship Program (deadline December 31). Middle school science and math teachers, blast off to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, with a five-day scholarship. Train like an astronaut, and find out how to inspire lifelong learning through space science simulations and activities. Nickelodeon's Big Green Grants Program (deadline December 31). Need funding for an environmental project? K–9 teachers can apply for up to $5,000 to educate and inspire kids to take care of the environment, be active, live healthily, and engage in community service. National Teachers Hall of Fame (deadline January 2). PreK–12 teachers with 20+ years in the classroom deserve recognition. The Hall of Fame honors these teachers and provides a $1,000 scholarship for a student in their school district who aspires to join their ranks, along with $1,000 worth of educational materials from the Pearson Learning Group for their school district. Nominate a colleague who has devoted his/her life to education. NSTA Press Helps You Meld Science and Math: Recent releases from NSTA Press are two hands-on guides, Activities Linking Science with Math, K–4 and Activities Linking Science with Math, 5–8. These popular texts provide teachers with 20 activities to integrate the study of science and math and incorporate the visual arts, social sciences, and language arts as well. The engaging activities allow students to explore and discover through their own observations and conclusions. Included with each rigorous lesson is a list of needed materials, simple procedures, discussion questions and assessment techniques. Aligned with national standards for both science and math, topics cover general science, physical science, chemistry, Earth science, and life science. Visit www.nsta.org/store to order these useful and well-written titles by author John Eichinger. Register Now for the 2010 MA Environmental Education Society (MEES) Conference:  March 3, 2010 The 2010 MEES Conference theme is "Bringing Environmental Education Home." Workshops share ideas for helping students to appreciate, understand, improve, and protect the special places they call home, to help make your environmental message "hit home," to share technology that can be used to promote positive environmental attitudes and behaviors and to keep the message of environmental conservation fresh, timely, and inspiring. Review the workshops on our website, and then register online.  You may also download the full brochure and registration form to review workshops and print out the registration form to mail in. Conference registration fee is $85.00.  Register by January 15th to save $10.00.  Full time student's fee is $55.00.  Please register and postmark checks and paper forms by the general deadline of February 5, 2010. Registration is first-come, first-served.  Registration may end sooner than February 5th if the registration limit is met.  For general information and questions, please email conference@xxxxxxxxxxxx  For scholarship information, please contact Amy Wilmot at  awilmot@xxxxxxxxxxxx. For presenter information, please contact presenters@xxxxxxxxxxxx. For exhibitor information, please contact exhibitors@xxxxxxxxxxxx. Call For:  Candidates for 2010 NASA High School Space Educator Award:  The National Space Club has established, with the initial support of Glen P. Wilson and the National Space Society, the National Space Club Space Educator Award. The award has been created to recognize the importance of the secondary school teacher in motivating and guiding high school students towards study and careers in space science and technology. The award is also designed to enhance and support Educator participants in NASA Educational Programs by honoring a teacher who has advised and helped students toward space careers through participation in competitions, and professional activities designed to teach and promote space education.  In over 25 years there have been no repeat winners.  Retired teachers are eligible to apply for the award. The winner of the Space Educator Award will be selected by a committee of the National Space Club and will receive, a grant of $1,500, travel expenses and accommodations to attend the Goddard Memorial Dinner in Washington, DC, a personal plaque of recognition, and a plaque for the teacher's school.  As a teacher who has actively participated in NASA space education programs, you are eligible for this award, to be presented at the Goddard Memorial Dinner in Washington, DC on March 12, 2010. If you would like to be considered further, please supply the following: 1. A brief biographical description showing your educational and teacher experience. Particular emphasis should be placed on your involvement in science teaching both in and out of the classroom (e.g., community projects, science fairs, etc.) 2. At least two and not more than four letters of recommendation from people who know of your work.  This could include any school system official (school board, principal, science supervisor, etc.) community leader, etc. Please have them submit letters to the e-mail address below. 3. A letter from a student whom you have helped and advised. Please have the student submit the letter to the e-mail address below. 4. A short statement (not more than two type written, double-spaced pages) from you concerning your interest and involvement in science teaching. It is your responsibility to have the above items sent to me so that I will receive them not later than Friday, January 22, 2010. All submitted materials will be evaluated and the winner will be selected on the basis of the overall effectiveness of the applicant in the teaching and promotion of secondary school science.  