POLES APART is a unique multimedia celebration of the broad spectrum of scientific and human endeavors associated with International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-08. Through compelling story, stunning photography and an original score, this 20-25min digital photo exhibition will profile the impressive science work completed through the IPY and the contributions of this work to global awareness and action on climate change. The artistic and engaging presentation includes a distinguishing emphasis on the bridge between science and society, on the essential contribution of science to citizen participation in global affairs, and on the array of citizen responses to what is the most globally significant issue of our generation.
The project was launched in Fall 2008, with contributions from 40+ organizations, and is now ready for full production. The aim is to produce the exhibition in Fall 2009, with a world premiere at COP15 climate negotiations in Copenhagen. The exhibition will then feature at science, cultural and educational institutions worldwide in 2010-12.
The POLES APART project team are inviting venue partners to join the project. Venue partners will contribute to the production budget and gain guaranteed access to this flexible, widely appealing, globally unique and low cost exhibition on polar science and citizenship. Importantly, collective contributions of venue partners will ensure that POLES APART is available for widespread dissemination in 2010, when climate change is high on the public agenda.
Please contact David Noble at noble@2degreesC.com or (519) 341-1720 for more information or to get involved. Visit www.2degreesc.com/page.php?id=91 to see a short POLES APART promotional video.
Climate Literacy: Essential Principles for Teachers is an online course that will serve educators who are seeking knowledge about scientific understandings of the Earth’s climate, historical climate change and recent climate change. Educators will explore pedagogical approaches to incorporating climate science and related topics into their classrooms and programs. The course will also explore the recently published guide, Climate Literacy: The Essential Principles of Climate Science by the US Climate Change Science Program, a well-vetted, authoritative overview of the basics of climate science.
Participants will engage in online discussions of readings, video lectures and other media as well as complete a final project applying their learning to their educational work. In the future, two additional one-credit courses will be offered which allow participants to delve more deeply into climate science and instructional opportunities.
The course is open to all educators (there is an 80% scholarship available to Colorado middle and high school teachers). If you are not an educator but still interested in participating in the course without credit as a pilot test participant, email Mark McCaffrey (mark.mccaffrey@colorado.edu) and you may be able to participate, since this course is a pilot project and the project designers are interested in soliciting as much feedback as possible. For more information, go to http://conted.colorado.edu/programs/sustainable-practices/additional-opportunities/climate-literacy-essential-principles-for-teachers/.
PolarTREC is an educational research experience, funded by the National Science Foundation and managed by the Arctic Research Consortium of the U.S., in which K-12 teachers participate in polar research, working closely with scientists as a pathway to improving science education.
The research team will be studying the foraging behavior of seabirds nesting in the Pribilof Islands. The team is conducting this research to determine how climate warming and sea ice retreat from the southern portions of the Bering Sea will impact seabird nesting success and population growth rates on these islands.
If you’d like to participate in PolarTREC, click on www.polartrec.com for more information.
On Thursday, March 26th, in celebration of Earth Hour 2009, Miami Science Museum partnered with the city of Miami and organizations like Miami Goin’ Green, to promote environmental awareness in our community. A collection of recycled paper dresses by Heinrich Rasch-Suarez was on display, and Historic Dance Floor performed live. The “Green Mayor,” Manny Diaz joined other local leaders, environmentalists, artists and socialites in this global initiative.
The “Green” Mayor Manny Diaz posed with some of the eco-friendly designs by Heinrich Rausch-Suarez. Photo courtesy of Miami Science Center.
As part of ASTC’s participation in the International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009), we are organizing an international live webcast devoted to space observation broadcasted from The Franklin Institute. The webcast will illustrate various ways of observing space, from naked eye observations and illustration of indigenous knowledge systems to a demonstration of the power and beauty of a ‘3D-virtual telescope,’ which will allow one to visualize and compare data from real telescopes in a 3-demensional environment. Active participation from MTN Science Center in Cape Town, South Africa will feature participation from 6-10 year old school children. The Armagh Planetarium in Ireland will examine the mechanisms of meteorite impacts in association with staff and students from two special needs schools. The Planetarium in Hamburg, Germany will illustrate how the world has changed because of Galileo’s discoveries and, lastly, the “Ellinogermaniki Agogi” school in Greece will demonstrate how the 1.2m robotic telescope at the observatory can be used for educational purposes and will give the opportunity for students to perform remote observations.
You can watch this event live on Thursday, April 2, 2009 beginning at 1:00pm EDT at www.100hoursofastronomy.org and click on the Ustream.tv link at the right.
The official opening of 100 Hours of Astronomy at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, PA begins at 11:00am EDT, that same day. The opening event includes a presentation of orginal telescopes used by Galileo and a tour of the exclusive exhibition created in Florance, Italy which opens at the Franklin Institute Saturday, April 4.
