IITA 1996 Annual Report
The Earth System Science Community

http://www.circles.org

Objective

To enable high school and university students to research the Earth system using Earth observation data nad information over the Internet.

Approach

Provide syllabus, project descriptions for student investigation, which are supported by teaching resources, test questions, activities, tutorials, and online access to data.

Accomplishments

Developed a prototype of the Earth System Visualizer (ESV). The purpose of the ESV is to enable analysis and intercomparison of Earth system parameters using a variety of plot types. The site includes a tutorial and example cases.

Developed an Earth system science curriculum based on the strategy of the Earth Observing System, and numerous NASA online educational resources.

Publication of 65 student reports to date.

Participation in Discover Earth, a High School Earth System Science initiative supported by Mission to Planet Earth.

Attendance at four conferences to demonstrate our work and disseminate information about the ESSC and our data.
Significance

Students learn how to evaluate and publish the results of their team research on the Internet.

The materials, tools, teaching resources, and examples of student research published on the ESSC websites may be used to supplement existing curricula in Earth and environmental science, physics, chemistry, and beyond.

Plans

ECOlogic Corp. and participating faculty will continue to develop community, curriculum, and Internet services as the program expands to include new high schools, community colleges, and universities around the country. This agreement expires in Fiscal Year 1997.

Point of Contact

Farzad Mahootian
and Michael Keeler
ECOlogic Corporation
19 Eye St, NW
Washington DC, 20016
Email: farzad@ecologic.net
keeler@ecologic.net
Phone: 202-218-4100
Fax: 202-842-5088