National Academies Gulf Research Program’s Empowering K–8 Youth Through Place-Based Education Funding Opportunity

Applications are open for a $5 million funding opportunity to support place-based learning efforts to increase the scientific and environmental literacy and problem-solving skills of children and youth in the Gulf of Mexico region. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Gulf Research Program will fund grants of $75,000 or more to support projects that engage children and youth in place-based educational activities that foster the development of the scientific and environmental skills, competencies, and capabilities that are critical to solving complex issues in the Gulf now and into the future. Nonprofit, state, and local entities, excluding federal agencies, that support educational, service, and/or coordination activities for children and youth in grades K–8 may apply. (Deadline April 10)

Funding Opportunity Q&A Office Hours will take place via Zoom on February 21 at 9–11 a.m. Central Time.

Learn more here: LINK

Whole Kids Garden Grant Program
The program provides a $3,000 monetary grant to support a new or existing edible educational garden located at either a K–12 school or a nonprofit organization (501(c)(3) in the United States or Registered Charity in Canada) that serves children in grades K–12. Applicants must 

• be a charter or public school (including tribally controlled and Bureau of Indian Education schools); nonprofit private school; a nonprofit organization or a tribal entity that serves children in the K–12 age range; or a government entity;

• regularly engage at least 10 children; 

• and be growing edible plants in the garden.

A Q&A webinar on the grant will be held on February 15 at 12 p.m. Eastern Time. Apply for the grant by March 1.

Charles Young and the Formation of National Parks

Who is Major Charles Young and what is his role in shaping the National Park Service? An activity shared in a post from the blog Teaching With the Library of Congress engages middle and high school students in examining three primary sources—an historical photograph, a congressional document, and a newspaper article—to explore the life of an individual who broke through barriers and experienced high levels of success through his own volition. The timeline of Young’s life spans The Civil War and Reconstruction Era, The Spanish-American War, and World War I, providing a rich context for consideration. The article includes links to the three primary sources as well as questions for teachers to ask students as they examine and reflect on each document, and concludes with a question for students to consider: What life advice do you think Charles Young would give you today? 

Learn more here: LINK

DIG Field School Teacher Summer Learning

K–12 teachers can get hands-on experience in paleontology, geology, and evolution by participating in active field research sites located in Montana or Arizona. The DIG Field School provides teachers with hands-on, immersive practice in STEM subjects, along with skills to engage their students in authentic scientific research. Investigate the rise of dinosaurs in Arizona or the extinction of dinosaurs and the rise of mammals in Montana, then take what you learn with you with a DIG Burke Box you can use in your classroom.

• DIG Field School Petrified Forest (DIG PEFO) will take place June 2–6 at Petrified Forest National Park in northeastern Arizona.

• DIG Field School Hell Creek (DIG Hell Creek) will take place July 21–25 at Hell Creek Recreation Area near Jordan, Montana.

Apply by February 15.

Learn more here: LINK

Google Summer of Code

Google Summer of Code (GSoC) is celebrating 20 years of bringing new contributors into open-source communities. GSoC is now open to students and to beginners in open-source software development (18 years and older in non-embargoed countries). Contributor applications will be accepted beginning on March 18. The global, online mentorship program is designed to engage contributors with open-source software communities. In the past 19 years, the program has had more than 20,000 participants from 116 countries. 

Participants are paired with a mentor to help introduce them to an open-source community and guide them with their projects. Project topics include AI/ML, Cloud, Operating Systems, Graphics, Medicine, Programming Languages, Robotics, Physics, Science, and Security. GSoC gives contributors invaluable real-world experience, helps them build their skills and resumes, and provides an opportunity to receive a stipend to contribute to open-source software.

GSoC will announce the accepted mentoring organizations on February 21, but interested students can start reaching out to previous mentoring organizations now. The earlier they contact the organizations and express their interest, the better their chances of getting accepted into the program. The application period will run from March 18 to April 2.

For more information, see Advice for Contributors for quick tips and the Contributor Guide for more details, and view the following videos.

• An introduction to Google Summer of Code

• The Community Talks series

• GSoC Org Highlight videos of projects that GSoC contributors have worked on in the past.  

