^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ AWG E-MAIL NEWS 2002-8 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ CONTENTS 1) FROM THE EDITOR 2) A NOTE TO THE MEMBERSHIP 3) AGI GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS PROGRAM CONGRESSIONAL ACTION ALERT: 3-18-02 4) PETITION TO THE OHIO BOARD OF EDUCATION 5) SUMMER WORKSHOP - TEACHING QUANTITATIVE SKILLS IN A GEOSCIENCE 6) RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY 7) WOMEN GEOLOGISTS DURING WWII 8) CONTACT INFORMATION ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Thanks to everyone who contributed to this issue of E-mail News ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 1) FROM THE EDITOR We have been receiving complaints that members are receiving their copies of Gaea late or not at all. Our sincere apologies to all concerned, but while we are doubtless responsible for part of the problem, there are some things that are simply beyond our control. Remember that since 9/11 mail deliveries, particularly bulk mail, have slowed - an unfortunate fact that we are going to have to live with at least for a time. Please be patient! We also ask that if you need to notify AWG of a change of address, that you e-mail us at office @awg.org or use the mailing address shown in Gaea. (Contact information is always included at the end of each E-mail News and in the box on page 2 of Gaea). That way the information goes straight to the database manager and so the line of communication is shortened and the database will be updated that much faster. Changes and updates should not go through regional chapters or any other contact addresses. Meantime we are striving to improve our own efficiency so that AWG will run more smoothly and provide a better service to all its members. We all need to pitch in though, so let's work on this together! One more thing on the subject of address changes: please note that the AWG editor's has changed to: Joanne Kluessendorf Weis Earth Science Museum University of Wisconsin - Fox Valley 1478 Midway Rd. Menasha, WI 54952 phone: 920.832.0125 fax: 920.832.2674 email: editor@awg.org In order to allow AWG to best serve you, please do not use the old Illinois contact information for the editor. Thank you. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 2) A NOTE TO THE MEMBERSHIP Do you remember that the AWG Membership Directory is available on the website? Visit the "Member's Only" section of www.awg.org, supply the required user name (geowomen) and password (awg1org) and you will be able to connect with other registered members of the Association. Remember, the username and password are case sensitive; type both with only lower case letters. If you have any problems, drop the Secretary a note at secretary@awg.org. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 3) AGI GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS PROGRAM CONGRESSIONAL ACTION ALERT: 3-18-02 *** Remaining Eisenhower Programs Under Threat of Elimination *** IN A NUTSHELL: The House Education and the Workforce Committee is meeting this Wednesday (April 20th) to vote on legislation, H.R. 3801, that would eliminate the remaining programs of the Eisenhower programs for math and science educators -- the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse and the Eisenhower Regional Consortia. The flagship Eisenhower professional development state grants program was eliminated when President Bush signed the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act into law on January 8th. In its place, NCLB authorized $450 million for a new math and science partnership program (Eisenhower was last funded at $485 million). For fiscal year (FY) 2002, only $12.5 million was provided for these partnerships, and the president has requested the same level of funding for FY 2003. The combination of losing the remaining Eisenhower programs, if H.R. 3801 passes, and the low funding for the new partnerships would greatly reduce the resources available to elementary and secondary educators in science and mathematics. AGI encourages earth scientists to communicate the importance of maintaining support for science education to members of the House Education and the Workforce Committee and the House Appropriations Committee. ********************** The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001, which reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, transformed the federal role in science and mathematics education. Prior to the new legislation, which President Bush signed into law on January 8, 2002, professional development for science and mathematics teachers was supported through the