The Earth Science Week Update
EARTH SCIENCE WEEK UPDATE
American Geosciences Institute
Vol. 6, No. 5: May 2008
IN THIS ISSUE…
* Students Worldwide Compete in Earth Science Olympiad
* Contests Add Fun, Learning to Earth Science Week
* Explore ‘My Events Map’ for Happenings Near You
* Weather Channel Offers Forecast Earth Summit
* Post Photos Online From Earth Science Week
* View ‘Why Earth Science’ Online With Your Students
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Students Worldwide Compete
In Earth Science Olympiad
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Students excited about Earth science are encouraged to “try out”
for the second annual International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO). The
competition invites U.S. students to complete a free online assessment
by the end of next week, between May 15 and May 23. Those who demonstrate
outstanding geoscientific knowledge and skills will become eligible
for special studies and training opportunities this summer, possibly
culminating with attendance at IESO in Manila, Philippines, in late
August 2008.
IESO, supported by the National Science Foundation and Earth Science
Week, is open to U.S. secondary school students who will not be more
than 18 years old on July 1. The official language of IESO is English.
The competition is organized by The Global Challenge Award, which covers
costs for travel, participation, housing, and conference fees for selected
students.
IESO offers a unique opportunity for students who want to learn about
Earth sciences, global challenges facing the world today, and their
peers in other countries. For more information or to take the online
assessment, see The Global Challenge Award (
http://www.globalchallengeaward.org/ieso).
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Contests Add Fun, Learning
To Earth Science Week
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AGI is sponsoring three national contests during Earth Science Week
2008. The photography, visual arts, and essay contests allow both students
and the general public to participate in the celebration, learn about
Earth science, and compete for prizes.
The photography contest, open to all ages, focuses on “Earth Science
Beyond Your Front Door.” The visual arts contest, titled “Studying
Our Earth,” is open to students in grades K-5. Finally, students
in grades 6-9 are eligible to enter the essay contest: “Earth Connections.”
Essays of up to 300 words should describe how natural processes are
interconnected and how they affect each other where the author lives.
Entries may be submitted starting now, but all are due by the Friday
of Earth Science Week, Oct. 17, 2008. The first-place prize for each
contest is $300 and a copy of AGI’s “Faces of Earth”
2-DVD package. To learn more about these contests, including how to
enter, visit
http://www.earthsciweek.org/contests.
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Explore ‘My Events Map’
For Happenings Near You
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Get out of the house and away from the classroom! That’s what
the “No Child Left Inside” theme of Earth Science Week 2008
(Oct. 12-18) encourages you to do. To help, AGI is launching a website
to connect participants with learning opportunities off the beaten track.
Want to sign up for a geological tour in your area? Or identify a geoscience
exhibit being offered nearby? The new “My Events Map” (
http://www.earthsciweek.org/eventsnearyou/index.html)
provides clickable links to Earth Science Week events taking place at
parks, museums, science and technology centers, university geology departments,
local geological societies, and other locations close to you. Expect
to see more events on the map in the coming months.
If your organization is planning a special program or event for the
public during Earth Science Week, please contact AGI at
info@earthsciwek.org.
We’ll be happy to post the information on the new Earth Science
Week 2008 My Events Map!
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Weather Channel Offers
Forecast Earth Summit
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To help promote environmental literacy, The Weather Channel invites
high school students to enter the running to participate in the second
annual Forecast Earth Summit, Dec. 5-7 in Washington, D.C.
Freshman, sophomores, and juniors of the 2008-09 school year are eligible
to submit a 200-word essay outlining what they are doing to address
climate change. Entry forms can be submitted online until Sunday, October
19, at the end of Earth Science Week.
Twenty students will be selected to take part in the three-day summit,
which will focus on promoting environmental literacy and in-depth engagement
with environmental leaders, enthusiasts, and scientists. To learn more,
visit http://www.forecastearthsummit.org.
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Post Photos Online
From Earth Science Week
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Want to see yourself and your students on the Earth Science Week website?
Simply send us your photos from past Earth Science Week celebrations
and activities, along with signed permission forms. We’ll post
selected images on the Earth Science Week Photo Gallery
(
http://www.earthsciweek.org/whatsgoingon/gallery/photos.html).
By submitting a photo, you agree to allow AGI to post the image on
the Earth Science Week website, without compensation unless prohibited.
All submissions and all rights of ownership in and to the images, including
all rights to use, reproduce, publish, modify, edit, and distribute
the same will become the exclusive property of AGI and will not be returned.
AGI reserves the right to edit, modify, adapt, copyright, publish, use,
and reproduce any and all entries without further compensation.
You can snap shots with your digital camera or cell phone, or scan
regular photos for electronic transmission. JPEG files are preferred.
Download permission forms at
http://www.earthsciweek.org/whatsgoingon/gallery/ESWPhotoPermissionForm.pdf
and send your photos to info@earthsciweek.org. See you online!
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View ‘Why Earth Science’
Online With Your Students
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AGI’s “Why Earth Science” video is now available for
free viewing online on YouTube. For an exciting introduction to the
geosciences, you can’t do better than this six-and-a-half minute
clip, featuring eye-popping cinematography and computer-animation highlights
from AGI’s “Faces of Earth” mini-series, which aired
last year on The Science Channel.
The video, an alternate version of which recently won a bronze Telly
Award, is ideal for illustrating the importance of Earth science to
not only students, but also education decisionmakers who may be weighing
the subject’s place in the local curriculum. To view the clip,
go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxbIJH4fTYo.
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The American Geosciences Institute is a nonprofit federation of 44 geoscientific
and professional associations that represents more than 120,000 geologists,
geophysicists, and other earth scientists. Founded in 1948, AGI provides
information services to geoscientists, serves as a voice of shared interests
in the profession, plays a major role in strengthening geoscience education,
and strives to increase public awareness of the vital role the geosciences
play in society's use of resources and interaction with the environment.
For contact information, please visit
http://www.earthsciweek.org/contactus/index.html.
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