For active teachers, prospects of future activities in this area will also be considered. The winner will be selected and notified by February 1, 2010. Please e-mail your material to kjoels@xxxxxxxxx Dr. Kerry M. Joels Space Educator Award Chairman   UMass Amherst Science & Engineering Saturday Seminars         Spring, 2010 -         Designed for science teachers; new teachers are especially welcome         -         Five Saturdays each term; 8:30-1 at UMass Amherst, Lederle Grad -         Towers 1033 (except as noted) -         Educational materials, refreshments, parking, PDP's included -   Advance registration is required; capacity is limited -   Cost $30 per session, $120 for all five sessions -         4 PDP's per half day session; option for 3 grad credits at reduced           cost with extra work January 23. What Electrical Engineering Can Do for You.  Marinos N. Vouvakis, Electrical and Computer Engineering. When asking the average high-school student what Electrical Engineering is all about, the most probable answer is: it deals with the electrical wiring and outlets, or in the best case, it helps build TV sets. Although this would have been the case for the Electrical Engineering of the 30s or 50s, modern electrical engineering is been considerably more exciting. We will give an overview of Electrical Engineering, and outline the basic principles behind some of the most ubiquitous electrical engineering technologies such as the iPhone, the laptop computer, the internet, radar, etc.  January 30. Weather cancellation makeup date if needed February 6. Ice, glaciers, and oceans. Julie Brigham-Grette , Geosciences. Hands on explorations of remote sensing, the effects of rising ocean levels, and changes in the forces driving ocean circulation. Melting ice and snow exposes water and land, increasing the energy absorbed from sunlight. We will explore ways to measure this change in the "albedo," and will do an experiment that models remote sensing by satellites. March 6.  DNA & Protein 3D Structure. Frieda Reichsman and Eric Martz, Microbiology. Ready-to-use software, tutorials, and lesson plans offer interactive, rotating, zooming 3D models of high-impact macromolecules such as influenza neuraminidase and Tamiflu, DNA, antibody, hemoglobin, HIV-protease and inhibitor drug, lipid bilayers and channels. BioMolecular Explorer 3D features molecules that dovetail into high school curricula. Proteopedia.Org, a new wiki with Jmol, makes it easy to author new 3D structure tutorials which are immediately online. All software is free, works in web browsers on Windows or Macs, and is available from http://HighSchool.MolviZ.Org. March 27. Antibiotics in the Environment.  Erik Rosenfeldt, Civil and Environmental Engineering. Discharges of pharmaceuticals and personal care products into aquatic ecosystems are an emerging environmental issue. Antibiotics are of particular concern since they may lead to the evolution of antibiotic resistant microorganisms.  A simple assay that detects activity associated with antibiotics is known as the AntiBiotic Challenge [ABC], and is based upon a commercially available test for finding antibiotics in meat, urine, and dairy products. The assay has been adapted so that students will have no contact with potentially pathogenic microorganisms and only simple equipment is required. April 3. Science of the Eye.  Ishara Mills-Henry, Biology, MIT. In the retina, photoreceptor cells translate light into electrical and chemical signals that are processed through several downstream neurons.  We will discuss photoreceptor function as it relates to color vision, the proteins involved in phototransduction (signaling pathways and ion channels leading to changes in membrane potential), the evolution of color vision, and the genetics of color blindness.  In the second part of the workshop, we will focus on how the processing of visual stimuli in the brain plays a critical role in vision. Many optical or visual illusions are a result of how the brain perceives what we see and studying them has provided further understanding of the mechanisms of visual perception.  Hands-on activities will include aligning opsin gene and protein sequences and how optical illusions are interpreted. April 10.  Weather cancellation makeup date if needed. May 1. Recall for those registered for graduate credit. Hasbrouck Lab. Graduate credit option: There is a charge of $300 for 3 Continuing Education credits plus a $45 registration fee.  This is in addition to the $120 STEM Education Institute fee. Teachers may obtain credit for the seminar as many terms as they wish, but only 3 credits may be applied to UMass Amherst degrees. A lesson plan and a book report will be required for those enrolled for graduate credit. Register with Continuing Education or the UMass Graduate School for CNS 697S, ST-Contemporary Science and Engineering II. We will have registration forms at the first seminar. Questions: Mort Sternheim, mort@xxxxxxxxxxxx, 413-545-1908, www.umassk12.net/sess Online seminar registration and payment:       www.umassk12.net/sess/register.html Required for everyone whether or not they are registering for graduate credit.   From NSTA Science Matters: National PTA, DLA Piper Distribute Groundbreaking Guide on State Laws on Family Engagement:  National PTA and DLA Piper LLP, an international law firm, recently released a guide that will help families, policymakers and child advocates develop and monitor family engagement legislation in their states. The 271-page State Laws on Family Engagement in Education Reference Guide provides a comprehensive, up-to-date survey of family engagement legislation in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. This guide serves policymakers and child advocates monitoring the implementation of the law with a better understanding of state family engagement legislation by providing detailed analysis, noteworthy statutes, policy recommendations, and the essential components of systemic state family engagement laws. This information will help PTA members advocate for broader reform by supplying them the tools to create legislation that supports policies and practices that meaningfully engage families in improving student achievement.  