New SMAS and GLOBE Partnership

SMAS is excited to announce that we are now the 4th GLOBE Partner in Montana, the University of Montana, Salish Kootenai College, and Stone Child College are the other three Partners.  The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program is an international science and education program that provides students and the public worldwide with the opportunity to participate in data collection and the scientific process, and contribute meaningfully to our understanding of the Earth system and global environment.

GLOBE provides grade level-appropriate, interdisciplinary activities and investigations about the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and soil/pedosphere, which have been developed by the scientific community and validated by teachers.  GLOBE connects students, teachers, scientists, and citizens from different parts of the world to conduct real, hands-on science about their local environment and put in a global perspective.

GLOBE is jointly sponsored by NASA and the National Science Foundation (NSF), with support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Department of State.

GLOBE Partners promote GLOBE to schools and the public in their area, train teachers and citizens on GLOBE protocols, and encourage GLOBE schools.  A SMAS member is one of the seven Montana GLOBE Trainers.

Data is collected in different GLOBE Field Measurement Campaigns or through the collection of “ground truth” measurements by GLOBE students of NASA Earth Observing Satellite missions.  These measurements contribute to satellite mission calibration and validation programs, such as NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive Mission (SMAP).  SMAP measures soil moisture from space and has applications in science, agriculture, and environmental management, each of them vital to Earth’s health and sustainability.  From understanding the processes that link the water, carbon, and energy cycles to improving weather and climate prediction models, SMAP will advance environmental knowledge.  The Bridger Program at Bozeman High School participated in the SMAP campaign with the help of a SMAS member.

Interested in more information about GLOBE, visit the GLOBE website or contact us