NAGTNews - Vol 16 - No 1 - January 2017

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In this issue:
  1. Time to Renew Your Membership for 2017
  2. NAGT Seeking Editor for Journal of Geoscience Education
  3. Upcoming NAGT Award Deadlines
  4. Next NGSS Webinar - January 12, 2017
  5. Workshop for Early Career Faculty
  6. InTeGrate Announces New Teaching Modules
  7. Special Call for InTeGrate-Themed Traveling Workshop Program
  8. NCSE Opportunity for Graduate Students to Work with Teachers and Students
  9. Opportunities for Educators at 2017 AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition

Rock and Mineral Exchange

Community Advertisements

  • Geology instructor, Santa Barbara City College
  • Lecturer-School of Earth Sciences & Environmental Sustainability - Northern Arizona University
  • Tenure Track Assistant Professor in Earth Science - St. Olaf College
  • Assistant Professor in Sedimentology & Stratigraphy - Montana State University
  • Assistant Professor Igneous or Metamorphic Petrology - Montana State University Bozeman

1. Time to Renew Your Membership for 2017

2016 was an incredible year for NAGT. We are deeply thankful for everyone whose commitment to geoscience education leads them to become a member and support what we do. If you haven't renewed your membership for 2017, there is still time. Renew today at http://nagt.org/nagt/membership/index.html so that you don't miss the January issue of In the Trenches!

Remember that you can sign up for automatic renewals or multi-year memberships if you want to make it easy to continue to receive the benefits of membership without having to worry about letting them lapse.

2. NAGT Seeking Editor for Journal of Geoscience Education

NAGT is seeking a new Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Geoscience Education (JGE). After six years of exemplary service, JGE Editor Kristen St. John announced this spring that she would step down in late 2017. Anne Egger, President of NAGT, will lead the search committee.

In overseeing the journal, the Editor-in-Chief is responsible for its ability to support robust geoscience education research and its use in all aspects of teaching and learning about the Earth. The Editor takes the lead on maintaining a high-quality peer reviewed publication that responds to the needs and interests of NAGT, the geoscience education research communities, and the dynamic landscape of scientific publishing and communications. We seek an editor who will work with us to increase the impact, stature, influence, reach, and visibility of the journal.

The deadline for expressing interest in the position is March 1, 2017. For more information visit: http://nagt.org/nagt/jge/jge_editor_search

3. Upcoming NAGT Award Deadlines

Scholarships for Field Study - Deadline February 14

Each year, NAGT makes several $750 awards to undergraduate students to facilitate their study of field geoscience. These awards, previously given to students who attend a traditional summer field camp, are now available for students attending field-based courses at any time of year. The intent of the awards is to support students' participation in intensive field courses in any aspect of geoscience (including geophysics, soil science, hydrology, etc.) that focuses on students practicing skills of field observation, data collection, analysis and synthesis. Awardees are selected based on the importance of the field experience in meeting their educational and career goals, the quality of the field aspects of the course, and the importance of the financial award in allowing them to participate in the program. In addition, the committee endeavors to select awardees that expand the diversity of people studying geosciences in the field and a collaboration with the Association for Women Geoscientists (AWG) funds two additional awards specifically for women.

Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Awards

Outstanding Earth Science Teacher (OEST) awards are given for "exceptional contributions to the stimulation of interest in the Earth Sciences at the pre-college level." Any teacher or other K-12 educator who covers a significant amount of earth science content with their students is eligible. Ten national finalists are selected, one from each NAGT regional section. Some sections also recognize state winners. Individuals may apply themselves or nominate a colleague for the award.

The selection of award winners is conducted at the Section level and each Section sets its own deadline for nomination. A listing of the deadlines and contact people for each Section is listed on the program website. The earliest Section deadline is March 31 for the Pacific Northwest Section with other sections following until the middle of May. So check out your Section's deadline and get your nominations in via the website.

4. Next NGSS Webinar - January 12, 2017

The American Geosciences Institute's Center for Geoscience and Society and the National Association of Geoscience Teachers are collaborating with other organizations and member societies to support implementation of the Earth and space science Next Generation Science Standards.

Join us for ​our first webinar for 2017!

