News
Educational Kiosk Installed at ACRF Site in Nauru (11/8/2006)
Children surround the newly installed kiosk at the Nauru airport.
Surround by the Pacific Ocean, the Republic of Nauru is a small island inhabited by people who have a keen understanding of the importance of weather and climate. Coastal erosion, drought and rising sea level are only a few concerns Nauruans have related to climate change, and now they have a new forum for expressing those concerns and educating future generations about the delicate balance that exists between the ocean and atmosphere. On November 8, 2006, ARM Education and Outreach staff installed the Climate Change: Science and Traditional Knowledge kiosk that was developed specifically for the community of Nauru. More than 30 students, along with their teachers, attended the official launch of the kiosk at the departure lounge of the Nauru Airport.
Two children at the TWP kiosk dedication at Nauru sport ARM Climate Research Facility headwear.
Beginning in 2003, ARM Education and Outreach interviewed elders and community leaders about their observations of climate change on the island. Several scientists from the ARM Program and Australian Bureau of Meteorology were interviewed to provide scientific information about climate and the research they are doing on Nauru. All this information was compiled into a touch-screen kiosk and translated into Nauruan, the native language of the people of Nauru. The primary purpose of the kiosk is to encourage students to take an interest in learning about weather and climate, and to promote awareness of the research ARM is doing on the island.
Mr. Baron Waqa, Minister of Education, attended the official launch in support of the kiosk. "ARM has had a presence in our schools for many years," Mr. Waqa said, "I hope the working relationship continues." ARM Education and Outreach presented Mr. Waqa with four computers for classroom use.
Elders who attended the opening were presented with certificates of appreciation for their contributions to the kiosk. TWP Site Manager Larry Jones thanked the Nauruan government for its ongoing support of ARM's research on the island.
Students Tour the SGP Facility (11/1/2006)
Seventh graders tour the ACRF SGP site in November.
On November 1, 2006, the SGP site hosted a group of 30 seventh graders from the local Deer Creek-Lamont school district. The students and their teacher, Deborah McFeeters, were on a mission to learn about the ARM Program and the exciting research taking place at the SGP site. SGP Operations Manager Dan Rusk gave a slide presentation about ARM and lead the group on a short walking tour of the site. Temperatures in the 40s with a stiff wind chill prevented a long outdoor tour, but all students hung in there for the midday radiosonde launch. The launch was prepared and explained by SGP Upper Air technicians Lynda Theilen and Mary Green. One student was allowed to assist with the launch, which proved to be an exciting hands-on opportunity. Technician Pat Dowell and SGP Site Scientist Daniel Hartsock also helped with the tour.
Darwin Kiosk is Installed and Officially Launched (2/16/2006)
ACRF Education and Outreach installed an educational kiosk in the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory in Darwin, Australia.
The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory is now home to the Climate Change: Science and Traditional Knowledge kiosk, developed by ARM Education and Outreach for the Darwin, Australia community. A crowd of about 50 people, including kiosk interviewees, museum staff and ARM scientists, gathered at the museum for the launch of the kiosk on February 16, 2006. The kiosk is located in the museum's Seaview Lounge, an appropriate space that leads up to the Cyclone Tracy exhibit. Ideas to enhance the display include suspending a weather balloon near the kiosk with information about the data collected by the radiosonde.
Honored guests at the opening included Yvonne Odegarrd from Larrakia Nation and Victor Cooper, a Limilngan land owner from Jabiru. Victor is a kiosk interviewee who traveled from Kakadu National Park to attend the opening. TWP Site Scientist Chuck Long was the keynote speaker and gave an excellent overview of the ARM Program. He also acknowledged and thanked the Australian Bureau of Meteorology for their partnership with the ARM Program.
TWP Site Scientist Chuck Long served as keynote speaker during the dedication ceremonies.
Following Chuck's presentation, Andrea Maestas presented the long-awaited Darwin kiosk. With closing words from ABC TV News weather presenter Laetitia Lemke, the kiosk was officially launched and we adjourned to the Seaview Lounge and Maritime Undercroft for morning tea.
A visit from US Consul General Earl Irving brought Chuck Long, Jim Mather, and Peter May back to the museum later that afternoon. When Mr. Irving finally arrived, Chuck and Jim took the opportunity to tell him about the ARM Program and our research in the Tropical Western Pacific.
ARM Scientists Visit Darwin Schools During the Tropical Warm Pool - International Cloud Experiment (2/14/2006)
ARM scientists and graduate students visited a classroom at Wagaman Primary School in Darwin during the two-month TWP-ICE field campaign.
Many students and teachers in the Darwin community received first-hand information about ARM research and the exciting Tropical Warm Pool-International Cloud Experiment that took place in January and February this year. ARM Education and Outreach arranged for scientists to visit students in their classroom to talk science. Chuck Long, Jim Mather, Courtney Schumacher and several graduate students were among the scientists who volunteered their time to talk to students. The class visits were scheduled to coincide with the last week of TWP-ICE and the kiosk installation.
Students at Wagaman Primary School were filled with curiosity when Jim Mather brought out a weather balloon as part of his presentation. Jim was impressed by the students' enthusiasm and interest; hands kept going up all over the classroom throughout his presentation. When given copies of the ARM activity books, the students immediately got to work solving puzzles and crosswords.
Graduate student Lis Cohen teaches a classroom at Wagaman Primary School.
Darwin High School was only two weeks into the school year, but students piled into the small auditorium for presentations by Courtney Schumacher and Chuck Long. Over a period of three days, more than 300 students learned about cloud and weather radar, radiosondes, cloud formation, and much more. Teachers were given packets of ARM EO materials and resources.
The final stop was Woolaning School in Litchfield Park. The one-room, one teacher school is home and learning place to several Aboriginal students; teacher Guna Deva was recognized as Teacher of the Year for success at teaching students about weather and climate last year. Several elders were present; one woman prepared a painting and story about the traditional way the Aborigines identify seasons.