Learn more here: LINK

International Day of Women and Girls in Science Event

University Health Network’s Krembil Research Institute (the research arm of Canada’s Toronto Western Hospital, advancing brain, arthritis, and vision science) will host a virtual event on February 9 at 10–11 a.m. Eastern Time in support of International Day of Women and Girls in Science. This free public education outreach event is geared to students of all backgrounds and affiliations in middle school, high school, and early university.

The event will feature talks presented by three highly accomplished female scientists and clinicians. Drs. Nardin Samuel (Krembil Brain Institute), Tina Felfeli (Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute) and Nikita Looby (Schroeder Arthritis Institute) will each give short TED-talk–style, student-friendly presentations on their current research, as well as what inspired them to enter the fields of brain, vision, and arthritis research. After the presentations, Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa, physician, poet, and advocate for underrepresented populations, will moderate a panel discussion, answering questions sent in advance by students.

Advance registration is required. After registering, educators can submit questions on behalf of their students for the scientists to answer (i.e., questions about what it’s like to be a scientist or about the scientists’ specific area of research). All registrants will receive a recording of the event. Watch a preview video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaE8sKLI4rk.

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 now accepting applications for reviewers for reviews of K-12 science instructional materials starting in April 2023. Apply now to engage in deep professional learning on the Next Generation Science Standards with a national network of skilled educators.
Learn more about EdReports here and apply to become a reviewer here. 

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 wind turbines and then competing against other teams in their age division (4th-8th or 9th-12th).  Check out the flyer for the event and watch our 3-minute overview video to see what the competition is like.

Sign up for one of our upcoming events and check out the additional resources we've put together. If you have any questions or want to talk more about this, please reach out to us at ksenergyprog@ksu.edu.

This 14-month series for science and math educators focuses on heliophysics topics with related math problems at three levels: elementary, middle, and high school. It is sponsored by NASA's Heliophysics Education Activation Team. Webinars will be one hour followed by a Q&A period beginning 7 pm ET

See each month’s folder for slide decks, recordings, and additional resources

Upcoming Webinars - 

2/20/24 Fashion, Color, and Light 

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4w9xTzxHTO-fcOMJpSjWvA

3/19/24       Experiencing the Sun

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82743230881  

4/16/24       Total Solar Eclipse

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_MJt-5gG-S-SskTPmYFb25g

5/21/24       Visual Art

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XqFErgloQECPkTn_uNEreA

6/18/24       Performance Art

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Z4QRFZM2SCSX2QmPC7DMWg 

SEES High School Summer Intern Program

NASA and The University of Texas at Austin Center for Space Research Summer Intern Program is a nationally competitive STEM program for high school students. The program provides selected students with exposure to Earth and space research. Interns will learn how to interpret NASA satellite data while working with scientists and engineers in their chosen area of work. Scientists and Engineers at UT/CSR are conducting NASA supported research on astronomy, remote sensing, and space geodetic techniques to help understand Earth systems, natural hazards and climate science. Housing, meals, and local transportation will be provided for those selected. A limited number of travel scholarships to Texas are available.

Interns are selected on the basis of their academic records, written application that includes written essay questions, introduction video, letter of recommendation and interest in STEM. The deadline for submitting your application for the summer 2024 internship program is February 24, 2024.

For more information: https://www.csr.utexas.edu/sees-internship/

The PaRC SPAM program is investigating a multifaceted approach to increasing interest and aptitude in STEM disciplines among junior high school students. Through the program, 8th grade students will write programs using Scratch in order to conduct interdisciplinary scientific experiments via electronics devices controlled by an Arduino microcontroller. The curriculum will also be complemented by community partnerships in order to demonstrate the applicability of the concepts covered in communities and to relate those concepts to STEM careers. PaRC SPAM is looking to create partnerships with 8th grade science educators in schools in order to implement the curriculum in their classrooms and report on its efficacy. The program is anticipating funding via an NSF CSforAll grant, which would supply schools with all of the equipment, training and curriculum necessary for implementing the curriculum in their classrooms. 

For more information on the PaRC SPAM program or to join the project, please contact: Dr. Cherry Steffen Education Department Chair Washburn University cherry.steffen@washburn.edu 

Tell me more about the Smithsonian’s free science program for youth.

