July 31st, 2012 Bob
Request for Proposals -Released July 30, 2012
Proposals due September 1, 2012
The Environmental Education Association of New Mexico (EEANM) has been awarded a $150,000 grant by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental Education Small Grants program. In partnership with the other four EE associations in the Region 6 states, Texas Association for Environmental Education (TAEE), Oklahoma Association for Environmental Education (OKAEE), Louisiana Environmental Education Association (LEEA), Arkansas Environmental Education Association (AEEA), and the Albert I. Pierce Foundation (AIP Foundation), EEANM will award grants to organizations in TX, NM, OK, AR, and LA. The small grants will support the development and implementation of projects that advance regional environmental education priorities as defined by state environmental literacy plans and strategic plans, as well as the EPA’s own educational priorities.
The Small Grants:
- At least 19 competitive grants will be awarded.
- The maximum competitive grant award is $5,000. The EPA mandates that exactly $92,273.50 will be awarded per region which necessitates that some grants will be for less than $5,000.
- No entity may receive more than one award.
How to Apply:
Fill out the Attached Application and submit by email to info.eeanm.org@gmail.com.
Project period:
Funded projects will begin December 1, 2012 and must be completed by November 30, 2013.
Matching requirement:
At least 33% of the grant amount (or 25% of the total project cost) must be matched by non- Federal funds.
Process:
A Region 6 Small Grants Program Leadership Team, with at least two representatives from each of the five state associations, will over-see the program’s administration. The Leadership Team will determine awards, based on the assessments of proposals by a team of volunteer
reviewers from each state. An evaluation rubric is provided as an appendix to the application. Awardees will submit quarterly progress reports and will work with EEANM and the state associations to promote and disseminate the results of the projects. The Leadership Team will be available for technical assistance if the project encounters obstacles.
Schedule:
September 1, 2012 Proposal deadline.
October 25, 2012 Awards are announced.
November 30, 2012 Contracts are in place and projects may begin on December 1, 2012.
November 30, 2013 Projects are implemented and completed.
December 31, 2013 Final reports are due.
State Priorities:
Priority will be given to proposals that contribute to increased and sustained capacity to deliver effective environmental education. Proposals must also address specific state priorities that advance environmental literacy and other goals. Those priorities are derived from state Environmental Literacy Plans and state association strategic plans and are listed below:
Oklahoma
Oklahoma proposals should address the one of the following priorities of OKAEE:
1. Professional development opportunities for formal and non-formal educators
2. Student-led community projects
EPA Educational Priorities:
All small-grant projects must address at least one of the EPA’s educational priorities:
Capacity Building: Increasing capacity to develop and deliver coordinated environmental education programs across a state or across multiple states.
Educational Advancement: Utilizing environmental education as a catalyst to advance state or local education reform goals.
Community Projects: Addressing environmental stewardship in a local educational context and using community-based stewardship activities as the primary teaching tool.
Human Health and the Environment: Educating K-12 youth, post secondary students, and educators in formal and non-formal settings about human health threats from environmental pollution/issues and how to minimize human exposure to preserve good health.
EE Teaching Skills: Providing pre-service and in-service professional development for teachers, faculty, or non-formal educators to improve their environmental education teaching skills and/or knowledge about environmental issues and content.
Career Development: Educating K-12 youth, post secondary students, and their educators in formal and non-formal settings about environmental issues, solutions and stewardship for the purpose of encouraging interest in environmental careers.
EPA Strategic Environmental Priorities:
Every small-grant project must address at least one of the following EPA strategic priorities:
- Taking Action on Climate Change
- Improving Air Quality
- Assuring the Safety of Chemicals
- Cleaning Up Our Communities
- Protecting America’s Waters
- Expanding the Conversation on Environmentalism and Working for Environmental Justice
- Building Strong State and Tribal Partnerships
More information about the EPA environmental priorities is found at:
http://blog.epa.gov/administrator/2010/01/12/seven-priorities-for-epas-future/
Eligibility:
Any local education agency, college or university, state education or environmental agency, or nonprofit organization as described in Section 501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, may submit a proposal. A teacher’s school district, an educator’s nonprofit organization, or a faculty member’s college or university may apply, but an individual teacher or faculty member may not apply.
