Monday, August 29, 2016

2016 APEX Awards





Colorado Technology Association is hosting the APEX Awards! 

Date: November 9th, 2016.
Time: 5PM-9PM
Location: 14th Street & Curtis Street, Denver, CO

The APEX Awards recognize Colorado’s technology excellence, highlighting remarkable leaders and innovators. Since 2001, the Colorado Technology Association has hosted this prestigious event bringing together the community and celebrating the exceptional people, companies and accomplishments of the year.

CTA is looking for nominations for the Educator of the Year award. If you would like to nominate an Educator please go to bit.ly/apex-educator.

Submit your nominations by September 2nd and catch up on 2015 APEX Awards to get excited for the big night!

Prior winners include:
2015 Denise Gardiner, Pine Creek High School – Colorado Springs
2014 Richard Guenther from Skyline High School
2013 Scott Schankweiler Mountain Range High School, Adams 12 School District
2012 Debbie Richards, Evergreen Middle School & Debbie Tawzer, Legend High School

Colorado Teaching Policy Fellowship

Colorado Teaching Policy Fellowship
Training teachers as advocates to ensure that Colorado teachers and students thrive

The Colorado Teaching Policy Fellowship is a highly selective leadership opportunity for outstanding teachers looking to deepen their knowledge of education policy and gain a voice in decisions that affect students and the teaching profession. 

The Fellowship offers you the opportunity to expand your influence without leaving the classroom, starting in October 2016 and concluding on or before July 2017.  You will receive a $1,500 stipend for your commitment and will meet in monthly sessions – either in person or virtually.

Applications due: September 19, 2016.


Tuesday, August 23, 2016

The Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship (AEF) Program

The Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship (AEF) Program provides a unique opportunity for accomplished K-12 educators in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to serve in the national education arena. Fellows spend eleven months working in a Federal agency or U.S. Congressional office, bringing their extensive classroom knowledge and experience to STEM education program and/or education policy efforts. At the end of the Fellowship, educators are prepared to return home equipped with access to a national network of education leaders and programs, a better understanding of the challenges and possibilities in STEM education, and a renewed passion for teaching ready to make significant contributions to their schools and school districts.

Applications for the 2017-2018 program are due November 17, 2016, 8:00pm EST, and must be submitted through an online application system (http://science.energy.gov/wdts/einstein/).

To be eligible, applicants must be U.S. citizens, be a current employed full-time in a U.S. public or private elementary or secondary school or school district, and must have taught full-time in a public or private elementary or secondary school for at least five of the last seven years in a STEM discipline.

Current sponsoring agencies include, but may not be limited to, the Department of Energy (DOE), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The DOE also sponsors up to four placements in U.S. Congressional offices.

The AEF Program is managed by the DOE Office of Science, Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists, in collaboration with the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education.

Information about the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program, including eligibility requirements, program benefits, application requirements, and access to the online application system can be found at http://science.energy.gov/wdts/einstein/.

Special Registration Offer at 2016 GIS in the Rockies Conference

Special Registration Offer for K-12 Educators and Non-Profits at 2016 GIS in the Rockies Conference
The GIS in the Rockies Conference Planning Committee is inviting Colorado K-12 (formal and informal) educators and non-profits with education outreach programs to spend an afternoon learning about Geospatial Technologies on Thursday Sept 22nd at the DU Cable Center in Denver.  A limited number of high school students will be allowed to attend with their teachers.  This is an excellent one stop way to learn about the many different Geospatial Technologies being used along the Colorado Front Range.  You could even meet a mentor for your own program!    

K12 complimentary registration will include the second day keynote, any technical sessions after the keynote, the exhibit hall, and the Career Development Academy roundtable discussions, mock interviews, and mezzanine booths that will have information geared towards career development.  Please review the agenda here.

To register for the K-12 complimentary registration for the afternoon of Day 2 (Thursday Sept 22nd) please register through the registration site, select Regular Attendee as the registration type and select Thursday only registration.  Near the end of the process, please enter the discount code K12Comp to bring the total due down to zero.  The registration website can be found here.

