Events
An impressive display at last year's science fair, this experiment involved testing the reflectivity of various colors of roof shingles.
Oklahoma Students Gear Up for 15th Annual Oklahoma Mesonet/ARM Science Fair
For the past 15 years, Oklahoma students have competed for Best in Show honors at the annual Oklahoma Mesonet/ARM Science Fair. This year, the science fair will be exceptionally exciting as it has been named an official centennial event. Oklahoma is celebrating 100 years of statehood, and students will do their best to showcase the state's enthusiasm for weather and climate science.
The science fair will be held on February 24, 2007, on the University of Oklahoma campus in the newly constructed National Weather Center. Students will compete in several weather categories, and members of the Norman Weather organizations will serve as judges. Students will have an opportunity to interact with professional meteorologists.
Students from schools across the state of Oklahoma are invited to participate in the science fair. Project submissions are limited to those using weather data provided by the Oklahoma Mesonet, ARM, Storm Prediction Center, or National Weather Service. Projects are scored on a scale of 100 points based on a standard criteria form used by the judges. The "student interview" is an extremely important component of the competition. It gives students an opportunity to demonstrate their ability to articulate the development of the project and express how they arrived at their conclusions. Projects earning scores of 80-100 receive Superior ribbons; 60-70 receive Excellent ribbons; and 40-59 receive Honorable Mention ribbons.
Science fair participants will be given a tour of the new National Weather Center - a great opportunity to see research and operational meteorologists in action. The awards ceremony will be held in the same room where University of Oklahoma undergraduate students study to become the next generation of meteorologists.
Stay tuned for news about ribbon winners and details about this exciting event!
ARM Sponsors Barrow Teachers to Attend NSTA Conference
Beginning March 29, 2007, teachers from across the United States will flock to Saint Louis, Missouri, to attend an annual conference hosted by the National Science Teacher's Association. This year, the ARM Program will sponsor two teachers from the North Slope of Alaska to attend the conference as part of an International Polar Year (IPY) outreach effort. Several workshops and symposia related to the IPY are on the conference agenda this year, which will be especially relevant to Alaska teachers.
The Superintendent of the North Slope Borough School District in Barrow will select two science teachers to attend the conference; ARM Education & Outreach staff will also attend the workshop and utilize the time to build stronger working relationships with the Alaska teachers.
Getting Ready for Another EarthStorm
Last year's EarthStorm workshop included several mini field trips, including a tour of the ARM Central Facility in Lamont, Oklahoma.
The Oklahoma Climatological will offer the EarthStorm weather institute for teachers again this summer in Norman, Okla. Limited to 20 participants, the workshop is a popular professional development resource for teachers who want to build their knowledge base of atmospheric sciences. Teachers will be provided with a variety of hand-outs and materials. The workshop, scheduled for July 17-20, 2007, is free of charge. Registration will begin April 1. More information about EarthStorm can found online at http://earthstorm.ocs.ou.edu/for_teachers/workshops.php.
This is what one teacher had to say about EarthStorm 2006:
I learned so much! This was my first time to be exposed to an "extensive" amount of weather information. It was awesome. I learned a lot of terminology and have a better handle on why different types of weather occur. Most helpful to me were the activities that I can take back to my classroom to help bring weather alive. I enjoyed seeing the ARM and Mesonet facilities and so appreciated the willingness to put things on a level I could understand. I so appreciate the opportunity to view the weather facilities. I would appreciate the opportunity to learn more. Thank you!