Applicant organizations must be located within the five states and the activities must take place within the five states. The project may take place in two or more states.
“Tribal education agencies” that are eligible to apply include a school or community college which is controlled by an Indian tribe, band, or nation, which is recognized as eligible for special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians and which is not administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Tribal organizations do not qualify unless they meet that criteria or the non-profit criteria listed above.
Grant funds cannot be used for the following activities:
- Technical training of environmental management professionals
- Environmental “information” and/or “outreach” projects that have no environmental education component. *
- Advocacy promoting a particular point of view or course of action
- Lobbying or political activities
- Non-educational research and development
- Construction projects
- Indirect costs
- Prizes or rewards
* Environmental information and outreach may be important elements of EE projects, but these activities by themselves are not environmental education. By itself, environmental information only addresses awareness and knowledge, usually about a particular environmental issue. Outreach involves information dissemination and requests or suggestions for action on a particular issue (often without the critical thinking, problem solving and decision making steps in between). EE covers the range of steps and activities from awareness to action with an ultimate goal of environmental stewardship.
Questions:
Questions may be emailed to the project manager below at info.eeanm.org@gmail.com. All questions and replies will be posted on the EEANM website at www.eeanm.org.
Barbara Garrity, Executive Director
Environmental Education Association of New Mexico
PO Box 36958
Albuquerque, NM 87176
Posted in Opportunities | No Comments »
July 30th, 2012 Bob
Michael Pollan Named 2012 Recipient of The Distinguished Service Award
The National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) is proud to announce that Mr. Michael Pollan, teacher, best selling author and award winning journalist, has been named the recipient of this year’s Distinguished Service Award for Enhancing Education through Biological Research. This award will be presented at 2012 NABT Professional Development Conference in Dallas, TX during the Biology Educator Leadership Scholarship (BELS) Benefit Dinner. Mr. Pollan will also be a featured guest at this event, where he will be interacting with the audience in a moderated interview and Q&A type session.
“Michael Pollan is incredibly talented at helping people connect culture and biology through popular scientific literature that appeals and informs readers at all life-stages,” said Donald P. French, President of NABT (and a Professor of Zoology at Oklahoma State University). “His books, presentations, teaching and related media productions inspire, inform, and encourage the public to pursue a greater understanding of their connection to the natural world, and the importance of nature, biology and biology education in their own lives and their children’s future. I am very proud of this opportunity for NABT to honor Mr. Pollan with our Distinguished Service Award.”
The NABT Distinguished Service Award was established in 1988 to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the association. The purpose of the award is to recognize individuals for the significant contribution that their work has made to the field of biology education. Notable winners of the award include Lynn Margulis, James Watson, Stephen Jay Gould, Francis Collins, E.O. Wilson, Sean Carroll, Ken Miller, Richard Dawkins, and Neil Shubin.
”If America is ever going to repair its relations with the natural world, it will be because biology teachers have prepared the ground of understanding in our young people. The thought that they might find some of my work useful in their work is both humbling and thrilling. I can’t imagine a more meaningful honor.” said Michael Pollan.
For the past twenty-five years, Michael Pollan has been writing award winning books and articles about the places where nature and culture intersect: on our plates, in our farms and gardens, and in the built environment. He is the author of four New York Times bestsellers: Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual (2010); In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto (2008); The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals (2006) and The Botany of Desire: A Plant’s-Eye View of the World (2001). The Omnivore’s Dilemma was named one of the ten best books of 2006 by both the New York Times and the Washington Post. It also won the California Book Award, the Northern California Book Award, the James Beard Award, and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. The Botany of Desire received the Borders Original Voices Award for the best non-fiction work of 2001, and was recognized as a best book of the year by the American Booksellers Association and Amazon.com. Pollan is also the author of A Place of My Own (1997) and Second Nature (1991).
