Bethany Holm Adamec

Sessions Focus on Diversity

Education and outreach play a significant role in AGUs mission; one of our major strategic goals is developing and nurturing the next generation of Earth and space scientists. Particular emphasis is placed on exploring ways to strengthen the numbers and diversity of the Earth and space science workforce and helping to strengthen Earth and space science departments and undergraduate teaching at the college and university levels.

AGU Opens Its Doors, Shares Science With the Public

Imagine the United States without Los Angeles. That was the unnerving hypothetical posed by Lucile Jones to an audience of more than 100 people at AGUs annual public lecture on the opening day of the 2013 Fall Meeting. As the science advisor for risk reduction with the U.S. Geological Survey, Jones is a familiar face to many Californians—she is often interviewed in the wake of the states frequent earthquakes. In her lecture, Jones explained that there is a high likelihood that a major quake will hit the Los Angeles region.

Third Annual AGU Take Your Child to Work Day: Explorations in Earth and Space Science

The third annual Take Your Child to Work Day was held 25 April 2013 at AGU headquarters. Nearly 25 children, grandchildren, and nieces and nephews of AGU staff members participated in the daylong activities.

Scientists and Education/Outreach Professionals Invited to Present at Exploration Station

The AGU Education department is getting ready for another Exploration Station in San Francisco as part of the annual Fall Meeting. Registration for presenters is now open; we invite members to consider becoming a part of this event.

Lucile Jones to Deliver Public Lecture at 2013 Fall Meeting

Lucile Jones, science advisor for risk reduction with the U.S. Geological Survey, will deliver the annual public lecture at the 2013 AGU Fall Meeting. A familiar face to many in California, Jones is frequently interviewed on television after major earthquakes in the southern part of the state. Her work, which has resulted in more than 90 publications on research seismology, focuses on foreshocks and earthquake physics. Her current Multi-Hazards Demonstration Project aims to demonstrate to the public how science can improve societys resiliency to earthquakes.

New Educational Video Series From AGU

A new video series entitled Live Education Activity Resource Network (LEARN) With AGU was recently launched. This series of short Earth and space science–related videos is designed to give K–12 formal and informal educators the tools they need to try new hands-on activities with their students. Research indicates that hands-on learning and problem solving are important ways for students to learn, but educators do not always know where to begin or think that they need a lot of materials to do a hands-on activity (which often is not the case).

Public events at Fall Meeting 2012

Three much-anticipated events at Fall Meeting are AGUs family science programs, which take place the Sunday before Fall Meeting begins. Beginning at noon on 2 December, the public lecture will be given by Michael Meyer, John Grotzinger, and Rebecca Williams. These three NASA scientists are working with the rover Curiosity, which is currently exploring Mars. They will engage the public in a discussion of Mars exploration and the latest activities of the most sophisticated explorer ever sent to another planet. The panelists will discuss the hopes and excitement of exploring Mars through a robots eyes, nose, taste, and touch.

Second annual AGU Take Your Child to Work Day

The second annual Take Your Child to Work Day was held 26 April at AGU headquarters. Nearly 25 children, grandchildren, and nieces and nephews of AGU staff members participated in the daylong activities. Jill Treby, assistant director of member services, began the day by welcoming the children and telling them about what many AGU Earth and space scientists do. AGU blogger Callan Bentley and his Northern Virginia Community College colleagues provided mineral samples and an ultraviolet light; these allowed AGU staff to demonstrate fluorescence in minerals from Franklin, N. J., and other localities.

U.S. National Science Foundation seeks comments on restructure of geoscience education programs

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Geosciences (GEO) is an important source of funding for geoscience education and research in the United States. The directorates programs have focused on broadening participation, geoscience education research, adoption of best practices in teaching, and other issues. Recently, the directorate issued a “Dear Colleague” letter about restructuring its geoscience education programs. Three programs are being changed: GEO-Teach (a program that aimed to improve the quality of geoscience instruction, primarily at middle and high school levels) is being retired, GeoEd (a program that seeks to increase public understanding of Earth system science) is undergoing review and restructuring, and Opportunities for Enhancing Diversity in the Geosciences (OEDG, a program aimed at enhancing minority representation) is also undergoing review and restructuring. Comments concerning the OEDG program, in particular, are being requested by NSF.

Discovering Earth and space: Family fun at Exploration Station

The 2011 Fall Meeting started off with a bang (or at least a homemade construction paper rocket) at Exploration Station, a science exhibition geared toward children and families. This annual event, held on Sunday, 4 December, last year, featured members of the various AGU sections and focus groups who led interactive demonstrations on topics spanning the deep Earth to distant stars. The event was 4 hours long, free, and open to the public. Visitors made their way through 25 exhibits that offered a variety of easy, family friendly, and hands-on activities. Equally important, they had an opportunity to interact one-on-one with scientists and education specialists.