Food is one of the most important aspects of our lives—from farm to table. As part of the Network for Emergent Socio-Scientific Thinking (NESST), the Smithsonian Science Education Center is assembling a group of students ages 14-19 to participate in a collaborative action research program on the topic of Food! How do we ensure good nutrition for all? Through this virtual program, young people will meet weekly to explore how the topic relates to them and their community, engage with experts in the field, and eventually form research teams to produce an action project that will be showcased at a final session in May 2024. As part of this showcase session, participating students will have the opportunity to share their work with experts in the field, as well as gather meaningful feedback and support from educators, Smithsonian staff, and their peers. We'd love for you to share this information with any students you think may be interested. 

Who can apply?    

• We are looking for high school or secondary school students who are dedicated to investigating local and global issues through a lens of science, who are motivated to take action, and who are willing to represent their communities in a global forum. We are seeking:     

• High school/secondary students ages 14-19 who represent communities around the world.      

• Participants must be proficient in both written and spoken English.      

• Individuals who can commit to participating for 3 months from program start date (From February 13, 2024 – May 7, 2024), and who can attend the final showcase session virtually at the end of May 2024.   

• Individuals who can dedicate roughly 2-3 hours per week to this project. All whole group meetings will take place via Zoom every Tuesday from either 9-10am Eastern or 7-8pm Eastern starting on February 13, and all content and tasks will be hosted on Moodle. You may attend whichever session works best for your time zone. If you are not able to attend either session due to time zones, we can discuss accommodation or asynchronous options.     

How do you apply?     

By Wednesday, January 31, 2024, (late applications may still be considered) fill out the following form: https://forms.office.com/r/UNAvgyTpGy  

Complete the Permission and Release Form and return to Alexa Mogck at MogckA@si.edu.    

What are some benefits of participating?       

• The opportunity to network with professionals in many fields, and gain additional knowledge about science, sustainability, and social issues.      

• A certificate acknowledging your participation, your name listed on the Smithsonian Science Education Center website, and your videos hosted and amplified on the SSEC website.   

• The opportunity to engage and collaborate with other youth from around the world and to bring new ways of thinking and acting for a better future to your own community. In reflecting with last year’s 2023 Sustainable Communities Collaborative Action Research Project cohort, one participant commented, “I liked how my team and the participants of the program came from different communities and cultures all around the world, but everyone was focused on one goal: making a change no matter how small.”  

What are some examples of student action projects?

• Student action projects from 2023 were highlighted at the Nobel Prize Summit at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine and at COP28.

• Learn more about last year’s project focused on Sustainable Communities here. 

Who can I contact for questions:

For additional questions, contact Alexa Mogck at Mogcka@si.edu.  

We invite you to apply for the 10th year of the Society for Science Advocate Program, which provides a $3,000 stipend and training to an individual (teacher, scientist, counselor, or mentor) who agrees to serve as an advocate for a minimum of 3 additional students from traditionally underrepresented groups to transition them from conducting scientific or engineering research (science fair-type) projects to completing applications to STEM research competitions. There are four different types of Advocates, which allow both beginners and more advanced applicants to further expand their capabilities to support student research competition participation. 

Many students doing science research are not aware of the myriad of opportunities that are attainable by submitting their work to competitions. Just completing the rigorous application process can inspire confidence in their scientific abilities and lead them to consider a STEM career. Many competitions provide monetary awards for post-secondary education and can boost a student's chance of acceptance into the college or university of their choice. Too few students from traditionally underrepresented groups are presented with these opportunities and often lack the know-how to successfully enter. 

For eligibility information and to apply for the Advocate Program, click here. Advocates must already have a formal role with students completing research projects. This program is sponsored by Arconic Foundation, Intel, the Central Intelligence Agency, Battelle, and Regeneron. 

Application Deadline:  March 3, 2024 

To learn more visit: (LINK)

Please send any questions to advocates@societyforscience.org. 

Fort Hays State University is excited to offer a Noyce Post-Bac program and a Praxis Plus course. This program is designed for individuals who have obtained or will obtain a bachelor’s degree in science by the summer of 2024 and are considering a teaching career. Individuals selected will receive a $22,685 stipend to complete coursework in a post-baccalaureate program leading to a full teaching licensure. The curriculum will be delivered completely online. They will also be required to complete two years of teaching in a rural school district. If interested, please reach out to Imelda Koenke, (785)628-4144, I_koenke@fhsu.ed