Students from over 100 Polish schools will take part in the GLOBE Games 2017, a national seminar being hosted near Ruciane-Nida (warminsko-mazurskie voivodship) on June 9 – 12, 2017. As a part of the event, students will research and examine the Mazurian climate and environment through outdoor activities in the Piska Forest.
The theme for this year’s edition of the GLOBE Games is “Climate, Water, and Forest.” Each participant will work on a team to research factors that impact weather conditions and the influence of forests on Earth’s climate by using electronic devices, such as tablets with various applications for cloud observation. They will also utilize GPS receivers and equipment to record temperature, light intensity and wind speed measures. Scientists from the Physics and Biology Departments at the University of Warsaw will also support the students in their activities.
This year’s featured guest will be Brian A. Campbell, NASA’s Senior Earth Science Education Specialist. He will host workshops to show participants how NASA’s scientists conduct observations of the sky in order to collect data about cloud formation. Students will be able to compare their own data collected about cloud formation to readings from weather satellites.
The GLOBE Games are a part of GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment, www.globe.gov ), an international educational research program that aims at improving students’ research competences in environmental sciences and shaping and improving ecological awareness towards environment protection. The program was introduced in Poland in 1997, and is celebrating its 20th anniversary of running special programs in Poland. The national coordinator of the GLOBE program in Poland is the UNEP/GRID Center in Warsaw. The U.S. Embassy in Warsaw is a proud partner of this year’s seminar.
