June 2009 Education Update

NASA Earth and Space Science Education E-Newsletter
June 2009

This monthly broadcast includes upcoming educational programs, events, opportunities and the latest resources from NASA’s Science Mission Directorate.

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Questions or comments? E-mail them to esenewsletter@strategies.org.

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UPCOMING PROGRAMS & EVENTS

NEW IN THIS ISSUE
(1) Free Teacher Web Seminar: Put Science Concepts into Context, Grades 3-12 (June 4)
(2) AstroZone: Hands-on Astronomy Activities for all Ages (June 6, Pasadena, Calif.)
(3) NASA Earth System Science at 20 Symposium (June 22-24, Washington, DC)
(4) INSPIRE Research Project for High School Students (Applications due June 30)
(5) Global Climate Modeling Teacher Workshop (June 30-July 1, Allentown, PA)
(6) GLOBE Gives Students a Voice at World Climate Conference 3 (Aug. 31-Sept. 4, Geneva, Switzerland)
(7) Stipends Available for K-12 Teachers to Attend Astronomical Society of the Pacific Meeting (Sept. 12-16, Millbrae, Calif.)
(8) NASA Endeavor Science Teaching Certificate to Begin Accepting Applications for Cohort 2 (Applications Accepting July 1 – Sept. 30)
(9) Earth Science Week K-9 Student Contests (Entries due Oct. 16)

PREVIOUSLY BROADCAST
(10) Training Workshops for Afterschool 6-8 Grade Astronomy Program (June 3-4)
(11) 2009 Exploring Space Lecture (June 18)
(12) Earth Science Webcast for Teachers Grades 3-8 (June 18)
(13) Climate Discovery Online Courses for Educators (June 18-Aug. 9)
(14) Family Science Night Overnight at NASA Goddard (June 27-28)
(15) Middle School Teacher Workshop: Using NASA Observations to Study Changes in the Chesapeake Bay (July 7-9)
(16) Teacher Workshop on Using Earth Science Data in Grades 6-12 (July 8-9)
(17) Summer Science Workshops for K-12 Educators (June-July 2009)
(18) XXII Satellite Educators Conference (Aug. 13-15)
(19) Public Library Tour: Visions of the Universe (Jan. 2009-March 2010)

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EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
(20) New NASA eClips Feature Space Science Missions (Grades 9-12)
(21) New Web site Offers Educational Resources on Telescopes and Astronomy
(22) NASA Earth Observatory Feature Articles & Facebook Page

  •   The World We Avoided by Protecting the Ozone Layer
  •   World of Change

(23) “Space Place Live” Introduces Kids to Scientists and Engineers
(24) Curious Ed Goes from “Gearhead” to Scientist
(25) NASA Releases Interactive 3-D Views of Space Station, New Mars Rover
(26) Engineering Design Challenge: Seeds in Space Kits Still Available
(27) NASA Book Chronicles Apollo Missions Through Astronaut Photos

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SCIENCE NEWS
(28) New Solar Cycle Prediction
(29) Eerie Red Glow Traces Ocean Planet
(30) The Phantom Torso Returns
(31) Space Shuttle Returns to Earth After Hubble Mission
(32) NASA Rover Sees Variable Environmental History at Martian Crater
(33) NASA Study Shows Asteroids May Have Accelerated Life on Earth
(34) Scientists Make First Direct Observations of Biological Particles in High-Altitude Clouds
(35) NASA Announces Global Climate Change Education Grant Awards
(36) Spitzer Telescope Warms up to New Career
(37) Messenger Spacecraft Reveals a Very Dynamic Planet Mercury

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CALENDAR

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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UPCOMING PROGRAMS & EVENTS

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*NEW IN THIS ISSUE

(1) FREE TEACHER WEB SEMINAR: PUT SCIENCE CONCEPTS INTO CONTEXT (GRADES 3-12)

June 4, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. EDT

Learn how six engineering activities from the “On the Moon” guide can help your students apply physical and Earth/space science concepts learned in class. Concepts like the moon, force, energy, simple machines, Newton’s Laws, EM-spectrum measurement, and technology related to living and working on the moon will be addressed. Each activity connects with topics taught in the Grades 3–12 curricula; maps to education standards; uses low- cost, readily available materials; takes one class period; and is easy to set up.