Department of Education's (DoEd) Eisenhower Professional Development Programs -- the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse (ENC) for Mathematics and Science Education, the Eisenhower Regional Mathematics and Science Education Consortia, and the Eisenhower Professional Development State Grants. NCLB terminated the state grants portion of the Eisenhower program and in its place established the Math and Science Partnerships. Both the clearinghouse and the consortia (known as the Eisenhower Network) were untouched by the ESEA reauthorization process, but an administration-supported reauthorization bill for the DoEd Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) would eliminate these remaining programs. The Eisenhower Network produces a wide variety of print and electronic publications for educators and parents that are free of charge via the Internet . It is well positioned to help math and science educators effectively implement the new programs established by "No Child Left Behind" by delivering a wealth of resources directly in the hands of teachers and parents in every state. Rep. Michael Castle (R-DE), chairman of the House Subcommittee on Education Reform, introduced legislation on February 27th that would overhaul DoEd's OERI. H.R. 3801, the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, would establish a new Academy of Education Sciences that would, according to the committee's summary, "oversee coordinated and high quality education research, statistics gathering, program evaluation, and dissemination of information." At a February 28th hearing, Castle commented in his opening statement that he is "seeking to insulate our federal research, evaluation and statistics activities from partisan or undue influences, [to] put the needs of our teachers and students first, [to] insist on the use of rigorous scientific standards to identify and disseminate effective strategies and methods, and [to] ensure that program evaluations are impartial." Under this proposal, the Academy of Education Sciences would remain a part of DoEd but would be "under the direction" of a new National Board of Education Sciences. According to the House Education and the Workforce summary of the legislation , the new structure would establish regionally based grant programs that are currently used for programs such as the Eisenhower Network. It also states that the regional boards "would have the authority to enter into grants and contracts -- which may include the continuation of funds to existing" contracts, such as the Eisenhower Network. While the new legislation leaves the opportunity open for the continuation of these important science and mathematics programs, it does not guarantee them. Although the No Child Left Behind Act authorized $450 million for the science and math partnerships (Eisenhower was last funded at $485 million), the FY2002 allocation and the FY2003 budget request would provide these programs only $12.5 million. This level of funding represents less than five percent of the full authorization amount. Funding for the Eisenhower Network is provided through grants/multi- year contracts with OERI, which is listed in the budget documents as the Education Research, Statistics, and Assessments account. Neither ENC nor the regional consortia are specifically requested within the president's FY 2003 budget proposal for DoEd. Castle's OERI restructuring legislation comes at a time when federal support for math and science education is already ebbing. *** Education Committee Vote *** The House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Education Reform approved H.R. 3801 in a March 13th markup (voting) session. The full committee is scheduled to vote the bill on March 20th. AGI encourages geoscientists to communicate their support not only for improving the quality of math and science education but also for providing educators with the necessary tools by contacting their members of Congress. Please call, fax, or email your representative, especially if he/she sits on the Education and the Workforce Committee or the House Appropriations Subcommittee (see below) that oversees funding for DoEd, to urge them to support the inclusion of full authorization language for the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse for Mathematics and Science Education (ENC) and the ten regional Eisenhower math and science consortia in the bill to reauthorize the Office of Educational Research and Improvement. With the loss of the Eisenhower state grants and the low funding request for science and math partnerships, ENC and the state consortia remain the only other math and science