Pollan was named to the 2010 TIME 100, the magazine’s annual list of the world’s 100 most influential people. In 2009 he was named by Newsweek as one of the top 10 “New Thought Leaders.” A contributing writer to The New York Times Magazine since 1987, his writing has received numerous awards: he was a finalist for the National Magazine Award in 2009 for best essay; he received the James Beard Award for best magazine series in 2003; the John Burroughs prize in 1997 for best natural history essay; the QPB New Vision Award for his first book, Second Nature; the 2000 Reuters-I.U.C.N. Global Award for Environmental Journalism for his reporting on genetically modified crops; the 2003 Humane Society of the United States’ Genesis Award for his writing on animal agriculture; the 2008 Truth in Agricultural Journalism Award from the American Corngrowers Association; the 2009 President’s Citation Award from the American Institute of Biological Sciences, and the 2009 Voices of Nature Award from the Natural Resources Defense Council. In 2009, he appeared in a two-hour PBS special based on The Botany of Desire as well as in the documentary, Food Inc., which received an Academy Award nomination.
In 2003, Pollan was appointed the John S. and James L. Knight Professor of Journalism at UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism, and the director of the Knight Program in Science and Environmental Journalism. In addition to teaching, he lectures widely on food, agriculture, health and the environment.
Nothing complements the NABT Conference experience like the special workshops, meal functions and field trips that make the meeting truly memorable. Tickets are now available online and can be added to your registration. Space is limited.
Special Workshops: Sometimes, a 75-minute session just isn’t enough time to cover a complex topic. NABT Special Workshops highlight expert teachers who address advanced topics in biology education.
Meal Functions: A biology teacher cannot live on knowledge alone. From section breakfasts to luncheons to the BELS Benefit Dinner featuring Micheal Pollan, NABT makes sure you have real food as well as brain food.
Field Trips: Adventures abound at the Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden and Trinity River Audubon Center.
Time is running out for you to register before the Advance Registration deadline of October 15th. Don’t miss out on these special savings!
Posted in Conference, Events, News | No Comments »
July 29th, 2012 Bob
The Coleopterists Society, an international organization of professionals and hobbyists interested in the study of beetles, has established a program to recognize young people studying beetles. The Society has pledged to provide up to $300 each year for the Youth Incentive Award Program. Each of the two awards (Junior and Senior) is a monetary grant of $150, award recipients also will receive up to $200 (Junior Award) and $400 (Senior Award) of equipment credit from the BioQuip Products catalog, In addition to monetary and BioQuip grants, award recipients will receive a one year subscription to the society journal, The Coleopterists Bulletin
This is for children of grades 7-12 only.
The objectives of the Youth Incentive Award are to:
* provide encouragement and assistance to young beetle enthusiasts (grades 7-12).
* promote the study of beetles, the most diverse group of insects, as a rewarding lifelong avocation or career.
* provide opportunities for young people to develop important life skills such as leadership, cooperation, communication, planning and conducting a scientific study, grant writing and managing funds.
* provide some financial support to enrich activities or projects.
A Youth Incentive Award Committee from the Coleopterists Society will evaluate the applications and will select up to two winners annually; one each in junior (grades 7-9) and senior (grades 10-12) categories. The selection committee invites proposals for topics such as field collecting trips to conduct beetle species inventories or diversity studies, attending workshops or visiting entomology or natural history museums for special training and projects on beetles, studying aspects of beetle biology, etc. The proposed activities or projects will be evaluated on their degree of creativity, educational benefit to the applicant, scientific merit, feasibility and budgetary planning. This Award is for proposals by individuals only. Each applicant is strongly encouraged to find an adult advisor (teacher, youth group leader, parent, etc.) to provide guidance in proposal development, but the proposal MUST be written by the applicant. The Coleopterists Society would also be happy to assist in establishing contacts between youth and professional Coleopterists.
