ISTA News and Events - 2011

NSF-ISU Earthscope Opportunity for MS-HS Teachers

2011-2012 marks the 200th anniversary of the historic New Madrid Earthquakes. EarthScope, a huge National Science Foundation funded project to understand the nature of the Earth’s interior, will deploy 30 broadband seismometers on a 75 kilometer grid in Illinois this summer. A major theme is why do large earthquakes occur in continental interiors? Illinois EarthScope and the New Madrid Earthquakes: a new view of integrated Earth sciences is a workshop for middle and high school science teachers. In the workshop, teachers will be introduced to integrated, large scale science and observe the resulting geologic features.  The program was held August 1 – 12, 2011, and will be held again November 12 & 13, and February 18 & 19, 2012.
Teachers will receive $100/day stipend, 3 hours of graduate credit (GEOL 306.20), housing and Illinois State University meals.  Workshop application and more information can be found at http://lilt.ilstu.edu/rsnelso 

ISTA Represented at Sustainable School Symposium

On Friday, April 1 the Governor’s Sustainable School Symposium was held at the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences.  Governor Quinn spoke of the need for energy independence with students, teachers, schools, and green governments leading the way.  He presented a number of Environmental Hero Awards and spoke to over 400 participants. The symposium promoted the exchange of ideas through presentations, exhibits, and networking among school administrators, regional superintendents, school board members, facility managers and custodial staff, teachers, school health practitioners, facility planners and architects, school-related non-profits and agencies, and high school student environmental leaders.

ISTA President-elect Paul Ritter moderated a session on Student Environmental Action,  spoke with his students on the National Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal Program, and organized a student-staffed exhibit. ISTA Cool Communities grant recipient Patricia Parsons’ students described their Gage Park HS Environmental Club and had an exhibit featuring vermicomposting.  ISTA President Carol Baker and Executive Director Harry Hendrickson staffed a display and encouraged participation in the IL Science Education Conference.

For more information and many of the presentations, click here.

April 15th is National DNA Day

Each year, the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) celebrates National DNA Day (http://www.genome.gov/105063670).  National DNA Day is a unique day when students, teachers and the public can learn more about genetics and genomics. The day commemorates the completion of the Human Genome Project in April 2003, and the discovery of DNA's double helix. This year, NHGRI will celebrate National DNA Day on April 15.  Below is information on 2011 DNA Day activities you and your students may participate in.