Alaska Science Consortium

2010

Opportunity #1
Classroom Herb Garden Grant
http://herbsociety.org/resources/samull-grant.html

Four classrooms will be selected by The Herb Society of America to receive $200 to establish an outdoor herb garden. The funds may be used for soil, plant trays, containers, youth-sized tools, and more. Eligible recipients include teachers of grades 3-6 who have at least 15 students in their class. The deadline to apply is September 1, 2010.

Opportunity #2
Call for High School Teachers and Their Student Teams to Compete in the Real World Design Challenge

High school teachers with an interest in engaging grades 9–12 students might consider an annual competition called the Real World Design Challenge. This is an opportunity for students to apply classroom lessons to real-life technical problems. In support of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), the Challenge asks student teams to develop solutions to address a leading industry problem. This year, the 2010–2011 Challenge focuses on fuel efficiency in aviation. Student teams compete on a state level and winning state teams will advance to compete nationally.

Teacher/coaches who lead their teams and professional scientists, engineers, and mathematicians who volunteer as mentors are an integral part of the Challenge. Sponsors will donate $1 million in professional engineering software to teacher/coaches and provide training so they can better utilize and apply the tools to teach design and global engineering. Mentors provide guidance to students and support teachers with content knowledge and experiences that can supplement the teacher’s expertise. Top national winners will receive outstanding prizes, awards, and recognition from leaders in government, industry, and higher education. Registration for the free competition is open. Visit www.realworlddesignchallenge.org for details.

Opportunity #3
Final Flight of the Space Shuttle: A Remarkable Grade 5-12 Opportunity
for Student Experiments
http://ncesse.org/2010/06/ssep/

In June The National Center for Earth and Space Science Education (NCESSE) launched the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP), a historic opportunity for students to propose experiments for the final scheduled flight of the Space Shuttle, STS-134.

The Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP) provides middle and high school classes across the U.S. the ability to propose experiments to fly in low Earth orbit, and to celebrate that accomplishment with their local community and with national and global audiences. Entire school districts can participate, with student teams proposing experiments like professional scientists and engineers.

Phase 1 of the program is a unique and historic opportunity to propose an experiment to fly aboard STS-134, the final scheduled flight of the Space Shuttle. Selected student experiments would fly for 10 days aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour. Launch is tentatively scheduled for November 2010, but a launch slip to mid-January is expected, enabling this student spaceflight experiments opportunity.

We want the final voyage of the Space Shuttle to also mark a new beginning for private sector sponsored student experiments in space, which organizations on the SSEP Team have pioneered. The flight of Endeavour will be used as a gateway to Phase 2 of the SSEP — sustainable, ongoing access to space for grade 5-12 students inspired to propose experiments for low Earth orbit aboard the International Space Station (with transport via the Russian Progress and Soyuz vehicles), and on suborbital space flights.

SSEP is undertaken by the National Center for Earth and Space Science
Education (NCESSE), in partnership with American Aerospace Advisors Inc.
(AAAI).

For more information or to set up a telecon contact:
Dr. Jeff Goldstein, Center Director
National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
301-395-077   jeffgoldstein@ncesse.org

Opportunity #4
Register Now for Fall Online Courses from the American Museum of Natural History

Seminars on Science connects classroom teachers with scientists engaged in current, real-world research. Each course is authored by leading scientists in their fields and is then co-taught by an experienced researcher affiliated with AMNH. Courses include Earth: Inside and Out; Space, Time & Motion; The Ocean System; Genetics, Genomics, Genethics; Evolution; and more.

All courses run for six weeks and are fully online. Each participant receives a CD of course resources suitable for classroom use. Affordable graduate credit is available for all courses (see website for details).

Please see the website for the full course listing. Free sample resources for each course—including essays, videos and interactive simulations—are available online. Fall Sessions run September 6 through October 12 AND October 25 through December 5. Registration closes August 27. Register early for a $50 discount! For more information and to register, go to learn.amnh.org or call 800-649-6715.