Additional details and application forms for The Coleopterists Society Youth Incentive Award Program can be obtained from: Dr. David G. Furth; Entomology, NHB, MRC 165; P.O. Box 37012; Smithsonian Institution; Washington, D. C. 20013-7012 (phone: 202-633-0990, FAX: 202-786-2894, email: furthd@si.edu). Also check The Coleopterists Society WebPage: http://www.coleopsoc.org/default.asp?Action=Show_SocietyInfo&ID=Youth
Applications for this year must be submitted by 1 November 2012.
Posted in Opportunities | No Comments »
July 27th, 2012 Bob
The 2012 Oklahoma Science Olympiad coaches meeting and training will be Saturday, August 18th beginning at 1 PM. We will meet in the teaching lab at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History (maps here).
The meeting will start with an overview of Science Olympiad and some tips and advice for forming and maintaining a team. A significant part of this discussion will be led by current Science Olympiad Coaches, including coaches from the 2012 Oklahoma Champion Casady school team that attended the National Science Olympiad in Orlando. One aspect of that meeting will be scheduling of this year’s events, including the State Tournament at UCO
We will also review all of the 2012-13 events and try our hand a couple of them. Download the list of this year’s events here.
This will be a fun time for all and will give you the jump start to developing your school’s Science Olympiad team. Please email Bob Melton to RSVP or to find out more information about the Science Olympiad in Oklahoma.
We will also have a Coaches follow-up meeting at the OSTA Conference on November 10th at UCO. Please plan to be there for both of the meetings!
Posted in Opportunities | No Comments »
July 27th, 2012 Bob
Posted in Opportunities | No Comments »
July 22nd, 2012 Bob
The OSTA Fall Conference, the largest and best science professional development opportunity in the state will take place Saturday, November 10th at the University of Central Oklahoma. “Saving The World Through Science”
1. – get out your calendar and mark the date.
2. – submit your proposal to present. This year all proposals will be submitted using our convenient on-line form. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE DEADLINE! Space is limited.
All program presenters must register for the conference.
Ready to Register for the Conference? Click the link to register for the 2012 OSTA Fall Conference. Register Securely Online
If you are exhibitor - OSTA is now accepting reservations for exhibit space at the conference. Exhibit space utilizes the primary halls and the atrium of Howell Hall on the UCO campus. Commercial vendors and non-profit exhibitors pay a nominal fee for exhibit space. Book your exhibit space using our ON-LINE FORM.
Posted in Conference, Events | No Comments »
July 22nd, 2012 Bob
Evolution in Oklahoma and Texas Science Classes
Who: High school science teachers and college majors in science education from Oklahoma and northern Texas (approximately from Texarkana, to Dallas-Fort Worth and suburbs to Wichita Falls, Texas)
When: Friday Oct. 5 (6:00 PM) through Sunday Oct. 7, 2012 (3:00 PM)
Where: The University of Oklahoma Biological Station on Lake Texoma, OK
Topics covered will include:
- The nature of science and latest developments in evolutionary biology
- Curriculum development and state standards
- Resources on teaching evolution for teachers
- Discussion of participants’ favorite lesson plans and classroom experiences
- Dealing with classroom and community controversy
- Legislation and the political landscape.
Participants will earn a certificate of participation for professional development credit.
Instructors include:
- Dr. Julie Angle (Teaching and Curriculum Leadership, OSU)
- Dr. Richard Broughton (Zoology, OU)
- Dr. Ola Fincke (Zoology, OU)
- Dr. Victor Hutchison (Zoology, OU)
- Dr. Cecil Lewis (Anthropology, OU)
- Dr. Joseph Maness (Biological Sciences, Southwestern OSU)
- Bob Melton (Science Curriculum Specialist, Putnam City Schools)
- Dr. Stanley Rice (Biological Sciences, Southeastern OSU)
All materials (including two books on teaching evolution), accommodations, and meals at the UOBS are included. The only cost for participants is a $25 registration fee. Registration deadline is Sept. 14, 2012. Early registration is advised as places are limited to 30 registrants.
Further information, registration forms and payment information are on-line at: www.oklascience.org/teachers.pdf and at www.ou.edu/uobs/teachers.htm.
