NITARP for 2022 is now available! It's available at our website: (Link)

NITARP, the NASA/IPAC Teacher Archive Research Program, gets teachers involved in authentic astronomical research. We partner small groups of educators with a mentor professional astronomer for an original research project. The educators incorporate the experience into their classrooms and share their experience with other teachers. The program runs January through January. Applications for the 2022 class of educators are available now and due on Monday, September 13, 2021. The program is funded completely via NASA ADAP, and is contingent on the availability of funding.

Some things that make our program different from many (if not most) other astronomy programs for educators: (1) Each team does original research using real astronomical data, not canned labs or reproductions of previously done research; (2) Each team writes up the results of their research and presents it in a science poster session at an American Astronomical Society meeting (the AAS is the professional organization for astronomers in the US). The posters are distributed throughout the meeting, in amongst other researchers' work; the participants are not "given a free pass" because they are educators and students. Each team also presents the educational results of their experience in the program. (3) The program runs over 13 months, not just a few days or weeks. (4) Teachers are encouraged to involve their students from the beginning of the program.

Most of our educators are high school classroom educators, but 8th grade, community college, and informal educators have participated as well. The kinds of educators we are looking for are those who already know the basics of astronomy, and are interested in learning exactly how astronomy research is conducted. All educators must be US-based.

This program involves three trips — to an American Astronomical Society (AAS) meeting in January 2022, to Pasadena, CA in summer 2022, and to the AAS meeting in January 2023. The January 2021 meeting is in Salt Lake City, UT; the January 2022 meeting is in Seattle, WA.

While most of the work on these teams is done remotely using video conferencing and other online collaboration tools, the structure of the program heavily relies on three different face-to-face visits, necessarily requiring interstate travel and meeting in groups. If the January 2022 AAS meeting is held online because of the pandemic, we may not be able to have a NITARP class of 2022. We will monitor the situation closely and inform applicants of progress as decision points come up.

The application itself consists of short answers to a few questions. We release the questions in May so that you have time both to hear about the program and to get started writing; the website to which you need to upload your PDF answers will be available no later than early August. Please let us know if you wish to be explicitly notified via email when the site is open for submissions.

For more information, please see website ( Link ), or if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at our central email, nitarp@ipac.caltech.edu.

Direct link to the PDF application instructions is here: (Link)

EdReports is a non-profit organization with a mission to empower educators with independent, credible, evidence-rich information about instructional materials to ensure students have what they need to be college and career-ready. They are accepting applications for reviewers for inaugural high school science review beginning in early April 2022.

Who is EdReports looking for? EdReports is a by educator, for educator organization. Currently, classroom educators, district specialists, state specialists, non-formal educators, retired educators, and those pursuing advanced science education degrees participate in reviews. The profile of a science reviewer includes expertise in the Next Generation Science Standards and a commitment to quality instructional materials.

What can I expect if selected to be a reviewer? EdReports plans to review five biology NGSS programs in the inaugural review. If selected, you will sit on a team of five reviewers who will be examining one set of materials with the support of EdReports’ science team. Reviewers can expect the following:

• New teams will begin with an in-depth training in April

• Each reviewer spends about 5-10 hours per week throughout the process, including attending a one-hour virtual call with their team

• A second event may be scheduled approximately halfway through the review to continue calibration and to provide cross-review team support for the inaugural high school reviews

• Reviews are expected to be completed late 2022

• Reviewers receive a host of benefits including more than 25 hours of professional development, a stipend per series reviewed ranging from $1,750 - $2,500 depending on the role you play on a review team, opportunities to learn with national experts in the field, and much more.

How do I apply? Visit EdReports’ website to learn more about becoming a reviewer and complete an application or apply now [HERE]. Once you apply, an application task will be sent requesting demonstration of your NGSS knowledge. Following receipt of the application task, EdReports will schedule a 30-minute interview to learn more about you and share more about the upcoming review.

Teachers, even if you are too far to bring students on a field trip to Yellowstone, we can help you use the world’s first national park to bring science, math, and social studies to life!

Classrooms can connect with a Yellowstone National Park ranger to learn more about geology (geysers, hot springs, volcanoes), ecology (wildlife, predator/prey, fire, habitats, adaptations), or cultural history, and the National Park Service mission of preservation. Your class can learn about careers by interviewing a park ranger or solve a geography challenge to determine where the park ranger works by participating in a “Mystery” meeting. We work with teachers to offer a 20-40 minute live program that meets your needs.

If you have a group of ten or more youth and want to participate, you will need a computer, tablet, or device with webcam, internet connection, and access to a video conference platform.

To schedule a Yellowstone distance learning program, contact us with information about your group and a proposed date and time (converted to MOUNTAIN Time). MOUNTAIN Time is two hours behind Eastern, one hour behind Central, and one hour ahead of Pacific.

Yellowstone rangers have much to share with students around the U.S. and world and look forward to connecting with your class.

