Oxidate It Or Love It / Electron to the Next One

Thank You, Director of NASA, Charles Bolden Jr.

Director Bolden,

Thank you for taking 45 minutes of your time to connect with us.  It was an honor to meet you and to hear your views of NASA's future initiatives to have manned missions to Mars.  I especially appreciated when you were talking about your daughter having the chance to work on Curiosity's design, how you choked up talking about the importance of science in our young people's lives. I have two daughters, age 4 and 2, and just hope that some day they will see this picture and know that I had the chance to talk to an American hero.  Someone who dedicated his life and energy to country and science. Thank you for leading NASA and the nation into the 21st century.

Joshua Sneideman

Thanksgiving with family in NYC

Cousins

Amazing web site.

http://extremeicesurvey.org

/ 
AK-01 Columbia Kadin Narrated from Extreme Ice Survey on Vimeo.

Working on a C.L.E.A.N. boot camp review material for www.cleannet.org

amazing resource of cool climate related applets.
http://www.explainingclimatechange.ca/Climate%20Change/Lessons/applets/appletsL4.html

All

Lesson 1

Lesson 2

Lesson 3

Lesson 4

Lesson 5

Lesson 6

Lesson 7

Lesson 8

Lesson 9

Applet/Digital Resource	Format	Lessons Used
Arctic Sea Ice Over the Last 30 Years	Video	Lesson 5
Audio Feedback	Applet	Lesson 7
Carbon Cycle	Applet	Lesson 6, 7, 8
Carbon Stabilization Wedges	Applet	Lesson 9
Climate Model	Applet	Lesson 5
Climate Trends	Applet	Lesson 2, 5
CO2 and Ocean pH	Applet	Lesson 8
CO2 Concentrations Over 6 Months	Video	Lesson 6
Collisional Heating	Applet	Lesson 3
CO2 Footprint	Applet	Lesson 9
Coral Bleaching in the Caribbean	Video	Lesson 5
Earth's Atmosphere	Applet	Lesson  1, 3
Earth's Radiation Balance	Applet	Lesson 4
Electromagnetic Spectrum	Applet	Lesson 3
Eyjafjallajökull Eruption	Video	Lesson 4
Gaseous Molecules vs. Temperature	Applet	Lesson 3
Great Ocean Conveyor Belt	Video	Lesson 8
Historical Temperatures	Applet	Lesson  1
Hurricane Katrina	Video	Lesson 5
Ice Core Extraction and Analysis	Applet	Lesson 2
IR Windows Applet	Applet	Lesson 3, 6
IRMS Applet	Applet	Lesson 2
Keeling Curve Graph	Graph	Lesson 6
Marine Food Web Video	Video	Lesson 5
Molecular Interactions with Electromagnetic Radiation	Applet	Lesson 3
Ocean Trends	Applet	Lesson 8
pH Calculator	Applet	Lesson 8
pH Indicator	Applet	Lesson 8
pH Indicator	Video	Lesson 8
Planetary Climates	Applet	Lesson 4, 7
Polar Ice Cap Measurement	Applet	Lesson 7
Sea Shells and Carbon Dioxide	Video	Lesson 5
Shell Dissolving	Video	Lesson 8
Visualizing Global Climate Change	Applet	Lesson 5
Water Cycle	Animation	Lesson 6
Water Vapour Equilibrium	Applet	Lesson 6
Water Vapour Pressure vs. Temperature	Graph	Lesson 6

Gotta Love PhET

http://phet.colorado.edu/sims/my-solar-system/my-solar-system_en.html

cool graphic 2008

Amazing resource for early educators. STEM - from Boston Children's Museum

http://www.bostonchildrensmuseum.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/STEMGuide.pdf

Capital Hill STEM Diversity Event

Rev Jackson In Action

Going strong

Rainbow Push Coalition and Rev. Jackson

I was invited to attend the Rainbow Push Coalition, by my friend Jineea Butler.  The Reverend Jesse Jackson spoke on many issues, videos to come shortly.  While he spoke he talked about many important topics, but it just so happen that he also waded in on the debate over the name of the Washington Redskins.

 I was given this article by his chief of staff.

TIME IS RUNNING OUT

THE NAME “REDSKINS” IS OFFENSIVE AND MUST CHANGE

By The Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr.