There is still time to participate in the webcast. For more information, contact Walter Staveloz at wstaveloz@astc.org.
Check out this month’s 10-minute podcast, The Lowdown on Climate Change where researcher Dr. Andy Monaghan from the National Center for Atmospheric Research gives a brief overview on climate change, recent effects of climate change in Antarctica and ways we can reduce our impact on climate. http://beyondpenguins.nsdl.org/podcast/index.php
The monthly podcast series developed for Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears has teaching tips, interviews with scientists and other ideas for bringing polar science into the classroom. Podcasts are produced in partnership with the National Science Digital Library (NSDL).
IGLO has added a link to Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears Podcasts to the IGLO Toolkit. Check it and other resources at http://atmospheres.gsfc.nasa.gov/iglo/.
Win a digital camera! During the week of Earth Day (April 22), U.S. students in grades 5-8 are invited to participate in the Institute of Global Strategies’s (IGES) national effort to capture our changing world. Anytime from April 22 - April 29, take a photograph of something that is changing in your local environment, write a short paragraph, and win a digital camera.
For submission instructions, entry form, and suggestions for using this activity in the classroom, please visit: www.strategies.org/EarthDayPhoto.
IGLO suggested a similar project and we are happy to see it implemented in another context. We urge our memebers to help organize this contest with their local schools and community organizations. Good Luck!
COSI, located in Columbus Ohio, will be holding Polar Adventure February 27th-March 1st to celebrate the conclusion of International Polar Year with special polar programming.By partnering with The Ohio State University Geology Department and Byrd Polar Research Center at Ohio State, COSI will be featuring the latest polar research in a fun and informative way.Guests will learn firsthand from scientist about ongoing research and see what tools scientists use to explore the harshest places on the planet.Guests will be able to will try on polar gear, climb in an Arctic Tent, see ice coring drill bits and casings and touch an actual ice core.Working sled dogs will be at COSI on Sunday March 1st to highlight the importance of dogs in the early years of polar exploration.Shackleton’s Antarctic Adventure will be shown on the Extreme Screen as well.COSI will also be featuring variety of special programming from the ASTC tool kit to teach about glaciers, icebergs, animal adaptations to life in the poles, and global warming.For more information go to www.cosi.org/visitors/calendar.
Photo: Child wearing polar gear. Courtesy COSI Columbus.
PBS, the Public Broadcasting Service, has contacted IGLO to promote a new website, The GREENS as a science resource for environmental educators. The site includes numerous activities for teachers as well as for young people. The GREENS Activity Guide, downloadable from the site, and also available in the IGLO Toolkit under the section of “Online Resources,” includes information for teachers to present to their students about global warming and the carbon footprint, as well as directions for a soda-bottle demonstration of the greenhouse effect.
Other features of the site include web-based flash animated episodes covering topics such as recycling, land-fills, waste reduction, and even how to donate hair. The site also offers such interactive activities as a carbon calculator, a movie quiz with questions of how environmental concepts are portrayed in popular Hollywood children’s films, and a blog where visitors can post their own comments and ideas. The GREENS project was conceived by WGBH, a public television channel in Boston.
Photo: The GREENS web site provides multimedia educational activities on the environment and global warming. Courtesy PBS
A new video produced by POLAR-PALOOZA uses rap music and popular music video techniques, combined with graphics of global warming and images of the Earth’s poles, to teach young people about man-made climate change. The video, “Take Aim at Climate Change,” can be seen online at www.takeaimatclimatechange.org as well as in the IGLO Toolkit under “Videos, Comics, and Podcasts.”
With lyrics by Ben Jackson and music by “Rhythm, Rhyme, and Results” featuring Tommy Boots and Jené, the video’s song and images call on audiences to “Adapt, Innovate, and Mitigate.” With its combination of pop and rap, the lyrics and images demonstrate how carbon dioxide emissions trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere. The music video also explains how the effects of climate change can be felt everywhere—not just at the Earth’s poles—but that the poles play a particularly important role in maintaining our planet’s fragile climate. “Take Aim at Climate Change,” encourages audiences that it is not too late to help our warming planet, but warns that everyone must make changes in their lives and also educate themselves on the issue.
POLAR-PALOOZA is a multimedia initiative supported by both the National Science Foundation and NASA. This international effort brings together polar scientists, educators, and those who live at the Earth’s poles to develop videos, audio podcasts, blogs, and other media resources to help people appreciate the beauty and culture of the polar regions while learning about polar science.
Photo: Satellite image of Alaskan glaciers featured in the POLAR-PALOOZA resource kit. Courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey
Update: Please note change in username below
IGLO, in collaboration with the World Ocean Network (WON), will be celebrating World Oceans Day (WOD) with a live webcast at 2:30pm EDT today featuring NOAA’s Dr. Chris Sabine speaking on “The Other Carbon Dioxide Problem: Ocean Acidification.”
