Lamont-Doherty Earth Science Workshops presented to Teachers
Research scientists from Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (L-DEO) joined teachers for a series of Educator Workshops on five Saturdays between January and April. The program was cosponsored by the Westchester Section of the Science Teachers Association of new York State and the National Association of Geoscience Teachers/Eastern Section. Each workshop featured special presentations by Lamont-Doherty scientists about their areas of investigation, combined with presentations about related classroom activities led by Dr. Michael J. Passow, White Plains Middle School Earth Science teacher and Peer Trainer for the American Meteorological Society's Maury Project.
"Using Satellite Data to Study the Oceans" was the theme of the opening program on 16 January. Drs. Christopher Small and Donna Witter described their investigations of the ocean floors and currents using data collected from TOPEX/Poseidon and other environmental satellites. Passow shared "Measuring Sea Level from Space," an educational activity designed by the Maury Project to enhance science education through training teachers about aspects of oceanography.
On 6 February L-DEO scientist Bob Newton discussed how "Polar Oceanography Affects the Whole Planet." Maury Project modules about tides and waves accompanied this program.
Dr. Martin Visbeck described what he has learned about climate changes in the Atlantic on 20 March. Of special interest was his explanation of the North Atlantic Oscillations, a phenomenon in that ocean similar to the El Ni–o in the tropical Pacific. Passow presented modules dealing with wind-driven and density-driven ocean currents.
On 10 April, participants went first for a special tour of the L-DEO campus, located above the Hudson River on the Palisades just at the New Jersey/New York state line. After working through classroom-ready activities about the floors of the oceans, participants joined Rusty Lotti, Curator of the unique collection of deep-sea cores collected by Lamont-Doherty research ships during the past fifty years.
Rusty Lotti and some of the thousands of archived deep-sea sediments available for study by researchers from around the world.
In the final session on 24 April, Dr. Joseph Ortiz described some insights about "Carbon Dioxide Studies and Climate Changes." Passow shared Maury Project modules about El Ni–o and upwelling.
This is the second year of the Educator Workshops, one of the ways in which L-DEO has been involved with programs designed to enhance precollege and undergraduate education. It will begin again next January. For more information, contact Dr. Passow at mjpassow@worldnet.att.net.
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