Opportunity #5
Gr K-8: The Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge
http://siemens.discoveryeducation.com/

As you are planning for the next school year, please consider entering your students in this challenge opportunity! The Siemens Challenge offers a unique way for teams of students in K-2, 3-5, and/or 6-8 to create sustainable local solutions that can have global impact.

It’s the first and only national sustainability education initiative aligned to national standards and classroom objectives. Other unique features include:

Applications are being accepted for the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge from August 17, 2010 through March 15, 2011.

Opportunity #6
International Youth Art Competition Accepting Submissions
Submissions must be received by Sept. 30, 2010

In April 2011, experts from around the world will gather in Houston for the International Academy of Astronautics Humans in Space Symposium. As part of this event, students ages 10-17 are invited to express their ideas about the future of human space exploration through visual, literary, musical or digital art. Artwork submissions will be judged on creativity, skill, and demonstration of meaning relevant to expressing “What is the future of human space exploration, and why is it important?” Bonus points will be awarded for artwork that does not break obvious scientific principles. Winning art will be displayed in an online gallery, and winners will be invited to attend the symposium in person.. For additional information visit: http://www.humansinspaceart.org

Opportunity #7
Grants from the Captain Planet Foundation
The Captain Planet Foundation, funds and supports hands-on environmental projects for children and youths ages 6-18. Its objective is to encourage innovative programs that empower children and youth around the world to work individually and collectively to solve environmental problems in their neighborhoods and communities. Grant amounts range from $250 to $2,500. Deadlines for submitting grant applications are September 30, and December 31. For more information, visit the Captain Planet Foundation website at: http://www.captainplanetfdn.org/grants.html <http://www.captainplanetfdn.org/grants.html>

Opportunity #8
Join educators and space enthusiasts around the world to celebrate World Space Week, Oct. 4-10, 2010. This international event commemorates the beginning of the Space Age with the launch of Sputnik 1 on Oct. 4, 1957.

World Space Week is the largest public space event in the world, with celebrations in more than 50 nations. Last year, President Obama joined the celebration by hosting a Star Party at the White House.

To find NASA educational resources that can be used during World Space Week, visit: http://search.nasa.gov/search/edFilterSearch.jsp?empty=true.

To learn more about World Space Week and search for events in your area visit: thttp://www.worldspaceweek.org/index.html.

Opportunity #9
2010 CASSINI SCIENTIST FOR A DAY ESSAY CONTEST FOR GRADES 5-12 (Entries due Oct. 27, 3:00 p.m. Eastern.)

The Cassini Scientist for a Day contest challenges students to become NASA scientists studying Saturn. Participants examine three target images taken by the Cassini spacecraft and choose the one they think will yield the best results. This choice must be supported in a 500-word essay. Teaming up is encouraged. Winners will participate in a teleconference with Cassini scientists.

The contest is open to all students in the U.S. in grades 5-12, working alone or in groups of up to four students. The essays will be divided into three groups: grades 5-6, 7-8 and 9-12. All submissions must be students’ original work. Each student can submit only one entry.

For more information, visit: http://saturn.jpl.nasa/gov/scientistforaday/. If you have questions about this contest, please e-mail your inquiries to scientistforaday@jpl.nasa.gov.

Opportunity #10
GRADES 6-16 EDUCATORS SOUGHT TO HELP SHAPE DIGITAL LIBRARY PROJECT ON CLIMATE LITERACY AND ENERGY AWARENESS

Through funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Climate Literacy & Energy Awareness Network (CLEAN) Pathway project is assembling, reviewing and annotating a substantial collection of online resources that will be aligned with science education benchmarks and standards.

An important part of this project is to identify the needs and "best practices" of educators related to climate science and energy topics. To do this, Inverness Research is assembling a consultant network of 100-200 teachers and college/university instructors of grades 6-16 to inform the project and gauge its reach and utility over time. Participants in this consultant network will be representative of teachers and instructors nationwide (by geographic location, subjects taught, experience level, etc.) who have an interest in teaching about climate science and energy awareness.

