Comments on: X2 Project: Now YOU can help forecast the future of science http://sciencecheerleader.com/2008/05/x2_project_now_you_can_help_forecast_the_future_of_science/ Rooting for Teamwork in Science and Science Policy! Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:11:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: JT Lewis http://sciencecheerleader.com/2008/05/x2_project_now_you_can_help_forecast_the_future_of_science/#comment-68 JT Lewis Fri, 23 May 2008 22:57:47 +0000 http://sciencecheerleader.com/?p=35#comment-68 Hey ScienceCheerleader, Thanks for speaking out for the citizen scientists among us. Not every home-made tape is naughty in nature, check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU8DDYz68kM to see how Individuals armed with digital recorders can add to our understanding of the natural world. Other cool citizen-scientist initiatives: http://nbii-nin.ciesin.columbia.edu/ipane/volunteers/become.htm (plot spread of invasive plant species) and http://confluence.org/ (photgraph every world intersection of lattitude and longitude.) Hey ScienceCheerleader,

Thanks for speaking out for the citizen scientists among us. Not every home-made tape is naughty in nature, check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU8DDYz68kM to see how Individuals armed with digital recorders can add to our understanding of the natural world.

Other cool citizen-scientist initiatives:

http://nbii-nin.ciesin.columbia.edu/ipane/volunteers/become.htm
(plot spread of invasive plant species) and
http://confluence.org/ (photgraph every world intersection of lattitude and longitude.)

]]> By: Lauren http://sciencecheerleader.com/2008/05/x2_project_now_you_can_help_forecast_the_future_of_science/#comment-35 Lauren Thu, 15 May 2008 14:49:18 +0000 http://sciencecheerleader.com/?p=35#comment-35 Maryann, It's definitely a challenge keeping teens interested in Science, especially with the extra-curricular activities and technology this generation has at their fingertips. However, this can also work to our advantage. I am a Middle School Science teacher in Philadelphia, and it's my JOB to engage teenagers everyday in Science. I have found that teens are very interested in Weather. I have my students watch the daily news for the weather forecast. After explaining vocabulary terms to them, they now understand what "humidity" and "barometric pressure" actually deals with. I like to spin my classes to have the children impress their peers. I doubt many 10 year olds know what barometric pressure is, but when you teach the children the science principles they feel like a powerhouse of knowledge. I also have my students pick a location in our world and study their weather for a week. Then, the students must make up their own weather forecast from that location and videotape themselves as if they were on the news. They LOVE this project. "Going Green", "Alternative Energy", and "science in schools" are going to become increasingly more prominent tag phrases in the coming months with our election nearing. Have your children listen to the debates and see how THEY feel about what the candidates are saying. It's very important to get teens and pre-teens excited about Science. Middle School is the age of influence, and if science is "cool", then students will eager to learn so much more. Maryann,
It’s definitely a challenge keeping teens interested in Science, especially with the extra-curricular activities and technology this generation has at their fingertips. However, this can also work to our advantage.
I am a Middle School Science teacher in Philadelphia, and it’s my JOB to engage teenagers everyday in Science. I have found that teens are very interested in Weather. I have my students watch the daily news for the weather forecast. After explaining vocabulary terms to them, they now understand what “humidity” and “barometric pressure” actually deals with. I like to spin my classes to have the children impress their peers. I doubt many 10 year olds know what barometric pressure is, but when you teach the children the science principles they feel like a powerhouse of knowledge.
I also have my students pick a location in our world and study their weather for a week. Then, the students must make up their own weather forecast from that location and videotape themselves as if they were on the news. They LOVE this project.
“Going Green”, “Alternative Energy”, and “science in schools” are going to become increasingly more prominent tag phrases in the coming months with our election nearing. Have your children listen to the debates and see how THEY feel about what the candidates are saying.
It’s very important to get teens and pre-teens excited about Science. Middle School is the age of influence, and if science is “cool”, then students will eager to learn so much more.

]]> By: maryann http://sciencecheerleader.com/2008/05/x2_project_now_you_can_help_forecast_the_future_of_science/#comment-33 maryann Wed, 14 May 2008 15:43:11 +0000 http://sciencecheerleader.com/?p=35#comment-33 Great website. I have nephews that are very interested in science, and I would like to see their interest continue as they get into their teen years. It would be great to see the addition of perhaps a portion of your website devoted to teen and preteen audience to sustain their interest and develop their understanding of science policy issues. Any thoughts? Great website. I have nephews that are very interested in science, and I would like to see their interest continue as they get into their teen years. It would be great to see the addition of perhaps a portion of your website devoted to teen and preteen audience to sustain their interest and develop their understanding of science policy issues. Any thoughts?

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