To learn more and to register online, visit http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/WGBH/Webseminar.aspx.


(2) ASTROZONE: HANDS-ON ASTRONOMY ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES

June 6, Pasadena, Calif.

This four-hour program is aimed at reaching out to local communities that host scientific meetings and help share the excitement of the current science being performed in Astronomy.  During the event, visitors have a chance to try their hands at a variety of astronomy related hands-on activities.  In Pasadena, AstroZone is organized as part of a larger International Year of Astronomy education effort, which will include an outdoor astronomy bazaar and a star party.  AstroZone is a partnership between the NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory, the Rochester Institute of Technology Center for Imaging Science Insight Lab and with the support of the American Astronomical Society. Learn more by visiting: http://www.imascientist.org/astrozone.


(3) NASA EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE AT 20 SYMPOSIUM

June 22-24; National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C.

Twenty years ago NASA embarked on a revolutionary new mission for its Earth science program: to study our home planet from space as an inter-related whole, rather than as individual parts. To acknowledge this milestone, NASA is holding a symposium to examine the accomplishments of 20 years of NASA's Earth system science program and discuss what discoveries and opportunities lay ahead. The symposium will feature more than 20 invited talks on scientific breakthroughs, future directions in Earth system science, and the evolution of NASA's Earth system science program. To register, visit: http://dels.nas.edu/osb/nasa.shtml.

(4) INSPIRE RESEARCH PROJECT for HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Applications Due June 30

NASA’s Interdisciplinary National Science Project Incorporating Research and Education Experience (INSPIRE), is a multi-tiered, year-round program for students in grades 9-12 and their parents or legal guardians.

INSPIRE provides grade-appropriate, NASA-related resources and experiences to encourage and reinforce students' aspirations to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, education and careers. The project also offers resources and information for parents to help them better champion their student's goals. INSPIRE provides participants a rich online community, as well as opportunities to compete to participate in NASA/STEM experiences. INSPIRE participants will be matched to one of the 10 NASA facilities, based on the participant's place of residence and the NASA facility’s Area of Service.

For information about the project, including details about how to apply, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/education/INSPIRE.

(5) GLOBAL CLIMATE MODELING TEACHER WORKSHOP

June 30-July 1 2009; Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA; Pre-registration required by June 12

Learn how to use a NASA global climate model and develop a climate modeling activity for your classroom at the same time. Educational Global Climate Modeling (EdGCM) software has a user-friendly interface that runs on desktop computers, and provides teachers and their students with the ability to run one of NASA's research-quality global climate models. The software makes it easy to run experiments with a climate model (e.g. future global warming), analyze the output, and create scientifically meaningful visuals for use in reports, as well as providing an easy way for students to publish their reports to school Web sites. The workshop is free and lunch will be provided. Pre-registration is required. Download the registration form at: http://www.davinci-center.org/profdev.html.

(6) GLOBE GIVES STUDENTS A VOICE AT WORLD CLIMATE CONFERENCE 3

August 31 – Sept. 4, Geneva, Switzerland; Youth Message Submissions Due June 15

GLOBE joins the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in providing an opportunity for student representation at World Climate Conference 3 (WCC-3). This year’s conference will take place Aug. 31-Sept. 4 in Geneva, Switzerland. Young people are invited to create compelling short messages on the topic: Youth Working to Solve Local Problems through Weather and Climate Research. A selection of messages will be displayed at WCC-3.

The intent of the GLOBE-WMO youth message initiative is to provide scientists, policy-makers, global business leaders and media representatives attending WCC-3 with captivating and inspirational examples of the many ways that youth from around the world are using their research on weather and climate to respond to issues that their local region is facing. GLOBE students can become spokespersons for youth the world over.