The name of the NFL’s Washington Redskins must be changed.  It must also be clear that changing the name of the team is not an attack on the team, its fans or players.  A remake should not distract DC’s love of their football team.  In fact, it should enhance it.

It’s important that people understand the origin of the name Redskins. As our country was being expanded westward and land forcefully taken, stolen, from Native Americans - and they resisted - bounty hunters were paid to bring in dead Indians.  They brought the bodies in wagons.  Soon this became so cumbersome that the bounty hunters were told to just bring in the Indian’s head.  They brought in so many heads that this too became burdensome.  So they were finally instructed to just scalp the Indians and bring in the “Redskins” and they would be paid their bounty.

When I was young and watching westerns on television and at the movies, the cowboys needed to be afraid because, according to the dominant narrative, if they didn’t remain on guard the Indians might scalp them.  We now know the truth is the exact opposite.

Clearly the African American community would not tolerate a sports team named the Cleveland Hangers (with a rope as its logo), Hispanics would not countenance the Chicago Spics and Caucasians would not abide the Atlanta Gringos.  Since sports team names can be affected by political pressure and economic boycotts – i.e., numbers count - most think such offensive American Indian sports team names continue to be accepted by team owners simply because there are not enough Indians.

In addition to American Indian names, an ongoing concern is the use of American Indian mascots by high schools, colleges and professional sports teams that offend – offend traditions and religious symbols of our native population.  There has been progress in changing some of this.  The New York Times recently reported that nearly 70% of the approximately 3,000 sports teams that previously used Native American mascots have voluntarily ended the practice.  But there are still sports team names that many American Indians find offensive – e.g., Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Braves, but especially the tomahawk chop that accompanies the name.

Clearly, out of all these names, the most egregiously offensive team name by far is the Washington Redskins.  This team name cannot even be remotely compared to the other team names that some Native Americans find offensive.  “Redskins” is of a different offensive order altogether.

Pressure on Washington’s team owner to change the name is growing.  President Barack Obama said in a recent interview that if he were the team’s owner he would strongly consider changing it.  Reed Hundt, a former Chairman of the FCC, has urged broadcasters not to use the team’s nickname when reporting.  Some print reporters are following suit.  Bob Costas did a commentary against it at halftime on the recent Sunday Night Football game between Dallas and Washington.  It’s been reported that, privately, many of Washington’s football players are embarrassed and uncomfortable with the name.  The other NFL team owners were confronted with this issue in a recent peer meeting.

Washington’s team owner, Daniel Snyder, so far, has taken a position similar to former Alabama Governor George Wallace in the 1960s with regard to segregation.  Wallace said,  “Segregation today, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.”  Mr. Snyder has vowed to “never” change the team’s racist name.

It’s not as if Washingtonians haven’t undergone a popular sports team name change before.  Abe Pollin, who owned the Washington Bullets, changed the name to “Wizards” because he considered the “bullet” symbolism offensive.  Times change and some things past should be left there.    

With “Sambo” and other experiences of offensive names, a city with an African American majority should be especially sensitive to this issue.

There was a time in the South that African Americans weren’t allowed to attend legally segregated Caucasian colleges or universities as students or student-athletes.  But from Jim Thorpe to Jackie Robinson to Minnie Minoso to Roberto Clemente to the Williams sisters to Tiger Woods, we’ve fought to “let in” people of color and break down racial barriers in sports, and we’re making progress.

The challenge, however, is not only to “let in” people of color, but to “take out” of sports racially derogatory names, symbols and practices.

Some defenders of the Washington football name like to site polls that show most Americans are not offended by the name.  But most Americans don’t know this story.  If they did I believe they would side with the Oneida Indian Nation that is leading this effort and be willing to change the name.  People of color are now included in sports.  But it’s past time to “take out” racially insensitive sports names and symbols that are offensive.

Recent Events

http://corporate.discovery.com/discovery-news/discovery-communications-and-stemconnector-hold-ca/

http://www.rainbowpush.org/

http://storify.com/STEMConnector/discovery-communications-stemconnector-capitol-hil

http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2013/13-200.html
Lunch at the LOC for the Carl Sagan Celebration

Carolyn Porco - Can you believe it.....The Pale Blue Dot lead Cassini Imaging.

More pictures later!

Montana Coffee

What a group of down to earth gentlemen.  I can say that I was a bit surprised but honestly very happy.

