FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2007
IGES Selects ESSEA Partners and Associates
Applications for Associate Membership Still Being Accepted
Arlington, Va.--The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) is pleased to announce the selection of 24 partners and 10 associate members to take part in the Earth System Science Education Alliance (ESSEA), an innovative professional development program for pre-service and in-service middle and high school teachers.
Selected participants include state universities, private colleges, and science research and education organizations spread among 22 states and the District of Columbia. Nine of the institutions chosen focus on serving minority populations.
"I believe the cohort of partners and associates we have selected are an excellent mix that will bring varied and innovative approaches to implementing the ESSEA courses," said Theresa Schwerin, IGES's associate director of education.
ESSEA is funded through a cooperative agreement awarded to IGES by the National Science Foundation under its Geoscience Teacher Training (GEO-Teach) program, which supports projects designed to improve the quality of geoscience education, primarily at the middle and high school levels. GEO-Teach projects provide pre-service teacher training, in-service professional development and access to high-quality curricular materials.
"I'm thrilled with the selections that were made," said Jill Karsten, program director for diversity and education in NSF's Geosciences Directorate. "It is a diverse set, both geographically and institutionally, and I am excited about the impact ESSEA will be having."
Partners will receive funding and training to offer a series of online Earth system science courses geared toward teachers of specific grade levels and aligned to national education standards. Working in collaborative groups, teachers who enroll in an ESSEA course can earn undergraduate, graduate or continuing education credit while learning to teach Earth system science using inquiry-based classroom methods.
Associate members will have access to the courses, training and to the ESSEA network via annual meetings, the program's Web site and e-mail communications. IGES continues to accept applications for associate membership.
IGES will assist participating institutions by helping them create a sustainable infrastructure for delivering the courses, and by providing evaluation tools to ensure that, upon course completion, teachers have a strong understanding of Earth system science and how to effectively teach the subject. In addition, IGES will inform ESSA participants about the latest Earth system science research and teaching practices through presentations at conferences, Web seminars, teleconferences and e-mail updates.
The NSF-funded program will build and expand on the original ESSEA program funded by NASA and administered by IGES from 2000 to 2005. IGES is currently updating the existing courses with additional online tools, modules and materials.
Located in Arlington, Va., IGES was established in 1994 and is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization supported by public and private entities. IGES is a trusted leader in Earth and space science education, communication and outreach, and in fostering national and international cooperation in observing the Earth.
For more information, including on how to apply for associate membership, please visit: http://essea.strategies.org. The selected ESSEA partners and associates are listed below.
CONTACT
Dan Stillman
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies
(703) 312-7138 (Phone)
(703) 312-8657 (FAX)
E-mail: dan_stillman@strategies.org
ESSEA Partners and Associates
Partners
California State University Los Angeles*
California State University Northridge*
College of Charleston/SC Space Grant*
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Florida Atlantic University
Ft. Hays State University
Loyola University Chicago
Montana State University
New Mexico State University*
Northern Michigan University
Plymouth State University
PRI/Museum of the Earth/Cornell University
San Jose State University*
Seattle Pacific University
SUNY - Oneonta
Texas A&M University-Texarkana
University of Arizona
University of Nebraska at Omaha
University of New Mexico*
University of Texas at Tyler
The University of Toledo/Central State University
Utah State University
Western Governors University
Wright State University
Associates
A-B-Sea Foundation
American Geological Institute
Elizabeth City State University*
GLOBE
Hampton University*
Morehead State University
Scripps Institution/UCSD
University of Alaska - Fairbanks & Anchorage*
University of Tennessee, Martin
Western Kentucky University
*Minority-serving institution or high minority enrollment