For more details, go to http://www.globe.gov/fsl/pdf/GLOBE-WMO_announcementMay2009-5.pdf.


(7) STIPENDS AVAILABLE FOR K-12 TEACHERS TO ATTEND ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF THE PACIFIC'S 2009 CONFERENCE

Sept. 12-16; Millbrae, Calif.; Early Registration & Abstract Proposals Due June 15

The 2009 ASP conference theme is “Science Education and Outreach: Forging a Path to the Future,” and will focus on the Year of Science, the International Year of Astronomy, sharing experience and best practices, and establishing new connections and collaborations among science disciplines and each other for future success in our science education missions.

Sept. 12-13 (Saturday and Sunday), will include space science and Earth science workshops for teachers in grades 4 through 12, as well as sessions for educators who work in informal settings (such as museums, nature centers, amateur astronomy clubs, and community organizations.) Registration for each day of the workshop will be $39.

Sept. 14-16 (Monday through Wednesday) will feature an education and public outreach symposium of demonstrations, mini-workshops, panel presentations, oral presentations and posters organized according to the strands of the conference theme.

Thanks to the generosity of the Spitzer Science Center, a limited number of $300 stipends will be available to K-12 educators who need additional support to attend.  Instructions will be posted soon at: http://www.astrosociety.org/events/meeting.html.


(8)NASA ENDEAVOR SCIENCE TEACHER CERTIFICATE TO BEGIN ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR COHORT 2

Applications Accepted July 1 – Sept. 30, 2009

The NASA Endeavor Science Teaching Certificate Project awards one-year fellowships each year to over 40 current and prospective teachers. The Project is administered by U.S. Satellite Laboratory, Inc. Funding authorization for the Project is provided through the NASA Endeavor Teacher Fellowship Trust Fund as a tribute to the dedicated crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger.

In partnership with state departments of education, Endeavor Fellows take five graduate courses in an innovative, LIVE (online) format from the comfort of their home or school  learn to apply research-based pedagogical strategies and cutting-edge STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) content to their classroom contexts while becoming a part of a special network of like-minded educators across the Nation.

Endeavor Fellows will be awarded a NASA Endeavor Certificate in STEM Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. In addition, fifteen (15) graduate credits are awarded from other regionally-accredited partners in higher education. For more information, visit: http://www.us-satellite.net/endeavor/index.cfm.

(9) EARTH SCIENCE WEEK K-9 STUDENT CONTESTS

Entries Due Oct. 16

AGI is sponsoring three national contests for Earth Science Week 2009. The photography, visual arts, and essay contests allow both students and the general public to participate in the celebration, learn about Earth science, and compete for prizes.

The photography contest, open to all ages, focuses on “How Climate Shapes My World.” The visual arts contest, titled “The Climate Where I Live,” is open to students in grades K-5. Finally, students in grades 6-9 are eligible to enter the essay contest: “Climate Connections.” Essays of up to 300 words should describe how climate interacts with Earth’s systems - geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere - in your area.

Entries may be submitted starting now, but all are due by the Friday of Earth Science Week, Oct. 16, 2009. The first-place prize for each contest is $300 and a copy of AGI’s “Faces of Earth” 2-DVD package. To learn more about these contests, including how to enter, visit http://www.earthsciweek.org/contests/.


*PREVIOUSLY BROADCAST

(10) TRAINING WORKSHOPS FOR AFTERSCHOOL 6-8 GRADE ASTRONONY PROGRAM (JUNE 3-4)

This workshop takes place at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. and provides free, comprehensive training to lead Afterschool Universe (an astronomy program targeting kids in out-of-school-time programs for grades 6-8). For more information: http://universe.nasa.gov/afterschool.

(11) 2009 EXPLORING SPACE LECTURE (JUNE 18) at the National Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC. This free lecture, entitled Our Sun: is it a Steady Performer?, features speaker Alan Title, who heads a team that collects and analyzes solar imagery. http://www.nasm.si.edu/events/eventDetail.cfm?eventID=1219.  Tickets are required. The lectures will also be Webcast live and archived online.

