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University of Wyoming

Trying out GPS technology during the 2005 University of Wyoming Earth System Science Update

   K-12 science teachers and college students from three Mountain Plains states explored the latest in technology and classroom learning activities during the 2005 University of Wyoming Earth System Science Update, held June 17-18 at the UW campus in Laramie.

    Funded by a gift from Jim and Virginia Foreman of Ten Sleep, the update drew 32 participants from Wyoming, Colorado and South Dakota in its inaugural year.

   “This is envisioned to be the first of an annual forum for discussion on the current state of earth systems sciences,” program coordinator Mark Reiser says.

   Interaction with expert scientists and technology that included remote sensing and global positioning systems was a high priority for organizers and a highlight for participants. Workshop presenters introduced teachers to a range of resources, from Internet databases to online lesson plan collections, to enhance the quality of instruction provided to students.

   The program also highlighted two keynote speakers. Larry Ryan, founder and director of Viewpoint: EARTH, discussed the importance of following the flow of energy in natural processes to understand the earth system science disciplines. Lee Vierling of the University of Idaho described interrelationships between the geosphere, biosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere and some of the ways in which human activity changes these systems.

   Workshop presenters included Alan Buss, UW Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education; Patrick Zimmerman, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology; Jim Oakleaf, Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center (WyGISC); Ramesh Sivanpillai, WyGISC; Ken Driese, WyGISC; Ron Marrs, UW Department of Geology and Geophysics; and Reiser, UW Science and Mathematics Teaching Center.

   Update participants included:

  • BASIN – Holly Hoffman
  • CASPER – Bud Byrd
  • CHEYENNE -- Carla Tarnecki
  • DOUGLAS – Robert Bushong, Charity Penn and Mark Steward
  • FORT COLLINS, COLO. – Tom Creegan
  • GILLETTE – Bree Arzy-Mitchell
  • HULETT – Brian Kennah, Lila Kennah and Ted Parsons
  • LARAMIE – Michael Busch, Les Ommen. Angela Shankle, Teresa Strube, and Karen Voigt
  • MOORCROFT – Lark Durnell
  • PINEDALE – Retta Hudlow
  • POWELL – Vicki Meyers
  • RAWLINS – Caroyn Hicks and Angie Roybal
  • RIVERTON – Bruce Peil
  • SARATOGA – Kim Burkart
  • SHERIDAN – Stephen Bailey and Debra Duncan
  • SHOSHONI – Cynthia Moravek, Gail Moravek and Bob Zent
  • SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Becky Wipf
  • STURGIS, S.D. – Roxy Murphy
  • THERMOPOLIS – Aimee Kay
  • WHEATLAND – Wayne Hicks