Earth Matters

What are you doing to celebrate?

October 12th, 2011 by Mike Carlowicz

It’s Earth Science Week. What are you doing to celebrate?

Our colleagues within NASA and at other institutions have organized a series of educational and outreach activities this week that showcase our science and the people behind it. Some highlights include:

+ A webcast with NASA’s chief scientist, Waleed Abdalati, from 1-2 p.m. Eastern Time on October 12. Teachers and students are invited to join Waleed Abdalati to share stories and perspectives on our ever-changing Earth. Participants can email questions during the webcast. Visit http://dln.nasa.gov/dln and scroll down to the DLiNfo Channel Webcasts to link to the webcast (no registration necessary).

+ Profiles of women making a difference in Earth science at http://women.nasa.gov/earth-science-week-special. The stars include: Cynthia Rosenzweig, who leads a group studying the impacts of climate change; Erika Podest, who studies wetlands and the global carbon and water cycles; Erica Alston, who focuses on fisheries and atmospheric science, including air quality; and Claire Parkinson, project scientist for the Aqua mission and a climatologist studying sea ice.

+ An introduction to the next Earth-science satellite, NPP, set to launch later this month. The National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Preparatory Project will play a key role in studying climate change. Learn more about NPP and its polar bear mascot NPPy at http://npp.gsfc.nasa.gov/kids.html.

+ Short videos introducing Earth Science Week and NASA’s role in studying Earth, as well as educator resources and programs. Visit http://climate.nasa.gov/esw2011

Organized by the American Geological Institute and its federal and private partners, Earth Science Week was created in 1998 to help the public gain a better appreciation for the science and stewardship of our planet. The theme this year is “Our Ever-Changing Earth,” something you can observe daily here on the Earth Observatory.

“We invite you to join us online, explore our changing planet, and share this work with your students, family, and colleagues,” says Eric Brown de Colstoun, a scientist who also coordinates Earth science education for NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. “You can also choose to reflect on how lucky we are to live on this beautiful and ever-changing planet, the home base from which we carry out our many explorations into the universe.”

More information about Earth Science Week can be found at http://climate.nasa.gov/esw2011/. Archived events from 2011 and years past can be found here.

One Response to “What are you doing to celebrate?”

  1. Ibang SR says:

    Excellent website. Lots of helpful info here. I am sending it to some buddies ans also sharing in delicious. And certainly, thank you to your effort!