(12) EARTH SCIENCE WEBCAST FOR TEACHERS (GRADES 3-9): THE STORY OF THE OCEAN HEAT STORAGE (JUNE 18)

This is the final webcast in a series offered by NASA Langley Research Center in co-operation with NOAA and the VA Department of Education Region 2 Math/Science Coalition. The Webcast is entitled “The Story of Ocean Heat Storage” and will focus on the process of science, using research on sea surface temperature. The webcast can be accessed on the NASA Digital Learning Network at http://dln.nasa.gov/dln/.

(13) CLIMATE DISCOVERY ONLINE COURSES FOR EDUCATORS (June 18-August 9) - The National Center for Atmospheric Research offers a series of seven-week online courses for middle and high school teachers that combine geoscience content, information about current climate research, hands-on activities and group discussion. The course fee is $225/course. For more information: http://ecourses.ncar.ucar.edu.

(14) FAMILY SCIENCE NIGHT OVERNIGHT AT NASA GODDARD (JUNE 27-28) The Annual Family Science Night Overnight at the NASA Goddard Visitor Center offers a bit of science, games and campfire stories to DC metro area middle school kids and their families. Registration is required and restricted to previous participants of Family Science Nights. For more information, visit: http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/epo/families/fsn.php.

(15) MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER WORKSHOP: USING NASA OBSERVATIONS TO STUDY CHANGES IN CHESPEAKE BAY (JULY 7-9)

Cutting edge science observations from space will be integrated with classroom-ready lessons in this three-day workshop for middle school teachers at NASA Goddard in Greenbelt, Md. Please register at this URL: http://education.gsfc.nasa.gov/bay. With other issues please send e-mail message with "Chesapeake Bay" in Subject Field to: Trena.M.Ferrell@nasa.gov.

(16) TEACHER WORKSHOP ON USING EARTH SCIENCE DATA IN GRADES 6-12 (JULY 8-9) The Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) is organizing a teacher workshop at the July 8-9 Federation for Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP) meeting in Santa Barbara. To apply and reserve a $200 participation stipend, please send a short e-mail to Margaret Mooney at margaret.mooney@ssec.wisc.edu.  For more information, visit http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/teacherworkshop/esip.

(17) SUMMER SCIENCE WORKSHOPS FOR K-12 EDUCATORS (June-July 2009) - Penn State University is offering summer workshops for K-12 educators on topics including: Earth’s history, renewable energy technologies, calculator-controlled robots, lunar exploration, extreme cosmic messengers and black holes. Participants earn 2 graduate credits and PA ACT 48 hours; free lodging, meals and partial travel support; and can apply for tuition subsidies. For more information: http://teachscience.psu.edu

(18) XXII SATELLITE EDUCATORS CONFERENCE (AUG 13-15)
This annual conference is for educators interested in discovering ways to use satellites and related technologies as a vehicle for helping students appreciate and understand the complex interrelationships among science, technology, individuals, societies and the environment while developing and applying inquiry and technology skills to study authentic questions and problems. For more information, visit: http://www.SatED.org.

(19) PUBLIC LIBRARY TOUR: VISIONS OF THE UNIVERSE - From Jan. 2009-March 2010, 40 public libraries are hosting “Visions of the Universe: Four Centuries of Discovery,” a traveling exhibition to mark the 2009 International Year of Astronomy.  For more information: http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/visions/ or http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/ppo/programming/visions/visionsuniverse.cfm.

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EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
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(20) NEW NASA ECLIPS™ FEATURE SPACE SCIENCE MISSIONS (GRADES 9-12)

NASA eClips™ are short relevant educational video segments. These videos inspire and engage students, helping them see real world connections. Watch the following new NASA eClips at: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/nasaeclips/launchpad/universe.html

  • MAPPING THE BOUNDARIES OF OUR SOLAR SYSTEM (IBEX)
    What is the shape of our heliosphere and what lies beyond? How does interstellar medium affect the heliosphere? To find out, NASA launched the Interstellar Boundary Explorer, or IBEX, to map out the boundaries of our solar system.