​​Education for Sustainability with the Next Generation Science Standards​

Presenter​s​:

Dr. Kathryn Baldwin, Eastern Washington University
Dr. Eugene Cordero, San Jose State University
Ms. Jerri Birkofer, Stewards Creek High School
Dr. Ellen Metzger, San Jose State University

Thursday, ​January 12, 2017
1:00 PM Pacific | 2:00 PM Mountain | 3:00 PM Central | 4:00 PM Eastern

​Registration deadline: Tuesday, ​January 10

For more information, visit:​ http://nagt.org/nagt/profdev/workshops/ngss_summit/teach_sustainability/index.html​

5. Workshop for Early Career Faculty

Early Career Geoscience Faculty Workshop: Teaching, Research, and Managing Your Career

July 9-13, 2017 with optional trip to NSF on Friday, July 14
At University of Maryland, College Park, MD
http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/earlycareer2017/index.html

Application deadline: March 22, 2017

Do you have new faculty in your department just starting out in their academic career? Consider recommending this important multi-day workshop where they will participate in sessions on topics including effective teaching strategies, course design, establishing a research program in a new setting, working with research students, balancing professional and personal responsibilities, and time management. The workshop is offered by NAGT On the Cutting Edge professional development program for geoscience faculty with support from the National Science Foundation, Geological Society of America and American Geophysical Union. Past participants give high praise for this workshop.

"I've gained so much in terms of both concrete things to implement (lesson activities, strategic planning tools, etc.) and a holistic appreciation for this career. I can totally do this, and this workshop instilled that confidence."

"The workshop totally changed my view of teaching from teacher-oriented to student-oriented. It's no more what I want to teach but what students need to learn or take away from the course. This is the essential point that I will keep in mind when I design course goals, syllabi, in-class activities, assignments, and exams."

6. InTeGrate Announces New Teaching Modules

The Wicked Problem of Food Security

In The Wicked Problem of Food Security Students explore the very factors that cause food insecurity (including climate, socio-economic, and physical) through readings, lecture, case studies, and geospatial analysis using ArcGIS Online.

Developed by Rebecca Boger (CUNY Brooklyn College), Rusty Low (University of Nebraska at Lincoln), and Amy Potter (Armstrong State), this three-week module, takes an Earth systems approach to understanding and addressing world food insecurity issues, and explore how social, economic, and political factors impact decision-making and can improve or compromise the biogeochemical interactions provided by the Earth system as they pertain to food production. The Wicked Problem of Food Security is a great fit for courses in environmental science, sociology, geology, natural resources, Earth science, and global change.

Coastal Processes, Hazards and Society

In Coastal Processes, Hazards and Society students analyze real data sets and applying critical thinking and problem-solving skills to real-world coastal issues that affect human populations

Developed by Sean Cornell (Shippensburg University), Ioannis Georgiou (University of New Orleans), Mark Kulp (University of New Orleans), Dinah Maygarden (University of New Orleans), and Brent Yarnal (Pennsylvania State University), this 12 week, blended and online course will provide students with a global perspective of coastal landscapes, the processes responsible for their formation, diversity, and change over time, as well as societal responses to current changes in the coastal zones around the world. Overall, Coastal Processes, Hazards and Society is intended to be used as a stand-alone blended or online general education or introductory-level course that would satisfy a science distribution requirement. The course would be appropriate for non-majors and undeclared students looking for a major.

7. Special Call for InTeGrate-Themed Traveling Workshop Program

Is your department overhauling its curriculum? Have new faculty in your department? Is your department involved in strategic planning? Facing changing enrollment or striving to increase diversity? Want to increase the emphasis on teaching science in the context of societal issues?

The InTeGrate Project and NAGT invite you to improve learning about the Earth in your courses, programs, and departments through our Traveling Workshops Program (TWP). The TWP brings national leaders in Earth and environmental education to your campus or region to share lessons learned in NSF-funded InTeGrate Project.

This program is suitable for all courses, departments, and programs that would like to strengthen their capacity for teaching about societal issues in context of the Earth system. Apply to host a 1-2 day workshop that will engage participants in deep, structured discussion and action planning. These workshops can be tailored to have a special emphasis on issues of particular interest to your group such as strengthening course offerings, strategies for supporting diverse students in courses or programs, or program design.

Application deadline: January 31, 2017

For more information, visit the special InTeGrate TWP Program Announcement.

