Welcome to this week’s issue of Science Matters in Wisconsin.  Please share this with a colleague!

– Professional Development

WIShare Science Meeting February 8th

Location: Baldwin-Woodville HS (http://g.co/maps/69a2n).  As always, any ideas you have to share or discuss is fair game.  It can be something you have done or are even thinking about doing.  Use everyone here as a resource, that is what this is all about!  We start sharing about 6:00 and usually wrap up about 8:00.  Contact bwysocki@bloomer.k12.wi.us if you have questions.

Leading for Science Learning: An NSELA Professional Development Institute for the Next Generation: Don't miss the opportunity to attend this premier professional development institute hosted by the National Science Education Leadership Association. Held March 25, 2012, at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis, it provides exceptional access to leading researchers and professional development providers in science education and leadership. Individuals from various research universities, Horizon Research, EDC, NSTA and AAAS facilitate three-hour breakout sessions that focus on a variety of topics, including online professional development and resources, building evaluation capacity, building and sustaining leadership, and scientific argumentation as aligned with the conceptual framework that guides the Next Generation Science Standards. For further details and the link to online registration, please visit the NSELA website (www.nsela.org).

– Science Spotlight

 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2012/01/19/a-planet-boils-away-under-its-blow-torch-star/

Astronomers have found what appears to be a planet literally boiling away from the blast-furnace heat of its star.

The star, KIC 12557548, is about 1500 light years away, and is one of many thousands being observed by the orbiting Kepler Observatory (KIC stands for Kepler Input Catalog, a list of stars under Kepler’s watchful eye). The observatory stares at one spot in the sky, looking for stars whose brightness dips periodically. There can be many causes of such behavior, one of which is the presence of planets orbiting the star and blocking the light from it as they pass in front of it. This is called a transit, and has proven to be wildly successful; hundreds of planets have been discovered this way.

– Website of the Week

Help Track Spring's Journey North:Join citizen scientists using technology to track arrival of spring.

When the groundhog wakes up on February 2nd to look for his shadow, he'll find people across the Northern Hemisphere are already on the job. A network of students and other citizen scientists at 40,000 sites are tracking spring with Journey North, a non-profit science education and outreach project. Members of the public are welcome to participate in this spring’s 19th annual global study of wildlife migration and seasonal change. Contribute your backyard observations to a long-term database and monitor signs of the seasons. Help track migration patterns of monarch butterflies, hummingbirds, robin, and other backyard birds; the blooming of plants; changing sunlight, temperatures, and other signs of spring. Thanks to Annenberg Learner, participation in Journey North is free. For information about this spring’s free projects see: http://www.learner.org/jnorth/

– Video of the Week

Top 10 Quirky Science Party Tricks:

– Contact

To subscribe to Science Matters in Wisconsin, please visit - http://bap.nsta.org/Content/Home/BecomeAContact/Default.aspx

For questions about Science Matters in Wisconsin, please contact me:

Eric Brunsell, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh  brunsele@uwosh.edu

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Welcome to this week’s issue of Science Matters in Wisconsin.  Please share this with a colleague!

– Professional Development

Find out strategies for improving science instruction for diverse learners!

Making Sense of SCIENCE: Going Deep to Go Far by Linking Science and Literacy Instruction

Wednesday, February 8

10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time (1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time)
Come hear a WestEd curriculum developer and a district science coordinator share facilitation strategies that all teachers and teacher educators can use to support science learning with all students, including those who are English learners or initially low achievers.

We encourage you to attend the live webinar to interact with the presenters and other participants about this important topic. Please send any advance questions to eventquestion@wested.org .

To sign up for this webinar, please visit http://www.schoolsmovingup.net/webinars/mss

– Science Spotlight

Lost Grey Monkey Found! Scientists working in the dense jungles of Indonesia have "rediscovered" a large, gray monkey so rare it was believed by many to be extinct. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/9027856/Found-The-lost-grey-monkey-so-rare-it-was-thought-to-be-extinct.html

The National Center for Science Education has spent the last 30 years fighting political attacks on the teaching of evolution in public schools. They have NEVER lost a court battle! 