Presented by Oklahomans for Excellence in Science Education, the National Science Foundation (NSF-0845314), and the University of Oklahoma Biological Station.
Posted in Events, News | No Comments »
July 20th, 2012 Bob
The PBLU Schoolyard Habitat Project is a collaboration between the Buck Institute for Education, the Pacific Education Institute and the National Environmental Education Foundation. In the Schoolyard Habitat Project students become engaged learners as they research, design and implement a plan to enhance their school campus by creating wildlife habitat, planting native plants or even removing weeds and invasive plants from the school grounds. Elementary teachers are encouraged to participate in either the summer or fall courses. A Schoolyard Habitat Project for secondary teachers will be available in time for the fall course dates.
Sign up today to take a free series of online classes designed to walk you through the PBL essentials. Learn how to apply PBL to a capstone project and engage your students in practicing math and language arts skills while enhancing the wildlife habitat of their school campus through low or no cost strategies!
For details and to register go to: http://www.pblu.org/projects/schoolyard-habitat-project
Classroom Earth’s mission is to increase the ability of K-12 teachers to integrate environmental education into curricula so that students are prepared to be a part of environmental solutions.
Posted in News, Opportunities | No Comments »
July 20th, 2012 Bob
See OESE web site for news, links, resources… and more. Need a speaker for your group or organization? Or join OESE!
http://www.oklascience.org/
To subscribe to the OEDE list serve: Send message to okevol-on@okevol.talklist.com with your name. To unsubscribe: okevol-off@okevol.talklist.com.
————————————–
In This Posting:
1. THIS LIST SERVE WILL NOW INCLUDE INFORMATION ON CLIMATE CHANGE.
The current controversy about climate change includes much anti-science content and bears some resemblance to the coverage of evolution in the popular press. Following the lead of the National Center for Science Education , Oklahomans for Excellence in Science Education decided to include climate change as an emphasis in addition to evolution. See HERE for NCSE statement on why they decided to include climate as a major topic. To that end, a climatologist was added recently to the OESE Board and future activities will address climate when appropriate. This list serve will follow suit.
—————————-
2. OESE BOARD MEMBER AND SCIENCE TEACHER WINS NATIONAL AWARD.
Bethany Lorenz, recently elected as a Board member of OESE and a biology teacher at Putnam City North High School was named as the 2012 recipient of the Outstanding Biology Teacher Award for Oklahoma given by the National Association of Biology Teachers. The award is given for exemplary practice in the teaching of life science. Bethany is a nationally board-certified teacher, graduated from Oklahoma State University and is working on a master’s degree in educational leadership at the University of Central Oklahoma. She is a proponent of inquiry learning and believes “that all students can learn. They may learn at different rates, but they all have the capacity to learn.”
————————–
3. FREE PDF ON “OUR CHANGING CLIMATE.”
NCSE is pleased to offer a free preview (PDF) of Lynne Cherry and Gary Braasch’s How We Know What We Know About Our Changing Climate: Scientists and Kids Explore Global Warming (Dawn Publications, 2008), a book on climate change aimed at readers in grades 4 through 8. The preview consists of a discussion of how scientists — and kids! — are investigating changes in bird migration and flower budding in response to climate change, as well as a discussion of the reader’s “climate footprint” (“the amount of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases you create as you go about your life day to day”) and ways to minimize it.
————————–
4. TEACHERS’ EVOLUTION WORKSHOP 2012 – STILL HAS OPENINGS!
Evolution in Oklahoma and Texas Science Classes
Who: High school science teachers and college majors in science education from Oklahoma and northern Texas (approximately from Texarkana, to Dallas-Fort Worth and suburbs to Wichita Falls, Texas)
When: Friday Oct. 5 (6:00 PM) through Sunday Oct. 7, 2012 (3:00 PM)
Where: The University of Oklahoma Biological Station on Lake Texoma, OK
Topics covered will include:
· The nature of science and latest developments in evolutionary biology
· Curriculum development and state standards
· Resources on teaching evolution for teachers
· Discussion of participants’ favorite lesson plans and classroom experiences
· Dealing with classroom and community controversy
· Legislation and the political landscape.