The Complimentary registration covered by the K12Comp discount code starts at 1:00pm on Day 2 (Thursday).  Please check in with registration between 12:30 and 12:55 on Thursday, Sept. 22nd.

Are you interested in attending the entire conference or just the entire day on Sept 22nd?
Anyone in K-12 is welcome to attend for the entire day on Thursday, Sept 22, 2016 at the student rate of $35/day.  This includes everything offered on Day 2 – Advanced OpenStreetMap mini workshop, exploring the National Geographic’s Giant Map of Colorado, GNSS Scavenger hunt put on by CompassTools, The National Map Corps Map-a-Thon, second day keynote, CDA, and technical sessions.  $35 is an awesome deal!

If registering for the entire Day 2, educators should select Student Attendee as the registration type and select Thursday only.  There is no discount code.

Upcoming Earth Science Public Events in Colorado

The following is a list of upcoming events relating to geology, minerals, fossils, and natural history.  Many of these relate to gem and mineral shows taking place this summer and in September, including the Denver Gem and Mineral Show, at which the USGS will have a booth, incorporating a "Kids' Corner" with look-and-touch-and-ask-questions-about rocks and minerals.

Fri., Aug. 26, 3:00 p.m., Earth Sciences Colloquium at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Hot and high times in the western U.S., 80 Ma to Present, by Katie Snell, CU Boulder. In VIP Room. All are welcome, museum admission is not required.

Sept. 10-18, Denver Coliseum Mineral, Fossil, and Gem Show, 10-6 daily, 4600 Humboldt St., Denver CO.  Free admission. See http://www.coliseumshow.com/ .

Sept. 11-18, Colorado Mineral and Fossil Show, 10-6 daily except 10-5 Sun. 9/18. Ramada Plaza - Denver Central, 4849 Bannock St., Denver, CO. Free admission, and free shuttle to the Denver Mart. See http://www.mzexpos.com/denver .

Wed. – Sat., Sept. 14-17, Denver Fine Mineral Show, at Marriott Denver West, 10-6 Wed.-Fri., 10-5 Sat., 1717 Denver West Blvd., Golden CO.  Free admission. See http://www.finemineralshow.com/ .

Wed., Sept. 14, 6:00-9:00 p.m., Open House at the Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum.  All are invited; refreshments and viewing of new exhibits prepared for the coming year.  A chance to meet museum curators, mineral collectors, and dealers who are in town for the Denver Gem and Mineral Show.

Thurs, Sept. 15, 5:45-9:00 p.m., Colorado Scientific Society, Student Presentation Night, at Arbor House, in Maple Grove Park, 14600 W. 32nd Ave., Golden (Applewood area).  All are welcome to attend, no admission charge, free refreshments. A selected group of graduate students from area universities will give presentations about their geology/earth science thesis research topics, and all attending will be able to vote for “the best presentation”. For details (to be posted in the coming month) see http://www.coloscisoc.org/ .

Sept. 16-18, 49th annual Denver Gem and Mineral Show, Denver Mart, Denver, CO. Minerals of Africa is the 2016 show theme. 9-6 Fri., 10-6 Sat., 10-5 Sun. See http://www.denvermineralshow.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/Denver-Gem-And-Mineral-Show-154290574610235/?fref=ts

Fri., Sept. 23, 3:00 p.m., Earth Sciences Colloquium at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Jurassic-Cretaceous paleogeographic evolution of the Western Interior Seaway  , by Ron Blakey, Colorado Plateau Geosystems. In Ricketson Auditorium. All are welcome, museum admission is not required.

Mon., Sept. 29, 3:00 p.m., Earth Sciences Colloquium at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science,  Deciphering the Rocky Mountains, by Beth McMillan, University of Arkansas-Little Rock . In VIP Room. All are welcome, museum admission is not required.

Thurs., Oct. 20, 7:00 p.m., Colorado Scientific Society October meeting, Climate Change, Part I and II, by William W. Little & Thom Fisher. Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church, 11500 W. 20th Ave., Lakewood CO. Social time beginning at 6:30; meeting & program at 7:00. All are welcome to attend; see www.coloscisoc.org.

