Become a Part of the
GLOBE Program to Promote Soil Science in the Classroom
By Dr. Elissa Levine
AWSS Newsletter, April 1999
Imagine thousands of students, in kindergarten through
12th grade, all over the world, going out every day
to look at the clouds, measure the air temperature
and amount of precipitation, and making many other
measurements that describe and monitor the environment
at their school and within their community. Imagine
if some of the other measurements they had to make
included a soil profile description and weekly estimates
of soil moisture and temperature. And along with land
cover classification, hydrologic data, and GPS location,
all these data were put up on the internet for students
and scientists to use for education and research!
What I've just described are the protocols
being performed in over 6000 schools and 80 countries
by K-12 students in the GLOBE (Global Learning and
Observations to Benefit the Environment) Program.
The goals of GLOBE are to increase environmental awareness
of individuals throughout the world, contribute to
a better scientific understanding of the earth, and
help all students reach higher levels of achievement
in science and mathematics. GLOBE functions as a partnership
between scientists, students, and teachers in which
scientists design protocols for specific measurements
they need for their research that can be performed
by K-12 students. Teachers are trained in the GLOBE
protocols and teach them to their students. Students
make the measurements, enter data via the Internet
to a central data archive, and the data become available
to scientists and the general community. Students
benefit by having a hands-on experience in science,
math, and technology, using their own local environment
as a learning laboratory, as well as contact with
scientists and other students around the world.
The protocols that have been developed
so far within the GLOBE Program include: GPS location,
atmosphere/climate, soil characterization, soil moisture
and temperature, land cover/biometry, hydrology, and
satellite image classification. For the GLOBE Soil
Characterization Protocol, students are asked to dig
a pit or use an auger to at least 1 meter and at least
2 sites. They then locate the most distinctive horizons,
and for each horizon, note the depths, and describe
the structure, color, consistence, and texture, and
the amount of roots, rocks, and presence of free carbonates.
Samples are brought back to the classroom for analysis
of bulk density, particle size distribution, pH, and
nitrate, phosphorus, and potassium (N,P ,K). In the
GLOBE Soil Moisture and Temperature Protocol, measurements
of soil moisture, infiltration rate, and temperature
are taken at varying depths at regular intervals to
assess seasonal changes and their relationship to
climate and vegetation growth. These and all of the
GLOBE protocols can be viewed in the GLOBE Teacher's
Guide on the GLOBE web page (www.globe.gov).
GLOBE needs your help and support!
Do you know a school that would be interested in becoming
part of GLOBE? The GLOBE web page (www.globe.gov)
describes the procedure for schools to participate
and gives more information about the program. Even
more important is the need for Soil Scientists to
contact local GLOBE schools in their area. Students
and teachers need help to perform the soil protocols
and understand concepts related to soil science. With
assistance from local experts, soil measurements become
relevant to the local community and become apart of
the consciousness of the general public. A list of
schools involved in GLOBE is also available via the
GLOBE web page. We also need help to improve and add
to the soil science educational materials in GLOBE.
We have begun developing a "Soil Science Education
Web Page" (ltpwww.gsfc.nasa.gov/globe/)
which includes activities, stories, songs, poetry,
pictures, and links to resources about soil science.
Inputs, links, comments, and suggestions are gratefully
welcome!
Scientists can also help the GLOBE
program by evaluating and using GLOBE student data
in their research. These data represent continuous
measurements made by a network of trained and enthusiastic
junior scientists world wide. Data are presently available
on the GLOBE Student Data Archive, accessible from
the GLOBE home page.
The GLOBE program provides an exciting
and unique way to educate the children of the world
about the structure and function of the natural ecosystem
and the importance of soils in the environment. As
soil scientists, we have the opportunity with GLOBE
to communicate our knowledge, experience, and appreciation
of the soil system. Help us make a difference!. For
more information, check the globe web page at www.globe.gov
or contact Dr. Elissa Levine by e-mail
or phone 301-286-5100.
Dr. Elissa Levine is a scientist
with the NASA Goddard Space Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
She is the recipient of the 2003 AWSS Mentoring Award.