Participants will earn a certificate of participation for professional development credit.
Instructors include:
· Dr. Julie Angle (Teaching and Curriculum Leadership, OSU)
· Dr. Richard Broughton (Zoology, OU)
· Dr. Ola Fincke (Zoology, OU)
· Dr. Victor Hutchison (Zoology, OU)
· Dr. Cecil Lewis (Anthropology, OU)
· Dr. Joseph Maness (Biological Sciences, Southwestern OSU)
· Bob Melton (Science Curriculum Specialist, Putnam City Schools)
· Dr. Stanley Rice (Biological Sciences, Southeastern OSU)
All materials (including two books on teaching evolution), accommodations, and meals at the UOBS are included. The only cost for participants is a $25 registration fee. Registration deadline is Sept. 14, 2012. Early registration is advised as places are limited to 30 registrants.
Further information, registration forms and payment information are on-line at: www.oklascience.org/teachers.pdf and at www.ou.edu/uobs/teachers.htm.
Presented by Oklahomans for Excellence in Science Education, the National Science Foundation (NSF-0845314), and the University of Oklahoma Biological Station.
———————————
5. FEDERAL COURT RULES AGAINST ATTACK ON CLIMATE SCIENCE.
From New York Times: “A federal appeals court on Tuesday upheld a finding by the Environmental Protection Agency that heat-trapping gases from industry and vehicles endanger public health, dealing a decisive blow to companies and states that had sued to block agency rules.”
——————————-
6. POLLING CLIMATE CHANGE IN THREE COUNTRIES.
From NCSE: “While a majority of Canadians say that climate change is a fact and is caused by emissions, only two-in-five Americans and Britons concur,” according to a June 27, 2012, press release from Angus Reid Public Opinion. Respondents were asked, “Which of the following statements comes closest to your view of global warming (or climate change)?” “Global warming is a fact and is mostly caused by emissions from vehicles and industrial facilities” was preferred by 58% of Canadians, 42% of Americans, and 43% of Britons; “global warming is a fact and is mostly caused by natural changes” was preferred by 20% of Canadians, 21% of Americans, and 27% of Britons; “global warming is a theory that has not yet been proven” was preferred by 14% of Canadians, 21% of Americans, and 21% of Britons; and 8% of Canadians, 16% of Americans, and 9% of Britons were not sure.
The full report from Angus Reid also includes (PDF) data showing the variance among different regions in all three countries
“While a majority of Canadians say that climate change is a fact and is caused by emissions, only two-in-five Americans and Britons concur,” according to a June 27, 2012, press release from Angus Reid Public Opinion. Respondents were asked, “Which of the following statements comes closest to your view of global warming (or climate change)?” “Global warming is a fact and is mostly caused by emissions from vehicles and industrial facilities” was preferred by 58% of Canadians, 42% of Americans, and 43% of Britons; “global warming is a fact and is mostly caused by natural changes” was preferred by 20% of Canadians, 21% of Americans, and 27% of Britons; “global warming is a theory that has not yet been proven” was preferred by 14% of Canadians, 21% of Americans, and 21% of Britons; and 8% of Canadians, 16% of Americans, and 9% of Britons were not sure.
The full report from Angus Reid also includes (PDF) data showing the variance among different regions in all three countries ….”
Posted in News | No Comments »
July 11th, 2012 Bob
How would you like to receive a FREE Evolution Wall Poster for your classroom? To apply for this five-foot wide, unique teaching resource, all you have to do is fill out a simple form, and while supplies last, we’ll send it directly to your school for display. Here’s what it looks
like:
We’ve had several educators from around the globe expressing their satisfaction. In the state of Arkansas alone, we estimate that 2100+ students have been exposed to the impressive classroom poster…Your students could be next!
If you are interested in receiving “Earth and Life: changes over time”, please visit the following link and complete the application. It’s that easy!
Posted in Opportunities | No Comments »
