Science News and Opportunities

SCIENCE NEWS AND OPPORTUNITIES IRIS Offers Lessons to Help STEM Educators Teach About Recent Earthquakes

The Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) is providing free resources to help STEM educators teach about recent earthquake events, such as the 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Mexico on September 8 and the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Haiti on August 14. These Teachable Moments presentations contain an explanation of the science of why the earthquake occurred, and often also include Associated Press photos, animations, and other resources to help educators link the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) to earthquake phenomena in a way that makes it relevant and engaging for students.

“The Teachable Moments lessons help engage students in scientific inquiry and offer a critical connection to real-life events,” said Dr. Tammy Bravo, Seismology Outreach Specialist of IRIS. “By bringing knowledge, insight, and critical thinking to the classroom following a newsworthy earthquake, teachers are able to help students explore and analyze real event data, which helps to further spark their passion for science and STEM learning.”

Each Teachable Moment lesson consists of a downloadable and editable PowerPoint presentation, which is available in both Spanish and English and pertains to a specific earthquake. The lessons include interpreted U.S. Geological Survey earthquake information, plate tectonic and regional tectonic maps and summaries, concept animations, seismograms, damage photos, and other event-specific information and hazards.

The data in the lessons is generated within hours of each event. The presentations are prepared by seismologists and educators, are classroom-ready, and can be customized to fit the needs of students. IRIS also provides suggested questions that teachers can ask students who are using the lessons during distance learning. Teachers can also use Teachable Moments as a jumping off point to explore other tools available on the IRIS Education and Public Outreach website that provide information about recent earthquakes such as live earthquake maps, station monitors, and more.

Teachable Moments are a service of IRIS Education and Outreach and the University of Portland.

To learn more about IRIS and access the Teachable Moments lessons, visit www.iris.edu/hq/retm/ To sign up for notifications when new Teachable Moments lessons are available, click on the email or Facebook signup links at the top of the Teachable Moments webpage. About IRIS The Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS), a university consortium with more than 125 U.S. member institutions and the operator of the National Science Foundation’s Seismological Facility for the Advancement of Geoscience (SAGE), is a world leader in advancing discovery, research, and education in seismology to understand our planet and to benefit society. The organization operates global seismic networks, portable seismic instrumentation, and data access facilities. Additionally, it provides free educational resources for faculty and teachers, students, and the general public, including lesson plans, animations, animated gifs, earthquake data, wave visualizations, several easy-to-use online applications, and much more.

ChemTalk Reimagines Chemistry Education

ChemTalk, a grassroots 501(c)(3) science education and outreach non-profit based in Thousand Oaks, CA, announced the official launch of the organization and the ChemTalk website, chemistrytalk.org. To date, the all-volunteer organization has received donations from several organizational and private donors including the American Chemical Society and CABRI foundation, and today launched a $50,000 GoFundMe fundraising campaign. “ChemTalk is reinvigorating the world’s love for chemistry, science and the elements. In a land full of video games and social media, ChemTalk breathes a well needed fresh perspective into STEM education and how people can perceive & experience chemistry” says Dr. Eric Scerri of UCLA, considered one of the world’s experts on the periodic table. After commissioning a survey showing that 85% of students felt that chemistry could have been more fun and interesting, the four co-founders of ChemTalk put together an ambitious plan to improve the process of chemistry education – making it more fun, easier to learn, and more relatable to everyday life. “Chemistry needs a catalyst, and that catalyst is ChemTalk. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD.org, ranks the United States #18 globally in science education, and we know we can do better. ChemTalk will advance students’ understanding of chemistry and spark their interest and excitement about science.” says executive director Scott Gietler.

ChemTalk is creating the world’s first free chemistry “super portal” to educate and inspire the next generation of scientists. ChemTalk creates unique multimedia and written content designed for middle-school, high-school, and college science students. The content will be expanded into organic chemistry, material science, and the life sciences. This unique content is combined with easy-to-read articles and tutorials normally found on disparate platforms. ChemTalk is also developing the ChemTalk LiveLab, a revolutionary concept that changes the way students without access to the best facilities can experience science. Launching in 2022, the LiveLab will live-stream experiments and demonstrations over Twitch and Youtube Live, allowing students around the world to interact in real-time, ask questions, and participate virtually. ChemTalk is actively seeking writers, volunteers, partners, and advisory board members. Achieving ChemTalk’s fundraising goals will allow it to easily reach over 2,000,000 students in 2022, helping to create the next generation of the STEM workforce. ChemTalk is a wonderful initiative that inspires young people to gain a broad understanding and practical knowledge of chemistry concepts by leveraging the network effects and promoting collaboration, diversity, and inclusion. It is helping to build the future workforce of the chemical industry” says Dr. Selma Duhovic, a scientist at Kebotix Inc.