8. NCSE Opportunity for Graduate Students to Work with Teachers and Students

The National Center for Science Education (NCSE) seeks early-career scientists to join us and help stand up for quality science education. NCSE is offering a free one-year membership to graduate students and an opportunity to work directly with U.S. classroom teachers through its Scientist in the Classroom program. NCSE currently has over 450 teacher applicants who are interested in having a scientist visit their classroom to help teach evolution and climate change and to give students a chance to meet and talk to a real scientist. This is a great opportunity to gain outreach experience and see firsthand the challenges faced by science teachers when they teach these often polarizing topics.

Graduate students would visit classrooms twice, the first time to introduce themselves and let the students ask questions about what it's like to be a scientist, and the second time to help the teacher with a hands-on activity related to evolution or climate change.

NCSE is a nationally recognized voice for the integrity of science education that provides direct help to teachers, organizes local communities to support science education, and works with grassroots activists to block efforts to politicize science education. With its member support, NCSE stands up for the integrity of the science classroom, and for science itself.

Sign up today at https://ncse.com/scientistinclassroom.

9. Opportunities for Educators at 2017 AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition

The American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) is is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2017! Join the celebration at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas, April 1-4, 2017.

Middle-school, high-school, and community college instructors who are teaching Earth science and related topics are invited to participate in the Earth Science Educator Program. Through a generous grant from the AAPG Foundation, numerous opportunities are available:

Field Trips (Saturday, April 1, 2017) Lunch and field guide provided.

Educator Symposium (Sunday, April 2, 2017)

Participate in a suite of concurrent technical sessions and hands-on workshops, designed specifically for Earth Science Educators. Lunch and resources provided.

AAPG Convention and Exhibition (ACE) (Monday and Tuesday, April 3 and 4, 2017)

Explore exhibit hall booths and see the latest in petroleum industry information and technology. Interact with representatives from industry, organizations, and universities either informally or more in depth with a Meeting Partner. View posters and/or attend meeting sessions to listen to 15-minute technical presentations on cutting-edge industry topics for professional audiences.

Tour the Geology and Architecture of Houston's Downtown Buildings with geoscience professionals.

Stipends and AAPG Convention and Exhibition Registration are available for a limited number of participants.
Receive Professional Development and Gifted and Talented credit hours.

Details: http://ace.aapg.org/2017/networking-and-events/aapg-earth-science-educator-program

Registration: https://fs3.formsite.com/AAPGevents/form91/index.html?1481578663623


Rock and Mineral Exchange

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Desired Specimens

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Post in the Rock and Mineral Exchange.


Community Advertisements

Geology instructor, Santa Barbara City College
Posted: Dec 9 2016
SBCC is a nationally recognized community college with an uncommonly robust geology program. We seek a replacement for a retiring geology faculty member who teaches historical geology and co-leads some of our field courses.

Lecturer-School of Earth Sciences & Environmental Sustainability - Northern Arizona University
Posted: Nov 30 2016
Northern Arizona University's School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability is currently seeking is seeking a full time, non-tenure track Lecturer

Tenure Track Assistant Professor in Earth Science - St. Olaf College
Posted: Oct 20 2016
The Department of Physics and Department of Environmental Studies at St. Olaf College invite applications for jointly-appointed tenure track position in Earth Science at the assistant professor level, to begin on Aug. 15, 2017. We are particularly interested in applicants who will contribute to the departments' commitment to increasing access and opportunities for populations which are currently under-represented in areas such as Physics, Earth Science, and Environmental Studies.

Assistant Professor in Sedimentology & Stratigraphy - Montana State University
Posted: Sep 19 2016
The Department of Earth Sciences at Montana State University invites applications for the position of Assistant Professor in Sedimentology/Stratigraphy. We seek an active teacher and researcher in the broad are of sedimentology who can contribute to our geoscience program inareas of sedimentary systems, basin analysis, or tectonostratigraphy.

Assistant Professor Igneous or Metamorphic Petrology - Montana State University Bozeman
Posted: Sep 15 2016
The Department of Earth Sciences at Montana State University invites applications for the position of Assistant Professor in Igneous or Metamorphic Processes. We seek an active teacher and researcher in the one of the areas of igneous or metamorphic petrology with a strength in field-based petrologic research.

Need help getting the word out about your position opening, event, or field trip? Advertise with NAGT!