A Celebration of Carl Sagan at the Library of Congress

Today I was honored to attend a special invitation event at the Library of Congress to celebrate Carl Sagan.  Speakers included Seth MacFarlane who wondered out loud why evolution deniers don't also question gravity an equally accepted scientific theory.  Neil deGrasse Tyson reminded us all the Carl was in the room with us as long as we try to educate people about science in a civil and engaging way.  Ann Druyan Carl's wife and life partner talked about 20 revolutions around the sun they shared together and his laugh which is traveling out in to the cosmos on the voyager spacecraft.  The same voyager space craft that Carolyn Porco reminded us of Carl's reasons for wanting to photograph A pale blue dot.  She unveiled the newest Pale Blue Dot recently taken by Cassini in July 2013.

Need Carl Sagan say more.


He worked his life energy to help help humanity come together and grow.  His friends remember him as both a humble and great thinker.  Observers like myself see a superhero of unparalled passion, drive and knowledge.

JMU Seminar - Presentation

Radio Astronomy Field Trip to Green Bank WV

This week we had the amazing opportunity to spend 3 days at National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank W.V. 

We toured the control areas of the facility, operated a 40 foot radio telescope, climbed up the largest equitorial radio telescope in the world, bonded over some amazing karaoke and were given incredible instruction by the staff. 

My understanding of radio astronomy has increased by at least 10 x 26th janskies.

Signing off 1420.41.

Traingle Coalition STEM Conference

Anyone interested in STEM Education Policy should be a member of the Triangle Coalition.  This event is astounding. What a panel of speakers.

There were really too many notable speakers to name them all.  But one person whose work has greatly influenced me after reading her paper is Dr. Andresse St. Rose - who cowrote -
Why So Few? Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

I also had a personal epiphany during the conference.  I believe the more we talk about STEM being a white male dominated field the more harm we do, as we reinforce the idea that it is a scary place for a woman or minority to want to invest years of study.  Rather we should be simply focusing on the rewards of STEM and on each individuals capabilities.  We need to never utter the STEMism of White Male Dominated again. Let it die with the problem and lets just address the solution.


www.eie.org  is doing incredible things for elementary STEM Ed.


Here is a photo with The Honorable Dot Harris, Director, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity who gave a rousing speech on her life story and the need for us to address issues facing diversity in STEM.

Rayburn House of Representatives

Today I got my hair cut and shoes shined in the Rayburn Building.  What an experience. The walls of the barber shop were covered with photos of many present and passed who had graced the halls of Congress.

                                   these are the fountains right beside 

Rayburn

this is the view from the front of the Rayburn building.

American Institute for Research - Symposium on PIAAC

Attended 

 AIR symposium 

The Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC)

the results from PIAAC are coming out Tuesday 10/8/2013 expect more posts on this topic.

The results should allow a much greater understanding of workforce needs and gaps. This is the missing piece from the TIMSS and PISA studies.  We now have a full range of data to use to improve our points of entry and improvement. 

Thanks to my DOE EERE fellowship sponsor Linda Silverman for inviting me. 

Week #1 as A.E.F.

It is official.  I now have a badge and access to the Department of Energy - working in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.   Today as I commute on the metro I see the Washington Monument and am filled with a sense of joy knowing that I am about to work on national education efforts towards a more energy efficient and renewable energy society.

I stand up straight and get lost looking out the window as we cross the Potomac River.  I am living my dream. Ever since I was a little boy I wanted to be a teacher, like my mother, father, grandfather and uncle.  I also have wanted to play an important role in shifting our society towards a more green and environmentally sustainable future.

How will this experience be for my family and what is next keeps rolling through my head?

Before my first week even began the ball was already rolling towards a unique educational future path as I attended the S.C.L.C conference prior to the March on Washington 50. Then joined the Urban League for some pre march speeches.  I had a chance to go the Challenger Center event at the Senate Building where I met so many incredible people.  Especially my good friend and first science education mentor Mary Liscombe.  My family has gone to many a museum, attended the Costa Rica independence day festivities at the Ambassador's house and settled in.


See photos of the first few weeks prior to the start of AEF 2013-2014

orientation week

 first trip to Air and Space
 

library of congress

challenger center event 

SCLC - The Reverend Jesse 

50th anniversary March