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Stand up for Science!
Click the blue banner on the AGU home page to see updated resources, information and actions for AGU members during this uncertain time for science. There are resources for scientists impacted by job loss, position statements, and resources for advocacy and action. Make your voice heard, and join AGU as we stand together.
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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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Section Award Working Group
The AGU Education Section is considering expanding the roster of Education section awards to potentially include a future award for mid-career and/or senior career staff or faculty involved in education and education research to celebrate the great work happening across career stages. If you are interested in serving on this working group, please contact Michelle Nichols (mnichols@adlerplanetarium.org). Anticipated workload would be fairly minimal, 1-2 hours per month, at most. Award submission timeline is TBD (to be based on AGU's award application timeline).
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What’s on Your Summer Reading List?
This is the time of year where summer vacation is knocking on the door of K-12 classrooms. Whether near or afar, closing the academic year for a summer vacation rests the mind, and rejuvenates the soul in preparation for the next year of academics. How do you spend your summer vacation? How do you use it to prep for the new academic year? For some, it is a time to attack the stack of books that have accumulated over the past year. If enjoying a good read is part of your to-do list for the summer, be sure to include Eos-ENGAGE to catch up on the latest Earth and space science happenings, and to gather readings for your next academic year. Many of these engaging articles have links to instructional resources, they are all recorded (easy to listen to on a beach!), and are compiled into a searchable database. So, wherever your summer vacation may take you, be sure to take along a digital reading device to catch up on the latest Earth and space science news!
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Senior Scientists Unite
In this new Eos opinion article, author Mark Moldwin (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor) asserts that senior scientists should organize and speak up against recent federal funding cuts to scientific agencies, educational institutions, and research initiatives. Moldwin stresses that senior scientists are uniquely positioned within the professional scientific and educational communities to combat misinformation and unite behind messaging that emphasizes the practical impacts (public health degradation, economic weakening, and environmental destruction) of the current administration's actions. The article goes on to emphasize that, using these messages, scientists should push their institutional leaders to take a stand and connect with universities and professional societies sharing the common goal of preserving scientific independence.
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Immersive Learning: Teaching Geoscience with VR
In this open-access research article, authors Natalie Bursztyn, Ashley D'Antonio, and Bart Masters detail the effectiveness of a web-hosted desktop virtual reality (VR) interface in teaching undergraduates in an geological mapping course how to take strike and dip measurements. The study found that the immersive VR enhanced student learning and improved their self-efficacy, building skills in spatial reasoning and geological mapping concepts.
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Exchanging Knowledge in Geoscience Education Research
Are you interested in enhancing your research design and methodology skills in an informal, collaborative setting? The GER Monthly Knowledge Exchange is here to help! This casual, interactive monthly Zoom gathering seeks to create a forum for the GER (Geoscience Education Research) community to ask questions and get input from peers without the pressure of formal presentations, build collective capacity, and share resources, ideas, and experiences on a specific topic. No prep required––just bring your curiosity and insights to share!
- Date: June 26th
- Time: 9:30 -10:30am PT / 12:30 - 1:30 ET
- Topic: "I wish he hadn't said that...": An open conversation on equitable interviewing of neurominorities
- Join the meeting
- Meeting ID: 2630 458 3581
We’d love your input! Suggest a topic for a future session by adding it to our topic calendar. Visit the summary of shared insights from our prior meeting on “Publishing GER: Deciding where to submit manuscripts and addressing implications for writing” here.
Let’s learn and grow together. See you there!
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Calling all informal/out-of-school-time educators & scientists: save the dates during Annual Meeting Week!
The AGU Education Section Informal Education Working Group is collaborating with the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) to host a variety of public-facing activities & programs during the week of the Annual Meeting. Several opportunities will be available for AGU meeting attendees to engage with the public, groups, and/or museum-connected individuals (separately from the Annual Meeting):
- Private presentation on Monday, Dec 15, 2025 from 10:00 am - 12:00 noon: this presentation would be for NOMA's Docent and Art Thrives groups. These groups are 55+ in age and have a wide array of experience and interests, and they would love to learn about additional science perspectives.
- Gallery talks on Wednesday, Dec 17, 2025 at 12:30 pm and 6:00 pm: the museum would be thrilled to host one or more individuals who would like to lead a talk within the museum's exhibits to connect science research to items on display in the museum or in the Sculpture Garden.
- Public event on Wednesday, Dec 17, 2025 from 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm: the museum will provide space for individuals & teams to facilitate STEAM activities for the public.
- The museum will have school field trip groups during the AGU meeting week and are looking at ways to connect members with those school groups to provide science/art connections & perspectives.
Want to learn more or participate? Please email Michelle Nichols (mnichols@adlerplanetarium.org) and Sanlyn Buxner (sbuxner@psi.edu). Commitments from participating individuals & groups will be needed by 1 October 2025. More to come!
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Bright STaRS
It is never too early to start planning for Bright STaRS (Students Training as Research Scientists)! This middle school and high school poster session which began in 2002 is held at the AGU annual meeting (AGU25), which will take place in New Orleans this December. Middle and high school students who participate in research experiences in the Earth and space science are invited to participate in this free program, which includes a dedicated poster session (in person and virtual) for around 200 students from around the world to present their projects to the scientific community and learn about education, research, and future career opportunities in the Earth and space sciences.
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AGU25 Important Dates
Thank you to everyone who convened, chaired, and presented Education Section sessions, posters, and papers at AGU24! As we look ahead to planning for the 2025 meeting, here are dates to keep in mind.
- Abstract Submission Period: Opened 11 June / Closes 30 July
- Session conveners accept abstracts and arrange their sessions: Early August
- Abstract submitters notified of abstract acceptance: Early October
- 2025 AGU Annual Meeting: 15–19 December 2025, New Orleans, LA
If you have questions about convening sessions, submitting abstracts, etc., please contact the section representatives for the Fall Meeting Program Committee. Note: proposal period dates listed may shift slightly if deemed necessary by AGU staff.
We hope to see you at the 2025 AGU Annual Meeting!
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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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