REVITALIZING THE GLOBE PROGRAM IN FINLAND

UNCLAS HELSINKI 000831 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE PASS: OES/GLOBE COORDINATOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV ENRG TSPL KPAO KGHG FI SUBJECT: REVITALIZING THE GLOBE PROGRAM IN FINLAND REF: HELSINKI 00131 ¶1. (U) Summary: Embassy Helsinki is actively promoting activities to revitalize the GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) program in Finnish schools. Utilizing part of a $10,000 (FY2007) grant in Public Diplomacy funding from the State Department, Embassy Helsinki organized a very successful Teachers' Conference on September 21st and subsequently worked with GLOBE Headquarters to create an email listserv for educators to communicate and share best practices. These activities are designed to encourage educators to promote constructive discussions about climate change, energy use and conservation, as well as science education and discovery. GLOBE is a U.S.-sponsored international program that brings education to life through hands-on scientific discovery about the Earth and its systems. End summary. Teachers' Conference to Revitalize GLOBE ======================================== ¶2. (U) To begin revitalizing the GLOBE program in Finland, Embassy Helsinki worked with the Finnish Board of Education and Vaisala (Finnish manufacturer of high-end weather instruments) to organize a GLOBE Teachers' Conference in Helsinki on September 21st. The one-day conference included opportunities for educators to network and share best practices. The Conference featured addresses by Ambassador Marilyn Ware, Jari Koivisto from the Finnish Board of Education and NOAA's Dr. David Schultz, visiting professor at the University of Helsinki and the Finnish Meteorological Institute. Using a variety of examples and historical models, Dr. Schultz addressed "How Weather Observations Are Used To Make Forecasts." Educators also shared a series of "classroom best practices," and they established a governing body of educators to oversee the GLOBE Program in Finland. ¶3. (U) At the conclusion of the Conference, Econoff unveiled an exciting set of classroom materials that teach about sustainable development and global climate change in a non-political science-based way, including practice exercises that introduce the importance of personal accountability. The five sustainable development areas the materials cover are energy, waste, transportation, biodiversity, and water. Originally developed by GLOBE UK, Embassy Helsinki coordinated the translation of the materials into Finnish using Public Diplomacy funding. These materials, available on CD ROM, are now being distributed to educators throughout Finland. Listserv Keeps Teachers Linked ============================== ¶4. (U) Building upon the momentum from the Teachers' Conference, Embassy Helsinki worked with GLOBE Headquarters in Boulder, Colorado to create an email listserv for GLOBE Teachers to communicate and share best practices. The listserv also provides Embassy Helsinki an easy way to quickly share information with over 100 science teachers throughout Finland. Recognizing Embassy Helsinki's significant efforts, GLOBE Headquarters is drafting a "GLOBE Star" to highlight the Embassy's best practices, especially efforts to sustain GLOBE by building a strong network of education, government, and business community supporters in Finland. These activities also dovetail nicely with Post's current focus on climate change issues (Helsinki 00131). ¶5. (U) Embassy Helsinki appreciates the strong support from the Department and GLOBE Headquarters in Boulder, Colorado. WARE