  • THE FERMI GAMMA RAY SPACE TELESCOPE
    Get an overview of the electromagnetic spectrum and see how scientists are using the new Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope to look at the inconceivable amounts of energy produced by phenomena in space

 

(21) NEW WEB SITE OFFERS EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES ON TELESCOPES AND ASTRONOMY

A new Web site, accompanying the PBS television special "400 Years of the Telescope," offers background information, classroom and family activities, and practical tips for everyone who is teaching about the development of telescopes, the history of astronomy, or the exploration of the universe. You are invited to discover its features at:

http://www.pbs.org/soptv/400years/.

(22) NASA EARTH OBSERVATORY FEATURE ARTICLE & FACEBOOK PAGE

(23) "SPACE PLACE LIVE" INTRODUCES KIDS TO SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS
The Space Place, NASA’s award-winning Web site for kids, presents the Space Place cartoon kids hosting their own talk show “live” from the Space Place Clubhouse. Their guests are NASA scientists and engineers. The goal of “Space Place Live!” is to introduce kids to the human, down-to-Earth side of real scientists and engineers working in the space program. Each guest is presented as a passionate and accomplished role model for every child interested in science or engineering. View latest episode featuring the GOES satellite Deputy Project Scientist, Andre Dress at http://spaceplace.nasa.gov.

(24) CURIOUS ED GOES FROM "GEARHEAD" TO SCIENTIST
Growing up, Ed Prather dreamed of racing cars and motorcycles. Now, as an adult, he’s a scientist and a teacher. One thing has stayed the same the whole time. Prather has always been curious. Read more about Prather's journey from auto mechanic to scientist on the NASA portal: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/curious-ed-goes-gearhead.html

(25) NASA RELEASES INTERACTIVE 3-D VIEWS OF SPACE STATION, NEW MARS ROVER
NASA released an interactive, 3-D photographic collection of internal and external views of the International Space Station and a model of the next Mars rover. NASA and Microsoft's Virtual Earth team developed the online experience with hundreds of photographs and Microsoft's photo imaging technology called Photosynth. Using a click-and-drag interface, viewers can zoom in to see details of the space station's modules and solar arrays or zoom out for a more global view of the complex.

NASA's Photosynth collection can be viewed at: http://www.nasa.gov/photosynth. The NASA images also can be viewed on Microsoft's Virtual Earth Web site at: http://www.microsoft.com/virtualearth.

(26) ENGINEERING DESIGN CHALLENGE: SEEDS IN SPACE KITS STILL AVAILABLE
The method of distribution of seeds for the Engineering Design Challenge: Lunar Plant Growth Chamber experience has changed. Packets of space-flown seeds and packets of seeds not flown in space are now available as part of the Seeds in Space Kit. The kit includes: five packets of seeds (each has one envelope of space seeds and one envelope of Earth seeds), the Liftoff to Learning: Plants in Space DVD, the Ozone Monitoring Garden Lithograph and the Engineering Design Challenge: Lunar Plant Growth Chamber Bookmark.

The Seeds in Space Kit may be obtained from the Central Operation of Resources for Educators, or CORE. Seeds are available as long as supplies last. http://corecatalog.nasa.gov/item.cfm?num=300.0-83B

For more information about the NASA Engineering Design Challenge: Lunar Plant Growth Chamber, please visit the Web site:
 http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/plantgrowth/home/index.html

(27) NASA BOOK CHRONICLES APOLLO MISSIONS THROUGH ASTRONAUT PHOTOS
"Apollo: Through the Eyes of the Astronauts" is a new book produced by NASA and Abrams Books that provides a unique perspective of the historic program that took people to the moon nearly four decades ago. The publication chronicles Apollo missions 7 through 17 using vivid photographs and detailed text to create a visually compelling and authoritatively written record of a landmark achievement in human history. The book will be available in retail and online bookstores by early June.

