A. Get outside – enjoy the beauty of the earth and mark your observations. Consider joining a citizen science project such as Nature’s Notebook or GLOBE observer Tree Challenge.
C. Learn some new GIS skills with resources from AmericaView members: Google Earth Engine (GeorgiaView), QGIS (WestVirginiaView), or ArcGIS Pro (VirginiaView).
Below is the poster that IowaView staff displayed at the virtual 2021 Iowa Water Conference, April 6-8, 2021. Click on the image below to explore the poster.
The 2021 Map Competition for Iowa students is now underway.
Students in grades 4-12 are invited, with their teachers, to participate in this year’s mapping contest sponsored by Esri, the Iowa Geographic Information Council (IGIC), and William Penn University. This year’s theme is Mapping Unique Iowa Features.
How to participate: Use the Story Map application to tell a story about a unique feature site using a map and pictures.
There will be $100 cash prize and a certificate for the top five middle school (grades 4-8) and top high school (grades 9-12) map entries. The top entry from each state will be submitted to the national competition hosted by Esri.
Schools must submit their winners to the state for judging by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 12, 2021. Iowa GIS professionals will judge the entries so Iowa awards may be announced, and send winning entries on to Esri for the national competition.
Are you interested in learning more about remote sensing but have a limited budget? This February, OhioView will be presenting , “Remote sensing on a shoestring,” and will guide you through how to begin using freely available software and data to perform remote sensing analysis.
Topics for each of the workshops (and their skill level) are as follows:
February 5, 2021, 9am – 1pm (EST):
Earth Science Missions Imagery using Google Earth Pro (beginner level)
Normalized Difference Calculations with Sentinel-2 using Multispec (intermediate level)
Land cover classification of Sentinel-2 images using QGIS (beginner level)
Use this link to register for the February 5 workshop: https://forms.gle/Z269biTar4vU23DU7 The last day for registration for the February 5 workshop will be January 28, 2021.
February 26, 2021, 9am – 1pm (EST):
Classification Using Google Earth Engine (intermediate level)
Ground validation using the GLOBE Observer app (beginner level)
Estimating Evapotranspiration with Landsat using QGIS (intermediate level).
Use this link to register for the February 26 workshop: https://forms.gle/HkRGQ3fn8S81443U6. The last day for registration for the February 26 workshop will be February 18, 2021.
On November 1st, IowaView staff participated the “meet-a-scientist” at the annual Reiman GardensSpirits in the Gardens event featuring a self guided pathway with hundreds of carved pumpkins as well as scientists to meet along the way. During our shift, there were over 250 visitors of all ages. We were able to share posters featuring remote sensing and GIS, which included aerial imagery of Ames and Reiman Gardens dating from the 1930s to 2019. Participants enjoyed seeing change over time as Ames has urbanize over the last ninety years. Staff gave out goodie bags with AmericaView poster, USGS trading cards, and Earth as Art bookmarks and booklets.
Join us this week, November 15-21, 2020, as we celebrate Geography Awareness Week. Throughout we will be posting various activities and videos from our friends at OpenStreetMap, National Geographic, and Esri to help you get engage and get informed.
As a way to celebrate GIS Day and OpenStreetMap, we are encouraging everyone to go online either during this week or on GIS Day and contribute to the OpenStreetMap basemap. If you are interested and would like more information about how to get started, please email, Amy Logan.
ESRI has put together a fun Halloween themed Geography Treasure Hunt that uses their story map technology to test your halloween trivia and world geography knowledge. Good luck.
Another exciting Halloween opportunity for those in the Ames area is Reiman Gardens Spirits in the Gardens event. Participants will enjoy walking through a garden path of hundreds of beautifully carved pumpkins. It is a ticketed event, registration information here. IowaView staff member, Amy Logan, will be at the event on Sunday, November 1st from 5-7pm, discussing remote sensing and GIS and handing out goodie bags of Earthshot trading cards while supplies last.
Today think about how you use minerals in your daily life.
Join the Earth Science Week team in raising awareness of and appreciation for minerals and mineralogy among the general public as well as K-12 and higher education students and teachers in both formal and informal educational settings.
Monday, October 12 Minerals Day. Join us in raising awareness of and appreciation for minerals and mineralogy!
Tuesday, October 13 Earth Observation Day. Engage students and teachers in remote sensing as an exciting and powerful educational tool.
No Child Left Inside Day. NCLI Day encourages students to go outside and research Earth science in the field like a professional geoscientist.
Wednesday, October 14 National Fossil Day. The annually held National Fossil Day celebration is dedicated to promoting the understanding and appreciation of fossils.
Thursday, October 15 Geoscience for Everyone Day. Do your part to help young people from underrepresented communities explore exciting careers in the geosciences.
Friday, October 16 Geologic Map Day. Hosted by the U.S. Geological Survey, Association of American State Geologists, National Park Service, Geological Society of America, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in partnership with AGI, this special event promotes awareness of the study, uses, importance of geologic mapping for education, science, business, and a variety of public policy concerns.
Saturday, October 17 International Archaeology Day. Hosted by the Archaeological Institute of America, this special event is a celebration of archaeology and the thrill of discovery.
Webinars
“Advances in the Mineralogy of Mars,” Dr. Elizabeth Rampe, Johnson Space Center. (Recorded to premiere at 10 a.m. EDT, Monday, October 12, 2020)
“The Future of Data-Driven Discovery in Mineralogy and Crystallography,” Dr. Shaunna Morrison, Carnegie Institution of Science. (Live at 2 p.m. EDT, Monday, October 12, 2020)
“Resources Beyond Earth: Enabling Future Exploration and the New Space Economy,” Dr. Angel Abbud Madrid, Center for Space Resources, Colorado School of Mines. (On Demand with a live Q&A at 12 p.m. EDT, Tuesday, October 13, 2020)
“Gemology: Time Capsules Connecting Us Through History,” Dr. Aaron Palke, Gemological Institute of America. (Recorded to premiere at 3 p.m. EDT, Tuesday, October 13, 2020)
“The Need and Solutions for Robots in Responsible Raw Material Exploration and Mining,” Dr. Norbert Zajzon, University of Miskolc. (On Demand with a live Q&A at 12 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, October 14, 2020)
“New Insights Into Wire Silver and Gold Formation,” Dr. John Rakovan, Miami University. (Recorded to premiere at 3 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, October 14, 2020)
“Consumers: The Most Potent Army Against Conflict Minerals,” Vitor Correia, International Raw Materials Observatory. (On Demand with a live Q&A at 12pm EDT, Friday, October 16, 2020)
“May the Quartz Be With You,” Shannon Mahan, U.S. Geological Survey. With an introduction by Sarah J. Ryker, USGS Associate Director for Energy & Minerals. (On Demand)
“The Global Supply of Critical Minerals: Assessing and Tracking Critical Mineral Commodities,” Nedal Nassar, U.S. Geological Survey. (On Demand)