targeted programs for elementary and secondary educators. Below are the fax number and email (when available) for members of the House Education and the Workforce Committee and the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor/HHS that oversees funding for DoEd. To call committee members or your own representative, use the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. *** HOUSE EDUCATION & THE WORKFORCE COMMITTEE *** ** Republicans ** John Boehner (OH, 8th) 202-225-0704 john.boehner@mail.house.gov Thomas Petri (WI, 6th) 202-225-2356 Marge Roukema (NJ, 5th) 202-225-9048 rep.roukema@mail.house.gov Cass Ballenger (NC, 10th) 202-225-0316 cass.ballenger@mail.house.gov Peter Hoekstra (MI, 2nd) 202-226-0779 tellhoek@mail.house.gov Buch McKeon (CA, 25th) 202-226-0683 tellbuck@mail.house.gov Michael Castle (DE, At Large) 202-225-2719 delaware@mail.house.gov Sam Johnson (TX, 3rd) 202-225-1485 Jim Greenwood (PA, 8th) 202-225-9511 greenwoodpa@mail.house.gov Lindsay Graham (SC, 3rd) 202-225-3216 Mark Souder (IN, 4th) 202-225-3479 souder@mail.house.gov Charles Norwood (GA, 10th) 202-226-5995 rep.charlie.norwood@mail.house.gov Bob Schaffer (CO, 4th) 202-225-5870 rep.schaffer@mail.house.gov Fred Upton (MI, 6th) 202-225-4986 tellupton@mail.house.gov Van Hilleary (TN, 4th) 202-225-3272 van.hilleary@mail.house.gov Vernon Ehlers (MI, 3rd) 202-225-5144 rep.ehlers@mail.house.gov Thomas Tancredo (CO, 6th) 202-226-4623 tom.tancredo@mail.house.gov Ernest Lee Fletcher (KY, 6th) 202-225-2122 Jim DeMint (SC, 4th) 202-226-1177 jim.demint@mail.house.gov Johnny Isakson (GA, 6th) 202-225-4656 ga06@mail.house.gov Bob Goodlatte (VA, 6th) 202-225-9681 talk2bob@mail.house.gov Judy Biggert (IL, 13th) 202-225-9420 Todd Platts (PA, 19th) 202-226-1000 Patrick Tiberi (OH, 12th) 202-226-4523 Ric Keller (FL, 8th) 202-225-0999 Thomas Osborne (NE, 3rd) 202-226-1385 John Culberson (TX, 7th) 202-225-4381 john.culberson@mail.house.gov ** Democrats ** George Miller (CA, 7th) 202-225-5609 george.miller@mail.house.gov Dale Kildee (MI, 9th) 202-225-6393 dkildee@mail.house.gov Major Owens (NY, 11th) 202-226-0112 Donald Payne (NJ, 10th) 202-225-4160 donald.payne@mail.house.gov Patsy Mink (HI, 2nd) 202-225-4987 Robert Andrews (NJ, 1st) 202-225-6583 rob.andrews@mail.house.gov Tom Roemer (IN, 3rd) 202-225-6798 tim.roemer@mail.house.gov Robert Scott (VA, 3rd) 202-225-8354 rcs@mail.house.gov Lynn Woolsey (CA, 6th) 202-225-5163 lynn.woolsey@mail.house.gov Lynn Rivers (MI, 13th) 202-225-3404 lynn.rivers@mail.house.gov Ruben Hinojosa (TX, 15th) 202-225-5688 rep.hinojosa@mail.house.gov Carolyn McCarthy (NY, 4th) 202-225-5758 John Tierney (MA, 6th) 202-225-5915 Ron Kind (WI, 3rd) 202-225-5739 ron.kind@mail.house.gov Loretta Sanchez (CA, 46th) 202-225-5859 loretta@mail.house.gov Harold Ford, Jr. (TN, 9th) 202-225-5663 rep.harold.ford.jr@mail.house.gov Dennis Kucinich (OH, 10th) 202-225-5745 David Wu (OR, 1st) 202-225-9497 david.wu@mail.house.gov Rush Holt (NJ, 12th) 202-225-6025 rush.holt@mail.house.gov Hilda Solis (CA, 31st) 202-225-5467 Susan Davis (CA, 49th) 202-2252948 susan.davis@mail.house.gov Betty McCollum (MN, 4th) 202-225-1968 *** HOUSE LABOR/HHS/EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE *** **Republicans** Ralph Regula (OH) 202-225-3059 Ernest Istook (OK) 202-226-1463 istook@mail.house.gov Dan Miller (FL) 202-226-0828 Roger Wicker (MS) 202-225-3549 roger.wicker@mail.house.gov Ann Northup (KY) 202-225-5776 rep.northup@mail.house.gov Randy Cummingham (CA) 202-225-2558 Kay Granger (TX) 202-225-5683 texas.granger@mail.house.gov John Peterson (PA) 202-225-5796 Don Sherwood (PA) 202-225-9594 **Democrats** Steny Hoyer (MD) 202-225-4300 Nancy Pelosi (CA) 202-225-8259 sf.nancy@mail.house.gov Nita Lowey (NY) 202-225-0546 nita.lowey@mail.house.gov Rosa DeLauro (CT) 202-225-4890 delauro.ct03@mail.house.gov Jesse Jackson, Jr. (IL) 202-225-0899 comments@jessejacksonjr.org Patrick Kennedy (RI) 202-225-3290 patrick.kenndy@mail.house.gov ___________ Alert prepared by Margaret A. Baker, AGI Government Affairs Program Sources: Department of Education, House Education and the Workforce Committee, Library of Congress, and National Science Teachers Association. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 4) PETITION TO THE OHIO BOARD OF EDUCATION The Ohio board of education is considering inserting "Intelligent Design" creationism into the K-12 public school science standards. For more information on this issue, please consult the Ohio Citizens for Science web site at www.ohioscience.org Please sign the following petition online at: http://www.petitiononline.com/idno/petition.html Feel free to print out copies and collect signatures at your church, school, place of business, etc. Mail those pages to Ohio Board of Education Ohio Department of Education Building 25 S. Front St., 7th Floor Columbus, Ohio 43215-4183. Everyone is welcome to sign the petition. It is most useful if Ohioans include their full address or at least their town of residence. PETITION TO THE OHIO BOARD OF EDUCATION: We, the undersigned, urge the Ohio Board of Education NOT to include "Intelligent Design Theory" in the new science standards. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 5) SUMMER WORKSHOP - TEACHING QUANTITATIVE SKILLS IN A GEOSCIENCE The National Association of Geoscience Teachers announces a workshop, Teaching Quantitative Skills in a Geoscience Context, for faculty teaching geoscience and mathematics at the undergraduate level. The workshop will be held July 24 through July 27, 2002 at Carleton College, Northfield, MN. The application deadline is April 5. More information about the workshop, including the electronic application form and the agenda, is available at http://dlesecommunity.carleton.edu/quantskills/events/NAGT02/ The development of strong quantitative skills should be an essential aspect of undergraduate education. Quantitative skills are taught in both mathematics and geoscience using different approaches and techniques. The purpose of this workshop is to bring together mathematicians and geoscientists to examine these two approaches and develop materials that advance the teaching of mathematics in a geologic context throughout the curriculum. The specific goals of the workshop are: ú To explore effective methods for teaching skills such as estimation, representation, and modeling in a geoscience context ú To explore the quantitative aspects of concepts that are integral to solving a wide variety of important geologic problems ú To develop activities addressing key mathematical concepts in a geoscience context useful in both geoscience and mathematics classes ú To identify effective strategies for teaching quantitative skills ú To address collaboration between mathematics and geoscience faculty ú To begin team projects that will extend the reach of the workshop Participants will leave the workshop with ú A summary of key quantitative skills, issues, challenges, and concepts ú A collection of activities created by the participants ú A list of effective strategies for teaching quantitative skills ú Plans for ongoing projects and membership in an on-line discussion group The workshop is open to faculty teaching geoscience, geoscience education, mathematics, and mathematics education at the undergraduate level. We encourage, but do not require, participation by mathematics-geoscience teams from the same institution or a two-year college/four-year institution team. NSF Grant DUE-0083251 will provide funding for on-site workshop expenses; participants or their home institutions must provide transportation to and from the workshop. We will be able to offer small travel stipends to participants from institutions unable to cover travel costs. Contact Heather Macdonald (rhmacd@wm.edu) or Cathy Manduca (cmanduca@carleton.edu) for more information. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 6) RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY The National Science Foundation is interested in the factors that influence career paths and decisions of Geoscientists. You are invited to participate in a focus group addressing these factors to be held just prior to the Spring AGU meetings, on Tuesday, May 28, 2002, at the Washington Convention Center or the AGU conference hotel. Child care will be available at the AGU meeting, and costs will be covered by NSF funds. As a token of appreciation for sharing your experiences and about 2 hours of your time, you will be given $50. If you are interested in participating in this important study, please send an email to advance2@unl.edu with a subject line of GEOSCIENCES to be eligible to participate. The Bureau of Sociological Research at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will be organizing and conducting the focus groups. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 7) WOMEN GEOLOGISTS DURING WWII AWG has received a request for information about women geologists during WWII, particularly those who worked in Texas during this time. Anyone with information should send it to: secretary@awg.org ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 8) CONTACT INFORMATION To submit an item to E-MAIL NEWS contact: editor@awg.org To submit advertising contact: ads@awg.org To change your address or be removed from the list contact: office@awg.or