For more information about NASA's Apollo program, including an interactive feature with select images from the book, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/apollo.

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SCIENCE NEWS
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(28) NEW SOLAR CYCLE PREDICTION
May 29 – An international panel of experts has issued a new prediction for the solar cycle that takes into account the surprisingly deep solar minimum of 2008-2009. Find out when they think solar maximum will return: http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/29may_noaaprediction.htm?list1110881

(29) EERIE RED GLOW TRACES OCEAN PLANET
May 28 – NASA's Aqua satellite has detected a red glow coming from phytoplankton in Earth's oceans. This unique signal allows researchers to monitor the health of ocean plants in a new and telling way.
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/28may_redglow.htm?list1110881

(30) THE PHANTOM TORSO RETURNS
May 27 – The Phantom Torso is back on Earth and he has quite a story to tell about the perils of space radiation.
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/27may_phantomtorso.htm?list1110881

(31) SPACE SHUTTLE RETURNS TO EARTH AFTER HUBBLE MISSION
May 24 – Space shuttle Atlantis completed the final servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope. Atlantis' astronauts conducted five successful spacewalks during their STS-125 flight to enhance and extend the life of the orbiting observatory. For information about NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/hubble. For more about the STS-125 mission and the upcoming STS-127 flight, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle.

(32) NASA ROVER SEES VARIABLE ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY AT MARTIAN CRATER
May 21 – One of NASA's two Mars rovers has recorded a compelling saga of environmental changes that occurred over billions of years at a Martian crater. The Mars rover, Opportunity, surveyed the rim and interior of Victoria Crater on the Red Planet from September 2006 through August 2008. Key findings from that work, reported in the May 22 edition of the journal Science, reinforce and expand what researchers learned from Opportunity's exploration of two smaller craters after landing on Mars in 2004. For more information about Spirit and Opportunity, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/rovers.

(33) NASA STUDY SHOWS ASTEROIDS MAY HAVE ACCELERATED LIFE ON EARTH
May 20 – A NASA-funded study indicates that an intense asteroid bombardment nearly 4 billion years ago may not have sterilized the early Earth as completely as previously thought. The asteroids, some the size of Kansas, possibly even provided a boost for early life. Read more at: http://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsystem/features/asteroids.html.

(34) SCIENTISTS MAKE FIRST DIRECT OBSERVATIONS OF BIOLOGIAL PARTICLES IN HIGH-ALTITUDE CLOUDS
May 17 – A team of atmospheric chemists has moved closer to what's considered the "holy grail" of climate change science: the first-ever direct detections of biological particles within ice clouds.
http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=114802&govDel=USNSF_51.

(35) NASA ANNOUNCES GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION GRANT AWARDS
May 13 – NASA has awarded $6.4 million in grants to institutions of higher education and not-for-profit education organizations nationwide to enhance learning through the use of NASA's Earth science resources. Each grant is expected to leverage NASA's unique contributions in climate science. The selected grant winners proposed ways to enhance students' academic experiences or improve educators' abilities to engage their students by providing opportunities to investigate the Earth system using NASA resources. For a list of proposals selected for the "Global Climate Change Education" solicitation, visit: http://nspires.nasaprs.com.

(36) NASA'S SPITZER TELESCOPE WARMS UP TO NEW CAREER
May 6 – The primary mission of NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has come to end after more than five and a half years of probing the cosmos with its keen infrared eye. Within about a week of May 12, the telescope was expected to run out of the liquid helium needed to chill some of its instruments to operating temperatures. The end of the coolant will begin a new era for Spitzer. The telescope will start its "warm" mission with two channels of one instrument still working at full capacity. Some of the science explored by a warm Spitzer will be the same, and some will be entirely new.
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/may/HQ_09-099_Spitzer_Warms_Up.html

(37) MESSENGER SPACECRAFT REVEALS A VERY DYNAMIC PLANET MERCURY
April 30 - A NASA spacecraft gliding over the surface of Mercury has revealed that the planet's atmosphere, the interaction of its surrounding magnetic field with the solar wind, and its geological past display greater levels of activity than scientists first suspected. The probe also discovered a previously unknown large impact basin about 430 miles in diameter -- equal to the distance between Washington and Boston. For more information about the Mercury mission, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/messenger.