Every year, World Oceans Day brings together more than 250 organizations spanning five continents and reaching more than 150 million visitors in museums and science centers, aquariums, educational charities, institutions and NGOs. Designated by the United Nations and supported by the World Ocean Network and The Ocean Project, World Oceans Day is a celebration designed to raise awareness about the importance of the ocean and the impact of our daily actions on the marine environment. This year’s theme is “One Ocean, One Climate, One Future.”
Dr. Sabine’s presentation on ocean acidification will address one of the most crucial issues linking oceans and climate. A live stream of his webcast will be available. Directions on how to view the webcast below. You may project this talk at your institution as part of WOD celebration and allow the audience to ask questions through an online chat box.
The webstream will be live at 2:15pm EDT. To access the webstream, go to http://codian.oar.net. Put 5147 into the conference ID field; choose your preferred stream rate and click “stream this conference.” This will launch the streaming browser. A chat box will appear as well, which will allow individuals at your institution to ask questions of the speaker.
Climate Change in the News
This project was partially supported by the National Science Foundation, Arctic Science Section, Office of Polar Program, NOAA Education Office, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
POLES APART is a unique multimedia celebration of the broad spectrum of scientific and human endeavors associated with International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-08. Through compelling story, stunning photography and an original score, this 20-25min digital photo exhibition will profile the impressive science work completed through the IPY and the contributions of this work to global awareness and action on climate change. The artistic and engaging presentation includes a distinguishing emphasis on the bridge between science and society, on the essential contribution of science to citizen participation in global affairs, and on the array of citizen responses to what is the most globally significant issue of our generation.
Climate Literacy: Essential Principles for Teachers is an online course that will serve educators who are seeking knowledge about scientific understandings of the Earth’s climate, historical climate change and recent climate change. Educators will explore pedagogical approaches to incorporating climate science and related topics into their classrooms and programs. The course will also explore the recently published guide, Climate Literacy: The Essential Principles of Climate Science by the US Climate Change Science Program, a well-vetted, authoritative overview of the basics of climate science.
PolarTREC is an educational research experience, funded by the National Science Foundation and managed by the Arctic Research Consortium of the U.S., in which K-12 teachers participate in polar research, working closely with scientists as a pathway to improving science education.
On Thursday, March 26th, in celebration of Earth Hour 2009, Miami Science Museum partnered with the city of Miami and organizations like Miami Goin’ Green, to promote environmental awareness in our community. A collection of recycled paper dresses by Heinrich Rasch-Suarez was on display, and Historic Dance Floor performed live. The “Green Mayor,” Manny Diaz joined other local leaders, environmentalists, artists and socialites in this global initiative.
As part of ASTC’s participation in the International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009), we are organizing an international live webcast devoted to space observation broadcasted from The Franklin Institute. The webcast will illustrate various ways of observing space, from naked eye observations and illustration of indigenous knowledge systems to a demonstration of the power and beauty of a ‘3D-virtual telescope,’ which will allow one to visualize and compare data from real telescopes in a 3-demensional environment. Active participation from MTN Science Center in Cape Town, South Africa will feature participation from 6-10 year old school children. The Armagh Planetarium in Ireland will examine the mechanisms of meteorite impacts in association with staff and students from two special needs schools. The Planetarium in Hamburg, Germany will illustrate how the world has changed because of Galileo’s discoveries and, lastly, the “Ellinogermaniki Agogi” school in Greece will demonstrate how the 1.2m robotic telescope at the observatory can be used for educational purposes and will give the opportunity for students to perform remote observations.
Check out this month’s 10-minute podcast, The Lowdown on Climate Change where researcher Dr. Andy Monaghan from the National Center for Atmospheric Research gives a brief overview on climate change, recent effects of climate change in Antarctica and ways we can reduce our impact on climate. 
Win a digital camera! During the week of Earth Day (April 22), U.S. students in grades 5-8 are invited to participate in the Institute of Global Strategies’s (IGES) national effort to capture our changing world. Anytime from April 22 - April 29, take a photograph of something that is changing in your local environment, write a short paragraph, and win a digital camera.
COSI, located in Columbus Ohio, will be holding Polar Adventure February 27th-March 1st to celebrate the conclusion of International Polar Year with special polar programming.
PBS, the Public Broadcasting Service, has contacted IGLO to promote a new website, 
A new video produced by POLAR-PALOOZA uses rap music and popular music video techniques, combined with graphics of global warming and images of the Earth’s poles, to teach young people about man-made climate change. The video, “Take Aim at Climate Change,” can be seen online at 
