GLOBE Program
Encyclopedia
The GLOBE Program is a worldwide hands-on, primary- and secondary-school-based science and education program focusing on the environment, now active in 111 countries world-wide. It works to promote the teaching and learning of science, enhance environmental literacy and stewardship, and promote scientific discovery. Students and teachers collect data and perform research in collaboration with scientists from numerous international agencies, and their work is made accessible though the GLOBE website http://globe.gov.
The program is housed by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
(UCAR) at Boulder, Colorado
, USA, and sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), NASA
, and the National Science Foundation
through an inter-agency agreement first signed in 1998. The U.S. Department of State supports the work of the GLOBE Program internationally (see for example the agreement with Mexico) and many other organizations also support the GLOBE Program in the US and around the world.
Specific goals include:
on Earth Day
, April 22
2003 - NASA selects the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) to operate GLOBE
2005 - The GLOBE Program celebrates its 10th birthday
2011 - Student Climate Research Campaign launches
, hydrology
, soil
s, land cover
, and phenology
, depending upon their local curricula. Students report their data through the Internet, create maps and graphs to analyze data sets, and collaborate with scientists and other GLOBE students around the world. All the GLOBE data and observations are in the public domain.
Background
GLOBE is an acronym for Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment. The GLOBE Program seeks to teach young students experimental skills using real experiments and equipment. Students, teachers and scientists collaborate in a unique global learning network.The program is housed by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research is a nonprofit consortium of more than 75 universities offering Ph.D.s in the atmospheric and related sciences. UCAR manages the National Center for Atmospheric Research and provides additional services to strengthen and support research and...
(UCAR) at Boulder, Colorado
Boulder, Colorado
Boulder is the county seat and most populous city of Boulder County and the 11th most populous city in the U.S. state of Colorado. Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of...
, USA, and sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , pronounced , like "noah", is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere...
(NOAA), NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
, and the National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
through an inter-agency agreement first signed in 1998. The U.S. Department of State supports the work of the GLOBE Program internationally (see for example the agreement with Mexico) and many other organizations also support the GLOBE Program in the US and around the world.
Mission
The GLOBE Program's Mission is to promote the teaching and learning of science, enhance environmental literacy and stewardship, and promote scientific discovery.Specific goals include:
- Improve student achievement across the curriculum with a focus on student research in environmental and Earth system science;
- Enhance awareness and support activities of individuals throughout the world to benefit the environment;
- Contribute to scientific understanding of Earth as a system; and
- Connect and inspire the next generation of global scientists.
History
1995 - The GLOBE Program launched by former US vice-president Al GoreAl Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
on Earth Day
Earth Day
Earth Day is a day that is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's natural environment. The name and concept of Earth Day was allegedly pioneered by John McConnell in 1969 at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco. The first Proclamation of Earth Day was by San Francisco, the...
, April 22
2003 - NASA selects the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) to operate GLOBE
2005 - The GLOBE Program celebrates its 10th birthday
2011 - Student Climate Research Campaign launches
Activities for Learning
The GLOBE Program provides the opportunity for students to learn by taking scientifically valid measurements in the fields of atmosphereAtmosphere
An atmosphere is a layer of gases that may surround a material body of sufficient mass, and that is held in place by the gravity of the body. An atmosphere may be retained for a longer duration, if the gravity is high and the atmosphere's temperature is low...
, hydrology
Hydrology
Hydrology is the study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on Earth and other planets, including the hydrologic cycle, water resources and environmental watershed sustainability...
, soil
Soil
Soil is a natural body consisting of layers of mineral constituents of variable thicknesses, which differ from the parent materials in their morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics...
s, land cover
Land Cover
Land cover is the physical material at the surface of the earth. Land covers include grass, asphalt, trees, bare ground, water, etc. There are two primary methods for capturing information on land cover: field survey and analysis of remotely sensed imagery....
, and phenology
Phenology
Phenology is the study of periodic plant and animal life cycle events and how these are influenced by seasonal and interannual variations in climate...
, depending upon their local curricula. Students report their data through the Internet, create maps and graphs to analyze data sets, and collaborate with scientists and other GLOBE students around the world. All the GLOBE data and observations are in the public domain.
Contribution by Scientists
Members of the international science community are involved in the design and implementation of the GLOBE Program. Scientists are involved in helping select GLOBE environmental measurements, developing measurement procedures, and ensuring overall quality control of data. This is important to ensure that other scientists have confidence about these results and their findings. Their continued support and direction helps to ensure that GLOBE environmental measurements make a significant contribution to the global environmental database.Official sites
- Africa Region
- Asia-Pacific Region
- Europe-Eurasia Region
- Latin America-Caribbean Region
- Near East-North Africa Region
- North America Region
- Australia
- Japan