NCSE announced last week that they are expanding their efforts to fight attacks on the teaching of climate change. http://scienceblogs.com/tfk/2012/01/ncse_takes_on_climate_change.php

 Speaking of climate change, the global average surface temperature for 2011 was the ninth warmest since 1880. Nine of the 10 warmest years have occurred since 2000.  This animation shows global surface temperature by year compared to a mid-20^th century baseline. http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2011-temps.html

– Website of the Week

The State of Wisconsin introduced the new Common Core State Standards for Literacy in All Subjects in mid-September, with a new resource page available for educators was made available in early October.  General information regarding this initiative can be found at the agency website at:  http://dpi.wi.gov/standards/disciplinaryliteracy.html . 

Also called “disciplinary literacy”, this increases concentration on reading, writing, listening, speaking, and performing in all content areas, from kindergarten through twelfth grade as a way to enhance learning of specific content and concepts.  This not only strengthens reading, writing and communication skills, but also increases comprehension in subject areas.  Originally part of the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts, Wisconsin is a front-runner in expanding these standards for all areas and grade levels.  

– Student Opportunity

Free Engineering Summer Camp at UW-Milwaukee

     ASM-Milwaukee chapter (a Materials Engineering technical society) is sponsoring a 4-day summer camp in June, 2012 at UW-Milwaukee.   Materials Science and Engineering is the study of the relationship between the structure of materials at atomic scales and their macroscopic properties.  The field uses a combination of chemistry, physics, engineering, and biology to further advance various areas of science and engineering.      

     The day camp will utilize hands-on learning principles of applied math and science.  It is a very unique, team-based, intensive problem solving science experience under the direction of world-class faculty and industrial mentors.  The course will consist of a combination of demonstrations, product design projects, materials testing, and field trips.  High school students who have shown strong abilities in math and science, and who will have completed their sophomore through senior years by spring 2012, are encouraged to apply.  The strongest applicants will also show a strong interest in applied science, and will demonstrate a desire to pursue a college major and career in engineering and/or materials science.  Attendance is free, but selective.  The application deadline is April 16, 2012.  The application form and instructions are available at: http://www.asm-milwaukee.org/    (click on Application). 

– Video of the Week

This video from the Washington Post describes the impact of the recent large solar flare and coronal mass ejection – including decreased GPS accuracy, rerouted airline flights, and beautiful Northern Lights. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/the-solar-flares-impact-on-earth-153/2012/01/24/gIQAtJFdOQ_video.html

– Contact

To subscribe to Science Matters in Wisconsin, please visit - http://bap.nsta.org/Content/Home/BecomeAContact/Default.aspx

For questions about Science Matters in Wisconsin, please contact me:

Eric Brunsell, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh  brunsele@uwosh.edu

Posted via email from Science Matters in Wisconsin

Welcome to this week’s issue of Science Matters in Wisconsin.  Please share this with a colleague!

– Opportunities

BSCS Energy Course Field Test. Applications due April 1.  Ger a stipend, teaching materials, and a free online course as you learn more about how to integrate energy topics into your classroom.  For science teachers in grades 9-12.  The project is a partnership between BSCS, Oregon Public Broadcasting, NTEN, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center.

http://www.bscs.org/news/pages/emat.html

The Christopher Columbus Fellowship foundation, a federal government agency is now accepting nominations for four agriscience awards and four life science awards for high school science teachers. 

·         Agriscience Awards: March 13, 2012 at: www.agriscienceawards.com

·         Life Sciences Awards: March 27, 2012 at: www.ccolumbusfoundationawards.org

– Science Spotlight

 World’s smallest Frog

http://news.discovery.com/animals/tiniest-frog-papua-new-guinea-120112.html

Jan. 12, 2012 – With voices hardly louder than an insect's buzz, the tiniest frogs ever discovered are smaller than a coin and hop about the rainforest of the tropical island of Papua New Guinea, report US scientists.

