CIRES and NOAA Partners in Education and Outreach

CIRES and NOAA: Partners in Education and Outreach Suzanne van Drunick and Susan Buhr CIRES (Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences) University of Colorado, Boulder http: //cires. colorado. edu/~k 12

Overview u u u What are CIRES’ strengths? How does NOAA benefit through existing activities? How could NOAA benefit from a strengthened education outreach partnership?

CIRES: NOAA/University of Colorado Research Institute ¿ ¿ ¿ u Oldest (40 yrs) Largest (550+) 6 div. 5+1 centers, EO, WWA, Data Mgmt, Inst. Shop, VF, IRP, GRA Broad research scope Antarctica, Arctic, Greenland, glaciology, ice sheets u global change, climate/weather, El Niño, ozone u atmospheric dynamics & chemistry u natural hazards - earthquakes, tsunamis u ecology u river soils, wetlands, ocean u Geology u remote sensing u water quality, water resources u science policy, technology policy u

Scope of CIRES Education Outreach Collaborate with CIRES researchers to extend expertise to meet education needs (CO, nationally). *Rigorous attention to science & inquiry-based teaching

CIRES EDUCATION OUTREACH ACTIVITIES -Professional development K-12 teachers & scientists -Support scientists proposal preparation & presentations -Videographer, Evaluation Services -Long-term partnerships with school districts -Informal education -Develop teaching materials -Projects: Classroom use of geoscience data, & developing digital resources -Respond to community requests for mentors, speakers, science support, info. , photos, panelists, etc. -Events: hosted NOSB, Ice Fest

Earthworks A 10 -year project of CIRES Outreach u u u Free 7 -day workshop for secondary-science teachers. Design and conduct an earth science study with help of Earthworks teachers and scientists. engaged in water resources Topics of K-12 relevance with research. feasible technology. Teachers learn through doing inquiry-based science (novel). Many teach disadvantaged students in urban envt. , English language learners, special ed. , etc. Provides a like-minded community for teachers who

The National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB®) CO competition 1 of the largest of 25 sites • NOAA scientists volunteer • Several states (CO, UT, WY, KS) • CORE and CIRES base funding CO team wins second place • 114 students + coaches in 2007 at Nationals nd rd th • CO teams have finished 2 , 3 and 5 nationally •

Re. Sci. PE: Resources for Scientists in Partnership with Education Professional development program for scientists to meet requirements by funding agencies to demonstrate ‘broader impacts’ of research. Scientists & Educators bring scientific research to the K-16 classroom. u 15 workshops for 360 scientists on “Scientific Inquiry in the u Classroom” (Inquiry teaching & learning; national standards for inquiry-based K-12 science education, hands-on examples for classrooms ) 2 workshops at NOAA, NOAA personnel at others u Results: - Statistically significant gains in knowledge of inquiry & belief in its effectiveness - Data on scientists’ needs, activities, barriers & rewards u

Math, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) u u After school program for students under-represented in science. NASA funded project to build instrument for Solar Dynamics satellite mission. NOAA Space Envt Center (SEC) collaborates & NOAA scientists contribute. Students study ionosphere activity related to solar weather, build antenna, contribute data to SOLAR project at Stanford. *CO MESA award of recognition u Gains in English, science, math, “How can I be a scientist like you? ” Question asked of Dr. Araujo-Pradere, CIRES/NOAA SEC

Current Societal Issues Outreach: NOAA projects or benefit u u u u Coral Reef Stakeholder workshops Drought Information Services CORE/NOAA + CIRES support of NOSB International Polar Year Teaching Controversial Subjects-Climate Literacy workshops-NOAA and NSF Space Weather-NASA and NOAA

Other CIRES Activities u u u CIRES technology transfer, environmental studies program, faculty teaching CIRES Center for Science and Technology Policy Research Center (CSTPR): Decision makers and students CIRES/NOAA Western Water Assessment: Resource managers

CSTPR OUTREACH CSTPR communicates its research to decision makers through: a dynamic, widely-read science policy weblog, a bi-monthly briefing about current activities, a quarterly newsletter; and workshops & lectures at CU-Boulder and beyond. CSTPR BRIEFING (2006) CSTPR Science Policy Weblog - Prometheus Forum for science policy community and public for news and commentary. Cited as one of the top 50 science blogs by Nature and an example of an “excellent, informative” blog by Science. Prometheus is ranked in the top. 02% of all weblogs by Technorati, one of the most recognized authorities on weblogs. http: //sciencepoli cy. colorado. edu/ prometheus Email briefing about CSTPR science policy work. Examples of recent Prometheus entries and publications. Distributed to over 3, 400 science and technology policy decision makers in Washington, D. C. , and around the world. Also posted on the Center’s website: http: //sciencepolicy. colorado. edu/outreach/cstpr_briefings. ht ml CSTPR NEWSLETTER Ogmius Each issue features an opinion by leading voice(s) in the science and technology policy field on important issues. Currently 195 subscribers. Available online: http: //sciencepolicy. colorado. edu/og mius/

The Western Water Assessment: Selected Outreach Activities The Intermountain West Climate Summary - Provides updated climate and hydrologic information to managers, planners, and policy makers with water-related interests. - Featured information: temp and precip outlooks, reservoir levels, water availability, ENSO status, etc. + 2 articles on new research or climate products - Issued monthly via email listserv to more than 275 stakeholders Paleo Climate Workshops for Water Managers - Provide water managers w/info. about how tree-ring data and streamflow reconstructions are generated, and how to incorporate such info. into water management modeling and planning. - 2005: Tucson 2006: Alamosa, Boulder, Tucson 2007: Boulder, CO Climate Presentations to Stakeholder Groups -Testimony - U. S. Senate Subcommittee on Water and Power, Impact of Climate Change on U. S. Water Resources, June 2007, Washington D. C - Water Challenges on the Colorado River: San Francisco Public Utilities Water Utility Climate Change Summit, January 2007, San Francisco, CA - Climate Change and Water Management, US Conference of Mayors, June 2006, Las Vegas, NV http: //wwa. colorado. edu

Benefits to NOAA u u u Agile, interdisciplinary response Expertise in air, water, oceans, climate (most Ph. Ds NOAA disciplines) Broad skill set (evaluation, comm. , educ. , digital resource development, videography) u u Success in scientist engagement Success (10 -yrs) in professional development Networks-local, regional, national Experience communicating sensitive societal issues Award-winning Earthworks teachers use lichens to study air quality

Toward a stronger outreach partnership u u u u Best if NOAA scientists perceive engagement as part of the job Provide support for NOAA scientists Earthworks, NOSB, Inquiry workshops, MESA modules Collaborate with NOAA Outreach personnel Provide professional development for scientists (presentations, education) Provide networks and contacts Videographer and evaluation support

Conclusion u u CIRES involves NOAA scientists in outreach now CIRES has broad expertise and skills Through CI, can move with agility and flexibility CIRES Outreach looks forward to next steps -how to proceed? “I learned how to think differently about my area of expertise…I gained many skills-public speaking, teaching, interpersonalall worthwhile for many occupations” [Graduate student on the benefits of outreach] “I enjoyed talking with school kids and teachers about science-it made my occupation seem more relevant” [Researcher]