Read the report online  Read the report online Where the Wild Things Are Activity Guide:  National Wildlife Federation has teamed up with the film "Where The Wild Things Are" to launch a national campaign to get kids outside. The "Where the Wild Things Are" Activity Guide will help teachers explore the film's themes, with activities designed for grades 2–5 and extensions for younger and older students. These activities meet national standards for English/Language Arts, Science, Social Studies and Visual Arts.  Learn more Design Squad Teacher's Guide:  PBS’ Design Squad goes to school with a new Teacher’s Guide. Developed for middle school science and technology teachers, the guide blends hands-on engineering challenges with three core science topics—force, electricity and sound. The challenges use low cost, readily available materials and are linked to national science and technology standards. Order your free copy of the Design Squad Teacher’s Guide. Project Dragonfly:  Miami University's Project Dragonfly is accepting applications now for its 2010 graduate field courses and master's programs offering international field and conservation studies in Africa, Asia and the Americas. Each accepted applicant is awarded a tuition scholarship covering 2010 field course tuition, equivalent to $3,100 in-state and $7,100 out-of-state. The deadline to apply is Thursday, January 28, 2010. Created by Dragonfly and the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Earth Expeditions graduate courses and the Global Field Program (GFP) Master's degree bring together graduate students, scientists, educators and community leaders at critical conservation field sites in Belize, Costa Rica, Baja, Trinidad, Mongolia, Thailand, Kenya and Namibia. Earth Expeditions courses and the GFP Master's may be completed part-time from anywhere in the U.S. or abroad and are open to educators and other professionals from all settings and disciplines, regardless of academic focus. For information and to apply, visit these websites: Earth Expeditions Global Field Program Society for Science & the Public Fellows Program:  The Society for Science & the Public (SSP) Fellows Program provides funds and training to selected U.S. science and math teachers who serve under-resourced students to enable interested and motivated students to perform high-quality independent scientific research. Competitively selected from a large entrant pool of high school science and math teachers from 36 states and American Samoa, each Fellow will receive funding directly for their classroom and community, full support to attend the Fellows Institute in Washington, D.C. and ongoing training and resources from SSP. Successful participants can retain their Fellowship for up to four years to ensure that promising students can pursue independent research through their high school years. The deadline to apply is January 15, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. eastern standard time. For more information or to learn how to apply, visit the Society for Science & the Public's website. Join President Obama's Nationwide Science Education Initiative—National Lab Day:  Middle and high school teachers, do you need help with your science fair, lesson development, or someone to chaperone a field trip? What about advice on an after-school program or access to cool lab equipment? Wouldn’t it be great to have a scientist or engineer share their work experiences with students in your classroom? You can join in and make it happen through National Lab Day (NLD). Visit the NLD website to learn more, sign up and submit your "project needs." Local community volunteers (university students, scientists, engineers, STEM professionals and other educators) who are participating in your NLD hub, are eager to respond. Check out "project requests" submitted by teachers who are already involved. Butterflies in Space:  Last month, Painted Lady butterflies flew aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis to the International Space Station. The butterflies will spend several months in space as part of an exciting experiment to observe their life cycles and behaviors in microgravity. Classes are invited to participate by registering for updates about the mission. Teachers can download a free Teacher's Guide and engage students in concurrent activities with their own butterflies. Photos and videos will be transmitted back to Earth and made available online.  Learn more Please share these parent resources with your PTA and include in your school monthly newsletter! Nature Clubs for Families:  Spending time outdoors improves the physical and mental well-being of children and adults alike. The Children & Nature Network has developed a toolkit specifically for families interested in spending more time outdoors and starting a local Nature Club. It includes a Quick Start Guide with simple instructions on how to start a Nature Club, as well as activity ideas, tips and checklists for getting started. The kit is available online (PDF) in both English and Spanish.   Caroline Goode, MA Coordinator NSTA Science Matters~Building A Presence for Science in Massachusetts Christa Corrigan McAuliffe Center for Education and Teaching Excellence Framingham State College 508-626-4050 www.christa.org   Caroline Goode, Network Coordinator Southcoast Regional STEM PreK-16 Network good783@xxxxxxxxxxx 508-454-5426

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