Not only are these little peepers with the big names - Paedophryne amauensis and Paedophryne swiftorum - the smallest frogs known, they are also believed to be the smallest vertebrates on Earth

– Website of the Week

http://www.cogito.org/default.aspx

A social networking community for kids that like STEM

“Cogito is just the place for you. On Cogito, you can learn about amazing scientists your own age, what they're doing and how they managed to do it. You can read news and features on topics ranging from global warming to bioethics to nanotechnology. You can explore the intersection of science and the arts, from computer animation to science fiction. You can find great resources including recommended web sites and webcasts, and searchable listings of summer and distance-education programs, internships, and academic competitions. And if you are a member, you can participate in online interviews with experts in various fields and in discussion forums with other members like you.”

– Picture of the Week

Hubble Telescope images 13 billion year old galaxy cluster

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45945565/ns/technology_and_science-space/

– Contact

To subscribe to Science Matters in Wisconsin, please visit - http://bap.nsta.org/Content/Home/BecomeAContact/Default.aspx

For questions about Science Matters in Wisconsin, please contact me:

Eric Brunsell, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh  brunsele@uwosh.edu

Posted via email from Science Matters in Wisconsin

Welcome to this week’s issue of Science Matters in Wisconsin.  Please share this with a colleague!

– Professional Development

January 27 – 29 WAEE Winter Workshop vis waee.org for all the details. The “PlanetWalker”, John Francis, will be joining us on Saturday as the Winter Workshop Keynote. There will be kid friendly sessions and  activities, so bring the whole family! Live entertainment on Saturday night. The program is a great lineup of presentations along with everyone’s favorite events. Including wolf howling, The Brutal Gourmet, and the Nertz Tournament.  Register this week to get the best rates.

February 8-11, 2012 — Unnatural History: What bizarre biology can teach us about evolution 2012 Darwin Day Celebration from the University of Wisconsin Crow Institute for the Study of Evolution. Check the Crow Institute website (http://www.evolution.wisc.edu/node/155) for times and dates for movie night and talks by researchers exploring deep sea life, parasitic plants, and an arms race between toxic newts and their garter snake predators.  Don't forget the Tree of Life scavenger hunt on Saturday February 11!  We hope that you will join us again this year and encourage your students, colleagues and community members to check it out.  We invite all middle and high school biology teachers to a TEACHER WORKSHOP Wednesday February 8.  (Limited funds are available to cover substitutes.)  Apply here: http://tinyurl.com/bwjspuv.

– Student Opportunity

Nominate a talented senior student who loves science for the National Youth Science Camp. For application information click on the URLs listed next. The application deadline is February 17, 2012. http://2012.nysc.org/delegates/apply/

– Science Spotlight

“Dinosaur Freeway” in Colorado: More than 350 newly discovered tracks, made by various dinosaurs, crocodiles and a few pterosaurs, were identified at the site, which is now the John Martin Reservoir in Bent County, Colorado. When added to previously found tracks there, the total number of fossilized prints is well over 1,000. The dinosaur freeway is described in the February issue of Cretaceous Research.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45888948/ns/technology_and_science-science/t/traffic-was-heavy-dinosaur-freeway-colorado/#.TwkTw3pmkqU

– Video of the Week

Laurie Santos looks for the roots of human irrationality by watching the way our primate relatives make decisions. A clever series of experiments in "monkeynomics" shows that some of the silly choices we make, monkeys make too.

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/laurie_santos.html

– Contact

To subscribe to Science Matters in Wisconsin, please visit - http://bap.nsta.org/Content/Home/BecomeAContact/Default.aspx

For questions about Science Matters in Wisconsin, please contact me:

Eric Brunsell, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh  brunsele@uwosh.edu

Posted via email from Science Matters in Wisconsin

aste_presfinal.pdf Download this file

Sharon Schleigh & Eric Brunsell’s ASTE 2012 Presentation.

Preparing Future Elementary Science Teachers as Mentors through e-Mentoring Programs

Posted via email from

Welcome to this week’s issue of Science Matters in Wisconsin.  Please share this with a colleague!

Top Stories of 2011

Instead of the normal topics, I thought you might enjoy a review of the top science stories of 2011.

