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A message from our outgoing president, Dr. Kristen St. John:
It has been an honor serving as the AGU Education Section President these past two years. High quality Earth and space science education is the foundation for a well prepared and innovative scientific workforce necessary for addressing some of the most urgent challenges facing society today. Building community and elevating opportunities for Earth and space science educators and students are priorities for our section.
Over the last two years I’m proud of the many volunteer efforts our section has taken on that support these priorities. In 2023 we organized our first Town Hall on Building Education Capacity. Soon after we created a 2YC position in our Executive Committee. These were motivating factors in volunteer efforts and an AGU partnership that led to the current NSF-funded AGU Faculty Travel Grant pilot program.
Additionally, over the past few years our section renewed offering a regular undergraduate session at the annual meeting to create a dedicated space for students to take their first steps in professional society research presentations. Our volunteer leaders continue to organize similar opportunities for high school students via the Bright STaRS program. We are excited too by initial discussion around developing ‘near-peer’ mentoring programs that our Student and Early Career working group can have a leadership role in.
Our section also worked to improve visibility and effective communication about Earth and space science education via a major website redesign two years ago. We continue to support ongoing efforts for new content on it, in our newsletter, and via Instagram. Much work is done behind the scenes for all of these and other efforts. The AGU Education Section elected and volunteer leaders are talented and dedicated to improving education and supporting members. It has been a delight to work with each of them and to represent education interests in the broader AGU community.
The Education Section thanks Kristen for her years of service, and appreciates her invaluable insight and experience as we head into 2025!
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Help US Help YOU
The Education Section supports a diverse community of students, educators, and education researchers through various grants and programs that promote connectivity throughout the Earth and space sciences (see below our travel grant awardees). If you are attending AGU24 and are interested in promoting education in the geosciences, help us publicize our Section website by including this QR code on your poster, at your booth, or in your presentation! Raising awareness of our Section and its initiatives helps us help you!
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Congratulations to Elected Section Officials!
Our elected volunteer leaders work hard to represent the interests of AGU members––thank you to everyone whose vote helped to give the Education Section a voice in AGU leadership and policies! We are pleased to share that our incoming President is Laura Lukes, and our past President, Tanya Furman, has been elected for the AGU Board of Directors. Sanlyn Buxner is our President-elect, and Sunday Siomades will serve as Secretary. Congratulations to all candidates! Our leaders look forward to another great year of fostering educational opportunities. View the complete election announcement here.
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Congratulations to Our First NSF Travel Grant Awardees!
2024 was the pilot year for the Education Section’s NSF-funded Travel Grant Program. The program objective was to offer $1700 travel stipends to support up to 50 early-to-mid-career geoscience faculty at under-resourced U.S. 2- and 4-year colleges and universities to attend the 2024 AGU annual conference. We are pleased to report that we met this goal, and awarded grants to 50 educators from across the country! Awardees will review student presentations, network, and participate in professional development opportunities unique to AGU. Read more about the award program and view the awardee list.
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Congratulations to AGU Student Travel Grant and SEC Student Travel Grant Awardees!
The Education Section is pleased to announce our Student Travel Grant winners! Financial awards to help traveling students defray costs of attending the annual AGU meeting are made possible through donations to our Section. Explore student abstracts below!
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Honor an Educator
The Education Section invites you to recognize outstanding teachers and mentors that have made a difference in your life by donating to the Honor an Educator Campaign. This initiative funds professional development workshops, conference attendance, and other collaborative experiences for educators and students. Your contribution helps our Section increase opportunities to share Earth and space science with the world. Learn more and donate today!
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Seeking OSPA Reviewers
The Education Section is fortunate to have double the number of entries for Outstanding Student Presentation Awards (OSPA) this year... which means we need YOUR help as an OPSA reviewer! Reviewing OSPA submissions takes a small amount of your time and makes a big difference to our student researchers. Visit the list of OSPA Presentations and access the signup instructions to volunteer TODAY!
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Seeking Volunteers for Bright STaRS
Do you remember your first conference? Did you want some feedback on your presentation but were too shy to ask? Help our high school conference presenters grow! The Bright STaRS program enables high school researchers to present at AGU’s annual meeting. These budding researchers would love your feedback. Everyone is welcome to provide the Bright STaRS presenters feedback via a custom form––no need sign up! Just scan the QR codes in the Bright STaRS session or email the Bright STaRS coordinators (sophia.tsang@monash.edu) to receive a link to the feedback form the week of AGU24 (December 9-13).
Thanks for your support and encouragement of our future workforce!
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AGU24 Updates: Education Sessions
Make the sessions below part of your AGU24 schedule! It means so much to students to get feedback from scientists and educators. Let's celebrate them as well as our 2024 Stout Lecturer, Rachel Bernard! Check out all of the Education sessions here.