The study will last approximately three years. It will take one to two hours per year for an individual to participate in the consultant network: primarily in the form of completing a survey and/or participating in a short telephone interview.

Teachers and faculty who are selected to be in the consultant network will receive a total of $225 for their participation. All data collected from the network will be aggregated and the information will be used in such a way that the identity of the participants will be protected.

Applicants who meet the study criteria will be selected and sent a follow-up invitation to participate in the study as well as more information about the program.

To apply, complete the application form: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GWZYGQ3

Opportunity #11
eCYBERMISSION Competition
http://www.ecybermission.com

Sponsored by the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, students form teams of three to four students, from the same grade and region. Each team is led by one adult Team Advisor. The team identifies a problem in their community, and uses the scientific method to research, hypothesize, experiment, draw conclusions and then propose a solution to that problem.

The competition encourages and rewards students from a diverse range of proficiency levels, interests and backgrounds, while teaching students that team work, innovation, creativity and the real-life applications of STEM education can have a positive impact on their communities, and their future. Students on winning teams have the opportunity to win up to $8,000 in U.S. EE Savings Bonds.

Registration for the 2010-2011 eCYBERMISSION competition opened on August 1, 2010. Students and Team Advisors can register through our web site at www.ecybermission.com <http://www.ecybermission.com> . Upon registration, teams receive an eCYBERMISSION regional point of contact, who helps guide them through the registration process, the competition and ultimately, project submission.

Opportunity #12
New Survey Finds Parents Need Help Encouraging Their Kids in Science
A new survey announced recently by NSTA and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. found that the vast majority (94%) of science teachers wish their students' parents had more opportunities to engage in science with their children. However, more than half (53%) of parents of school-aged children admit that they could use more help to support their child's interest in science. The survey was conducted among a sample of 500 science teachers and 506 parents, including 406 parents of school-aged children.
Read more about the findings of the survey at:
http://www.nsta.org/about/pressroom.aspx?id=57403

Boehringer Ingelheim launched a new YouTube channel called FamilyScienceQuest. Families nationwide can take advantage of the information presented on this dedicated YouTube channel, featuring simple, fun science experiments that parents can conduct at home with their children—such as making colors explode in a puddle of milk, creating sidewalk chalk, and making a cloud. To access the video tutorials, visit this YouTube page at:
http://www.youtube.com/user/FamilyScienceQuest

Opportunity #13
From NSTA: Freebies ForThe Busy Science Teacher
http://www.nsta.org/publications/freebies.aspx

NSTA keeps a running list of hundreds of free resources, such as videos, publications, CD-ROMs, lab kits, and other opportunities for teachers. If you need some free materials or curriculum resources, and would like a list of helpful web sites (in addition to the Science Matters eBlasts, of course), then access this link anytime online! If you are an NSTA member, you would be able to use the handy pull-out center section of your copy of the NSTA Reports, which is sent to members 9 times throughout the year.

Opportunity #14
Free Science Poster

There is a free poster available from the State of Michigan on “Why Do I Need This Science Class?” It then goes into the strong science skills that are required for a job. IFor a copy visit: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/Science_Poster_317875_7.pdf

Opportunity #15
NASA Wants to Fly Your Face in Space
http://faceinspace.nasa.gov

NASA wants to put a picture of you on one of the two remaining space shuttle missions and launch it into orbit.
After registering at the Face in Space Web site, you’ll be able to upload an image that will be put on a disc and flown aboard a shuttle on a future mission. You’ll receive a confirmation number and information about which flight your “face” will be on. Then, after the launch, participants will be able to print a commemorative certificate signed by the mission commander. You can also check on mission status, view mission photographs, link to various NASA educational resources, and follow the commander and crew on Twitter or Facebook.