Discover Magazine’s Top 100 Stories for 2011: http://discovermagazine.com/2012/jan-feb

Chemistry stories of the year: http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/News/2011/December/chemistry-articles-most-exciting-events-2011.asp

Physics Stories for 2011: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/god-particle-research-and-other-top-physics-stories-of-2011/2011/12/13/gIQAFS9srO_gallery.html

Top Astronomy Stories of 2011: http://www.space.com/13978-top-science-astronomy-stories-2011-countdown.html

The most cited biology research papers of 2011: http://www.sciencewatch.com/ana/hot/bio2011/

You might also want to check out my lit of favorite blogs by science teachers.  These teachers provide insight into standards-based grading, “flipping” the classroom, inquiry and a variety of other topics: http://www.edutopia.org/blog/holiday-professional-development-eric-brunsell

– Contact

To subscribe to Science Matters in Wisconsin, please visit - http://bap.nsta.org/Content/Home/BecomeAContact/Default.aspx

For questions about Science Matters in Wisconsin, please contact me:

Eric Brunsell, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh  brunsele@uwosh.edu

Posted via email from Science Matters in Wisconsin

Welcome to this week’s issue of Science Matters in Wisconsin.  Please share this with a colleague!

– Professional Development

PHOX – Fox Valley Physics Sharing will meet on January 4^th at Appleton West High School (Room 343) starting at 5:30. The group will meet at Berlin High School on March 7 and Neenah High School on May 2.  Contact Scott Hertting (shertting@neenah.k12.wi.us) for more information.

– Science Spotlight

Censoring Science:  The U.S. Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity has asked Science and Nature to censor some of the details of scientific research related to the Bird Flu.  Researchers in the Netherlands and at the University of Wisconsin Madison analyzed the Bird Flu virus, which included determining how the virus might evolve to be more easily passed between people.  In the wrong hands, this research could create a potential bioweapon…in the right hands, this research could lead to better ways to combat deadly flu epidemics.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/20/us-journals-censor-bird-flu-idUSTRE7BJ2F120111220

These two blog posts do a nice job of giving a deeper explanation of the research and the controversy.

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2011/12/02/making-viruses-the-natural-way/

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2011/12/20/should-the-new-flu-stay-secret-or-does-secrecy-kill/

– Website of the Week

Check out Sense about Science’s Ask for Evidence campaign.  They are encouraging people to ask for evidence whenever they see a dubious scientific claim. The campaign, and the examples, could be useful in your classroom. http://www.senseaboutscience.org/pages/a4e_examples_of_evidence_hunting.html

– Video of the Week

Hitch a ride with Santa as he flies over Mars.

Check out these video clips on Climate Change from Teacher’s Domain (Via LeRoy Lee). http://www.teachersdomain.org/search/?q=climate+change&fq_grade=PK&fq_grade=PS

– Song of the Week

Twas the night before Christmas and all thru my house,

Not a specimen was stirring, not even a louse.

The test tubes were capped and the rat cages closed,

The mold cultures fuzzy, the mice in repose.

The oven kept warm the ebola and pox,

I still need to locate my husband's clean socks…

But that has to wait till tomorrow, I know;

My buggies still need that much more time to grow. 

When from the kitchen came a massive explosion,

I leapt from my bed in perpetual motion.

Grabbing my lab coat I pulled on my pants,

Struggling into them a sick sort of dance.

With fury and haste I put on a shirt,

Running out of the bedroom on feet black with dirt.

Buttoning my lab coat and donning a mask,

I ran into the kitchen holding an Erlenmeyer flask.

I nearly passed out when the man who I saw,

dressed in containment gear sealed without flaw… 

http://jcdverha.home.xs4all.nl/scijokes/4_1.html#Christmas_9  

Happy Holidays!

– Contact

To subscribe to Science Matters in Wisconsin, please visit - http://bap.nsta.org/Content/Home/BecomeAContact/Default.aspx

For questions about Science Matters in Wisconsin, please contact me:

Eric Brunsell, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh  brunsele@uwosh.edu

Posted via email from Science Matters in Wisconsin

Welcome to this week’s issue of Science Matters in Wisconsin.  Please share this with a colleague!

