Dane Gibson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Dec 13/99) - Scientists from around the world are using weather data from NASA's GLOBE program. The cool thing about it is that the data they use comes directly from grade-school students.

The NWT was recently introduced to the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment program, thanks to Yellowknife St. Patrick high school science teacher Peter Hardy. GLOBE has only been available in Canada for two months.

During the Yellowknife teachers conference, Nov. 25-26, Hardy trained 28 NWT teachers in the program.

"By participating in GLOBE, teachers guide their students through daily, weekly and seasonal environmental observations," said Hardy.

"Students record things such as air temperature and precipitation. Using the Internet, they can then send their data to the GLOBE student data archive."

There are 84 countries participating in GLOBE. Hardy said 11 schools throughout the NWT are now using the program.

"Kids who start collecting data from around their school's area can e-mail scientists who are specialists in specific weather fields," said Hardy.

"Students get direct contact with scientists, and the scientists use the information that is gathered in their research to do things like monitor global climate change and changes in vegetation patterns."

Once trained, teachers can access hundreds of satellite images and maps through the GLOBE Internet site.

As well, students from different countries can exchange messages and answer questions about their community.

Tim Wooldridge is one of three Wha Ti teachers who took the training. He said they should have the Mezi Community school hooked into the program in the next few months.

"I think using the Internet is a fantastic tool to assist kids to engage in discussions about the environment," said Wooldridge.

"For the students, their awareness of what's happening in the rest of the world increases."

Hardy is now trying to secure government funding from the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Environment Canada to get as many Northern schools as possible hooked up.

"I think government agencies like this program because they're excited about having schools and communities monitoring their own data," said Hardy.

"People of the North are very concerned about environmental conditions. The information this program provides is accessible, long-term environmental data which is very valuable."