Learn more here: (Link)

• Feb 7 - Apr 15 eeDoubleCourse $100 ~ 1 graduate credit hour available (additional $85) ~ approximately 4 hrs per week ~ receive PLT, WILD, WET, WILD Aquatic, and either LEP or GUW & PLT Early Childhood

• Feb 7 - Apr 15 Kansas Green School Leader eeCredential $125 ~ 1 graduate credit hour available (additional $85) ~ receive PLT, WILD, WET, WILD Aquatic, and either LEP or GUW & PLT Early Childhood

• Feb 7 - Feb 25 Project Learning Tree & Project WILD eeCourse $50 ~ approximately 4 hrs per week~ receive PLT and WILD

• Feb 28 - Mar 28 Project WET & Project WILD Aquatic eeCourse $50 ~ approximately 3 hrs per week ~ receive WET and WILD Aquatic

• Mar 28 - Apr 15 Leopold Education Project eeCourse $50 ~ approximately 4 hrs per week ~ receive LEP

• Mar 28 - Apr 15 Growing Up WILD & PLT Early Childhood eeCourse $50 ~ approximately 4 hrs per week ~ receive GUW & PLT Early Childhood

Questions? Contact Ashlyn Kite-Hartwich at akite@kacee.org 785-889-4384

Click HERE to register and for more details on each eeCourse and eeCredential

The KidWind Challenge, which officially kicked off in 2009, is an annual event that allows students to explore the power of wind by building and testing their own wind turbines and then competing against other teams in their age division (4th-8th or 9th-12th). The top two winners in each age division from each of the regional challenges move on to compete at the statewide competition. Winning teams at the statewide KidWind Challenge are invited to the National KidWind Challenge. For 2022, there will be six regional challenges in Kansas, as listed below. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at ksenergyprog@ksu.edu.

South West Regional - Tuesday, March 1, 2022 - Dodge City, KS (Link)

North West Regional - Thursday, March 3, 2022 - Oakley, KS (Link)

North Central Regional - Wednesday, March 9, 2022 - Manhattan, KS (Link)

South East Regional - March 11, 2022 - Burlington, KS (Link)

Learn more at: https://kansasenergyprogram.org/kidwindchallenge

The National STEM Scholar Program is Seeking middle school science teachers who:

• enjoy the creativity in teaching

• are eager to share ideas with colleagues

• are excited about networking with peers from across the U.S.

• would like financial and academic support for great ideas

The National STEM Scholar Program works to inspire the creativity and passion of middle school science teachers, ten of whom will be selected for this prestigious program. The next set of Scholars will be hosted by The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science and The Center for Gifted Studies from May 29 - June 4, 2022 at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Scholars will engage in hands-on, minds-on science activities; connect with speakers and thought leaders in STEM education; learn with skilled science educators; and develop a creative Challenge Project for classroom implementation. Each Scholar will receive a Chromebook and funding for Challenge Project supplies and materials.

National STEM Scholars will share midpoint progress with their colleagues while attending the National Science Teachers Association annual meeting in April 2023. Mentoring will be provided throughout the year by Western Kentucky University faculty.

All expenses, including travel costs, materials, mentoring and Challenge Project supplies will be covered by a grant from the National Stem Cell Foundation.

If you have questions, please call 270-745-6323 or email gifted@wku.edu.

Learn more and apply at: wku.edu/gifted/nss

Are you looking for a great, relaxed way to present (in person or asynchronously)?

Share your activities, projects, best practices with other high school science teachers in Houston at the NSTA National Conference. The event is the High School Share-a-Thon on April 2nd 12:30 – 1:30 and presenters will share their awesome ideas in an informal setting as guests make their way around the room.

Not going to Houston. You can be a virtual presenter and do not need to be online during the event. Virtual presenters will be given a template to submit their presentation. These will be printed for guests to see at the Share-a-Thon.

Please fill out this form by March 15th. If your presentation is accepted one of the NSTA high school committee members will contact, you with more information.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask (bwalsh@edenpr.org).

The Prophet Aquatic Research and Outreach Center (PAROC) is built on the shores of ESU's King Lake. With three laboratories, a large flexible-use outreach classroom and live animal exhibits featuring aquatic species native to our region, this facility allows you to get hands-on research experience at the undergraduate level. In addition, the Neosho River and a variety of outdoor learning spaces can be easily accessed via the Dale Griener Nature Trail that winds through the ESU Campus Woods.

Learn more and apply at: https://www.esuvirtualtour.com/paroc

The Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) is the most prestigious youth award in the world for a water-related science project. The prize taps into the unlimited potential of today’s high school students as they seek to address our water challenges. The competition is open to any high school student in grades 9-12 who are 15 years of age by August 1st of the competition year. All research papers must be uploaded online no later than April 15th of each year to compete in their state’s competition. All state winners will receive an all-expenses paid trip to the SJWP National Competition. The national winner will receive $10,000 and an all-expenses paid trip to Stockholm, Sweden to participate in the SJWP International Competition

The U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition, which is celebrating its 25th year in 2022, is made possible through a collaborative effort between the Water Environment Federation and its local Member Associations (MAs) across the country. Each state competition is sponsored by an MA and has a designated state organizer. Each state identifies and sends a winner (or winning team) to the U.S. national competition which is currently held the second week of June at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Do you have a high school student that would like to participate in this competition and have a chance to win a trip to North Carolina next summer? Please have them contact Becky Lewis for paper ideas and more information. For more information about the Stockholm Junior Water Prize, go the website: http://www.wef.org/SJWP/ or contact Becky Lewis – 316-303-8702 or rlewis@wichita.gov.

6th-12th Grade Rural Educators

Check out this opportunity for your STEMM classes and students! Add to your STEMM curriculum by bringing a group of STEMM professionals out to your school or class to speak and interact with your students. They will get to listen to a “day in the life” of Science, Technology, Engineering, Math & Medical professionals, hear about their educational paths, get hands on with objects from those fields and be able to get individualized education/career advice from the speakers. Mentoring & job shadowing opportunities are also available through our group along with other STEMM resources.

This is a completely free resource provided by STEMM FIRE! STEMM FIRE is an organization made up of STEMM professionals from all over Kansas, volunteering their time to support and encourage rural and small town students. Special effort is made to highlight local STEMM job opportunities and encourage students to consider future work in rural areas. Please reach out with any questions or to see how your school or organization can get involved at director@stemmfire.org. Learn more at www.stemmfire.org.