GLOBE ONE: A Community-Based Environmental Field Campaign
| Authors: | Rebecca Boger, Peggy LeMone, John McLaughlin, Sharon Sikora, Sandra Henderson |
| Year: | 2006 |
| Type: | Proceedings |
| Station: | Rocky Mountain Research Station |
| Source: | In: Aguirre-Bravo, C.; Pellicane, Patrick J.; Burns, Denver P.; and Draggan, Sidney, Eds. 2006. Monitoring Science and Technology Symposium: Unifying Knowledge for Sustainability in the Western Hemisphere Proceedings RMRS-P-42CD. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 500-504 |
Abstract
The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) program is an international environmental science and education program involving scientists, teachers and students in the collection, analysis, and display of data used in environmental monitoring and research. Since its formation in 1994, students have collected over 11 million data points in Atmosphere, Hydrology, Soils, Land Cover/Biology and Phenology investigation areas. At present, over 14,000 schools in 106 countries participate in GLOBE (www.globe.gov). In 2003, GLOBE scientists, K-12 teachers and students, and citizen volunteer groups in Black Hawk County, Iowa started collaborating on a multi-disciplinary intensive data collection effort called GLOBE ONE. Research questions for this campaign focus on a community-specific generated issue; the central scientific objective compares quantitatively the environmental effects of various soil tillage techniques in Black Hawk County. Multiple data sets are being collected over a two-year period with the bulk of data collection performed by GLOBE students collaborating with scientists. GLOBE ONE and GLOBE Iowa supply an infrastructure for community and partner aid to the GLOBE schools and supplement measurements when required. This low-cost campaign provides a model for future scientific partnerships involving GLOBE students, teachers, scientists, and community organizations. While providing scientific data, this community-based campaign sets the stage for sustainable environmental stewardship, monitoring and planning.