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AGU24 Updates: Education Section Events
From Education to Action: Science education and science policy engagement
This is a joint event with Science and Society!
Location: Grand Hyatt, Wilson / Roosevelt
Date & Time: Monday, December 9 @ 6:30PM
Education Reception and Section Gathering
Free and open to all. Even if you don't have a ticket, please drop by this event! Free snacks and cash bar.
Location: Grand Hyatt, Wilson / Roosevelt
Date & Time: Tuesday, December 10 @ 6:30PM
Education Section Game Night Featuring Resilience Education Games
Free and open to all; directly follows the Reception and Section Gathering.
Location: Grand Hyatt, Wilson / Roosevelt
Date & Time: Tuesday, December 10 @ 8:00PM
Visit our website for more information about AGU24 with the Education Section!
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AGU24 Updates: Learning Opportunities and Pre-Conference Workshops
Learn At AGU24 includes a variety of events including preconference workshops, conference week learning panels and workshops, and activities at the Center for Professional and Career Development.
Pre-conference Workshops: Full and half-day workshops held on Sunday (December 8th) before the conference. These workshops are engaging hands-on learning events, developed and facilitated by members. These workshops have a separate fee.
Conference Learning Opportunities: Ninety-minute workshops and panels. These workshops are free and open to all.
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AGU24 With the K-12 Working Group
The AGU 2024 Fall Meeting in Washington DC is around the corner! K-12 educators who are AGU members can attend the meeting for only $55. While at the conference, join the Education Section’s K12 Working Group for its oral and poster sessions entitled “ED13G - From Data-Driven Discoveries to K–12 Classrooms: Inspiring Educators and Students with the Latest Research Translated into Engaging Instructional Resources.” They will both take place on Monday, December 9th. Visit the conference schedule for details. In addition to our session, there are numerous education sessions throughout the week, including the Bright STaRS session which showcases the work of high school students from around the world. The conference line-up is guaranteed to inspire and enlighten––see you there!
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AGU24 With the Student & Early Career Working Group
Our SEC Working Group has a variety of events and sessions at AGU24 for early career professionals and students! Explore the complete Student and Early Career schedule, and access this Google Doc for highlighted events. See you at AGU!
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Mentoring365 Live at AGU24
AGU24 will be packed with on-site mentoring opportunities through Mentoring365 Live. As an AGU24 attendee, you will have access to mentorship with your peers in the Earth and space community. Don’t miss your opportunity to participate. Both mentors and mentees are encouraged to apply! Sign up before 9 December. Learn more and register.
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New Program: AGU Career Guidance
AGU Career Guidance is a free, member-exclusive, virtual program that helps AGU members advance their career and their science goals. Whether you're a student or a professional at any career stage, you can choose between two session topics: advance your career or advance your science. Each month-long session begins with two weeks of self-assessment, followed by a live event for collaborative discussion with a career guide, and concludes with another two weeks of self-reflection. Due to the hands-on nature of this program, seats are limited! Learn more and register.
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Awards Galore for K12 Earth and Space Science Educators!
Do you know of any exemplary Earth and space science educators? Here are a couple of opportunities to highlight their expertise!
The “Edward C. Roy Jr. Award” from the American Geosciences Institute (AGI) honors K-8 Earth and space science teachers. Dr. Edward C. Roy Jr. was a distinguished educator, president of AGI and chair of its Education Advisory Committee, and lifelong champion of both students and teachers. Nominations are due January 17, 2025.
The “Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Award” from National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT) honors K-12 Earth and Space Science teachers. This award recognizes educators that have inspired significant interest in the Earth sciences for students at the pre-college level. Nominations are due March 1, 2025.
Please share these opportunities to ensure our worthy teachers are celebrated!
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Calling All Photographers
We would like to feature your photos of Earth and space science on our section website! Submit your original photos with your name and a caption. Photos can be of anything that represents Earth and space science or teaching and learning. If people are in your photo, please be sure to obtain their permission before submitting!
Submit your photos to: https://forms.gle/3Je8cZCqgc9y68Sw5. A big thank you to everyone who has already submitted––take a look at your pictures on our updated home page!
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Words of Advice
We know there are many educators with a wealth of lived experiences and advice to share! The Education Section invites you to submit your tips for effective teaching and learning, advice for early career instructors, or quotes that inspire your career. We would like to showcase your words and have prepared space for them on our section website.
Submit your teaching and learning tips, advice, and inspiration to: https://forms.gle/vQ7P9WNSYVPCYxm68. A big thank you to everyone who has already submitted––take a look at your words on our updated home page!
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We’ve Got Mail!
The Education Section newsletter accepts member-suggested submissions! Contact us at edsectionnewsletter@gmail.com with timely events, articles, or programs relating to education in the Earth and space sciences. To be considered for inclusion in the monthly newsletter, please send items before 5:00pm EST on the second Monday of the preceding month. We look forward to hearing from you!
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