ACS Central Wisconsin Teaching Enhancement Grant

Attention K-12 Science and Chemistry Teachers,

The American Chemical Society (ACS) would like to help you enhance your curriculum through a new grant initiative! We in the Central Wisconsin Section of the ACS, the local section in which your school resides, will be administering funds to help teachers enhance their chemistry curriculum. Do you have an idea that you would like to implement but cannot obtain the materials due to limited funding? Please apply for an ACS Central Wisconsin Teaching Enhancement Grant by Monday, January 10! We will notify award winners by Monday, January 31.

Examples of proposed activities that could be funded:

• Materials (such as red cabbage, blender, acidic and basic household items, etc.) to create a pH indictor for demonstration or hands-on use in an elementary school course. • Materials (such as a plastic stand, zinc and copper washers, alligator clips, vinegar, felt pads, etc.) to create an example battery as a hands-on activity or demonstration for a middle school class. • Materials (such as black tea, vinegar, universal indicator, starch solution, etc.) to create a demonstration or hands-on activity in the classroom of Le Châtelier’s Principle for a high school class.

The focus and goal of an activity should be to demonstrate or provide a hands-on experience for students on a topic related to chemistry. While we recognize the opportunities virtual learning presents, we hope that students will benefit from in-person experiences through this grant. Requests for electronic equipment (computers, iPads, etc.) and video equipment (microphones, webcams, etc.) must include an explanation for why the activity cannot be done in person.

Please complete the entry form found at the following link by Monday, January 10th at 5 p.m. https://uwsp.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_d0yPfgx0DFTkXEa

Required items in the form:

1. Name 2. Email 3. School Name 4. City of School 5. County of School 6. Grade(s) of Students for the Activity 7. Targeted Learning Outcome(s) 8. Summary of Teaching Proposal (up to 1000 words) 9. Estimated Budget (up to $500)

Contact: Katie McGarry (kmcgarry@uwsp.edu) Website: https://communities.acs.org/t5/Central-Wisconsin-Local-Section/gh-p/cent-wisconsin

Apply for a Space Camp Scholarship from the Geek Partnership Society

Geek Partnership Society (GPS), a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is now accepting applications for the 2022 Space Camp Scholarship through January 17, 2022. This allows a student (age 10-14) living in the states of Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, or Wisconsin to attend Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama at no cost (other than transportation to the airport). This year’s essay theme: “As the space industry grows, we will need a wider diversity of professions beyond mathematicians, rocket scientists and astronauts. Tell us about two or three different kinds of occupations, why they are needed, and how they contribute to the space industry.” Student qualifications: • Be age 10-14 (at the time they attend) Live in the 5-state area (MN, IA, WI. SD, ND) • Be able to demonstrate an interest in and understanding of space exploration • Have parental consent and fill out the application fully and accurately • Be able to attend Space Camp during the available time period • Be able to attend a 5-night program out of state without a parent • If you win the scholarship, you must fill out additional forms from Space Camp and agree to follow its rules and regulations. • Be able and willing to represent the Geek Partnership Society while attending Space Camp.

Be able to attend the 2022

CONvergence convention in

Minneapolis for the announcement on stage during Opening Ceremony. The winner and responsible adult will receive complimentary memberships to the convention. In addition, GPS is offering a scholarship for an educator to attend Space Camp. Teacher Qualifications: • Live in the 5-state area (MN, IA, WI,

SD, ND) • Be able to demonstrate an interest in and understanding of space exploration • Be able to attend Space Camp during the available time period • If you win the scholarship, you must fill out additional forms from Space

Camp and agree to follow its rules and regulations. • Be able and willing to represent the

Geek Partnership Society while attending Space Camp. Optionally, attend the 2022 CONvergence convention in Minneapolis for the announcement on stage during Opening Ceremony and for assorted panels and events. The winner will receive a complimentary membership to the convention if they choose to go. If you have any questions about the scholarship, the application process, or anything else, please email them to spacecamp@geekpartnership.org