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CALENDAR
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June 1-12 – 2009 Summer Institute on Climate Information for Public Health, http://iri.columbia.edu/education/summerinstitute09.
June 2 – NASA Public Lecture: Astrobiology: Life in Space,  http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/events/events.html
June 3-4 – Training Workshops for Afterschool Astronomy Program, http://universe.nasa.gov/afterschool/
June 4 – Free Teacher Web Seminar, Put Science Concepts into Context, http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/WGBH/Webseminar.aspx.
June 6 – AstroZone: Hands-on Activities, http://www.imascientist.org/astrozone.
June 18 – Professional Development Webcast (teachers grades 3-8): The Story of Ocean Heat Storage, http://dln.nasa.gov/dln/
June 18 – Exploring Space Lecture, Our Sun: is it a Steady Performer? http://www.nasm.si.edu/events/eventDetail.cfm?eventID=1219.
June 22-24 – NASA Earth System Science at 20 Symposium, http://dels.nas.edu/osb/nasa.shtml.
June 23-24 – View Atmosphere From Space, Middle/High School teacher workshop, jwang7@unl.edu.
June 27-28 – Family Science Night Overnight at NASA Goddard, http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/epo/families/fsn.php.
June 30 – INSPIRE Research Projects Due, http://www.nasa.gov/education/INSPIRE.
June 30-July 1 – Global Climate Modeling Teacher Workshop, http://www.davinci-center.org/profdev.html.
July 1-Sept. 30 – NASA Endeavor Teaching Certificate Accepting Applications, http://www.us-satellite.net/endeavor/index.cfm.
July 7-9 – Middle School Teacher Workshop: Using NASA Observations to Study Changes in Chesapeake Bay, http://education.gsfc.nasa.gov/bay
July 8-9 – Teacher Workshop on Using Earth Science Data in Grades 6-12, http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/teacherworkshop/esip/
July 20-24 – NASA Planetary Science Summer School, http://pscischool.jpl.nasa.gov. 
Aug. 3-7 – NASA Planetary Science Summer School, http://pscischool.jpl.nasa.gov. 
Aug 13-15 – Satellite Educators Conference, www.SatED.org.
Aug. 31-Sept. 4 – GLOBE World Climate Conference, http://www.globe.gov/fsl/pdf/GLOBE-WMO_announcementMay2009-5.pdf.
Sept. 12-16 – Astronomical Society of the Pacific’s 120th Anniversary Celebration, http://m1e.net/c?75116197-W8ceafm7URt2k%404112591-aRmfbHA4MuBmM
Sept. 16 – NASA Public Lecture: Tracking Severe Storms,  http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/events/events.html
Oct. 13 – NASA Public Lecture: Dark Matter,  http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/events/events.html
Oct. 16 – Entries due for Earth Science Week Student Contests, http://www.earthsciweek.org/contests/.
Nov. 17 – NASA Public Lecture: Update on Polar Ice,  http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/events/events.html

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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NASA Science Mission Directorate: Larry Cooper, Stephanie Stockman and Ming-Ying Wei.

Editor: Theresa Schwerin, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Email: theresa_schwerin at strategies.org.
Writer: Catherine Fahey, IGES, Email: catherine_fahey at strategies.org.

Contributions from:
Mark Chandler, Columbia University; Emilie Drobnes, NASA GSFC; Andrew Fraknoi, Astronomical Society of the Pacific; Jan Heiderer, GLOBE; Nancy Leon, NASA JPL; Jim Manning, Astonomical Society of the Pacific; Susan Moore, NASA Langley; Glen Schuster, U.S. Satellite Laboratory, Inc.; Denise Smith, STSCI; Dan Stillman, IGES; and Kevin Ward, NASA's Earth Observatory.