Oct. 25-28, Geological Society of American Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (plus pre- and post-meeting field trips). See http://community.geosociety.org/gsa2016/home . 

Thurs., Nov. 17, Colorado Scientific Society November meeting, Terrestrial ecosystems during the Mesozoic, by Joe Sertich, DMNS.  Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church, 11500 W. 20th Ave., Lakewood CO.

Nov. 12-13, 37th annual New Mexico Mineral Symposium, at New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology, Socorro, NM; see https://geoinfo.nmt.edu/museum/minsymp/home.cfml

Thurs., Nov. 17, Friends of Mineralogy, Colorado Chapter meeting , 7:30 p.m., Denver Museum of Nature and Science, VIP Room, Dr. Markus Raschke, CU, “Thalénite: from redefinition to new discoveries of a rare-earth element silicate mineral from Colorado”.
Nov. 18-20Denver Area Mineral Dealers Show, Jefferson County Fairgrounds, Golden CO.

Special museum exhibits:
The "Critical Materials” exhibit continues at the Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum. It highlights critical materials and rare-earth elements - including the minerals these elements can be derived from - essential to the development of advanced technology and energy. The exhibit is a joint project of the Critical Materials Institute at the School of Mines and the Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum. The exhibit focuses on the elements Li, Y, Te, Nd, Eu, Tb, Dy, their minerals, and their uses in technology.  You’ll find the exhibit downstairs in the museum, which is open daily, 9-4 Mon.-Sat., 1-4 Sun., no admission charge; see http://www.mines.edu/Geology_Museum .

Unearthed: Ancient Life in the Boulder Valley, on exhibit at the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History (Henderson Building; in the Anthropology Hall), CU campus, Boulder. Featuring a collection of 80+ stone tools known as The Mahaffy Cache that was found in a Boulder backyard in 2007. The artifacts were studied by CU Boulder Professor of Archaeology Doug Bamforth, Ph.D. He dates the tools to 13,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age. The exhibit includes interactive elements and video, as well as replicas of the tools that visitors can pick up and hold.”  The museum is open daily, no admission charge. See https://cumuseum.colorado.edu/ .

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Registration is Open for Water Festival Coordinator Workshop

Water Festival Coordinator Workshop
CFWE LogoMonday, September 19, 2016
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Register by September 15
www.yourwatercolorado.org

The morning will be spent learning from experienced water festival coordinators some of the best practices and innovative methods for planning, logistics, executing, and evaluating the effectiveness of a water festival. Plenty of time will be structured for networking and sharing.

Bring your innovative water festival activity or tool to share during the afternoon. Also, learn a few new stormwater activities from Earth Force and Denver Public Works’ KIC-NET program and how to implement the Colorado Geographic Alliance’s new 16’x20’ Colorado state map into your water
festival. Continuing education credit certificates available for educators.

Visit this link for details and registration!

West Slope EE Conference Goes Outside on October 7​ - Register Today!

West Slope Environmental Education Conference
Friday, October 7, 2016
Ridgway State Park

Join environmental education (EE) 
​professionals
  and supporters 
​at Ridgway State Park for the 4th annual West Slope EE Conference on October 7.  
The Colorado Environmental Education Plan will be brought to life through dynamic and engaging presentations, discussions, activities, and plenty of networking time. 
​Leave 
inspired​, re-energized, and 
​with ​
stronger connections 
​with​
 other EE leaders and professionals.

More details and registration at www.caee.org. ​

Colorado Master Volunteer Forest Steward Workshop

Colorado Master Volunteer Forest Steward Workshop
September 12 - October 15, 2016
Black Forest Fire Station, 11445 Teachout Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80908

Training includes five weeks of classroom instruction and one hands-on workshop day, totaling 36 hours.  This class will be offered Monday & Tuesday evenings at the Black Forest Fire Station. A one-day, hands-on training workshop in tree identification/tree measurement, tree planting, wildland urban interface (WUI) assessment, and insect and disease diagnostics.

Class size is limited; please sign up early.  For more information please call Dave Root, CSFS Forester at (719) 687-2951.