– Professional Development

Upcoming NSTA webinars: http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/webseminars.aspx

- Connections between changing land cover and climate change (Dec 14 @ 7:15)

- Electrolysis on the International Space Station (HS Chemistry, Dec 15 @ 5:30)

- Electromagnetic Spectrum: Remote Sensing of Ice on Mars (Dec 19 @ 5:30)

– Science Spotlight

The news wires are abuzz with the Higgs boson this week.  The Higgs boson is (theoretically) the subatomic particle that gives matter mass.  Scientists haven’t found it yet, but they are closing in.  Here are three stories that show the significance of the Higgs boson and describe how scientists are closing in on finding it. 

- http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/13/world/europe/higgs-boson-q-and-a/index.html

- http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/search-for-god-particle-higgs-boson-narrowing-scientists-say/2011/12/13/gIQAHXQTsO_story.html

- http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/13/us-science-higgs-brick-idUSTRE7BB27K20111213

– Website of the Week

WATCH UW-MADISON ENGINEERING UNDERGRADS PRESENT THEIR REAL-WORLD DESIGNS
Deriving their inspiration from fields ranging from music and ice hockey to cross-country skiing and wind energy, eight UW-Madison undergraduate engineering student design teams will compete Dec. 14 for a top cash prize of $2,500. The students, who are majoring in engineering mechanics and astronautics and mechanical engineering will display working prototypes of their designs as part of the EMA/ME Design Competition.

http://homepages.cae.wisc.edu/~elder/2011/index.html

Watch it live today from 2:30 – 6:00
http://homepages.cae.wisc.edu/~elder/2011/watch.html

– Video of the Week

Hunting with a Peregrine Falcon

If your school blocks YouTube, you can download educationally appropriate videos at home by using www.zamzar.com.

– Contact

To subscribe to Science Matters in Wisconsin, please visit - http://bap.nsta.org/Content/Home/BecomeAContact/Default.aspx

For questions about Science Matters in Wisconsin, please contact me:

Eric Brunsell, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh  brunsele@uwosh.edu

Posted via email from Science Matters in Wisconsin

Welcome to this week’s issue of Science Matters in Wisconsin.  Please share this with a colleague!

– Professional Development

Georgia Tech, in partnership with NASA, provides online professional development courses and certificates.  Enrollment is now open for Spring 2012 opportunities. http://www.nasaepdn.gatech.edu/

WSST Foundation Grants Due Dec. 22

The Wisconsin Society of Science Teachers Foundation has a number of grant opportunities available to support innovative projects and your professional development.  Check them out here: http://www.wsst.org/node/66

– Science Spotlight

- How a collapsing scientific hypothesis led to a lawsuit and arrest.

This story about research into the retrovirus called XMRV is a fascinating look at bias, scientific ethics, and the process of peer review.  It is an excellent example for students to show how ideas are tested and verified by the scientific community. http://tinyurl.com/arstecnicaxmrv

– Website of the Week

Edheads is an organization that provides engaging web simulations / activities for kids.  Current activities focus on simulated surgical procedures, cell phone design (with market research), simple and compound machines, and weather prediction. http://edheads.org/

– Video of the Week

- Was this NFL Flop Real or Fake?

A couple of weeks ago, Jerome Simpson of the Cincinnati Bengals was shoved by the Browns’ Fujita after the whistle.  Simpson went flying…and Fujita was flagged for a personal foul.  In this entertaining blog post, physicist Rhett Allain uses the conservation of momentum and video analysis to determine if Simpson faked his flight. http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/11/was-this-nfl-flop-real-or-fake/

– Contact

To subscribe to Science Matters in Wisconsin, please visit - http://bap.nsta.org/Content/Home/BecomeAContact/Default.aspx

For questions about Science Matters in Wisconsin, please contact me:

Eric Brunsell, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh  brunsele@uwosh.edu

Posted via email from Science Matters in Wisconsin

Posted via email from Science Matters in Wisconsin