Previous Messages of the Day

27 April 1998

1. Ciesin Thematic Guide: Land Degradation and Desertification
2. Prehistoric Farming Devastating Soil Erosion
3. Archeology: Lesson of Future Soil Use

Note: The quiz for unit 3-9 is mistitled. The quiz should read "China" instead of "Environment." My apologies for the error.

The grading for dialog in blocks 2 and 3 is now working. I have graded your essays and ethical questions for block 2. There will be some changes for the block 3 final self-assessment essay. I will post those changes by 4 PM today.

There are several opportunities for summer internships. Check the previous "Messages of the Day."

27 February 1998

• We did have a problem earlier this week with the quiz due date. The quiz scoring program was incorrectly telling you that you had taken a quiz past the due date. Thanks to alert students bringing this to my attention. The problem has been fixed.
• Note quiz Block2_2 is due on Monday!
• Quizzes for block 2 have varying due dates. For instance, the quiz Block2_1basic was due Wednesday 23 February at 11 AM. Check the due date listed at the top of each quiz. Quizzes taken after the due date will receive a maximum of 2/3 points.

20 February 1998

OUR Earth - Opportunities for Undergraduate Research in Earth System Science

Deadline -- MARCH 15, 1998.

This summer, the Washington Space Grant Consortium will launch OUR Earth at the University of Washington. This eight-week interdisciplinary program will bring talented students from around the country to Seattle to engage in cutting-edge research dedicated to understanding earth systems.

Participating students receive room, board, and tuition on the University of Washington campus and a $2,000 stipend. Juniors, seniors or community college students who have completed two years of course work are eligible.

The deadline for applications is MARCH 15, 1998.

If you would like more information about the program, please contact Mary Edmunds at nasa@u.washington.edu or call (206) 543-1943 or toll-free at (800) 659-1943. You may also visit the OUR Earth Web site at http://weber.u.washington.edu/~nasauw/ourearth.html. *Sponsored by NASA's Office of Earth Science, the Washington Space Grant Consortium, and the Boeing Company.

SUMMER INTERNSHIPS FOR UNDERGRADUATES BIOSPHERE 2 CENTER COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

June 1 - August 7, 1998

Biosphere 2 Center of Columbia University has received funding from NASA's Mission to Planet Earth Education Program to support 10 undergraduate students during summer 1998. Biosphere 2 is a three-acre, enclosed ecological laboratory for studying the future of planet Earth. It is the only facililty of its kind, and includes a rainforest, ocean, savannah, desert and agriculture/forestry area. This internship program offers undergraduates the chance to do research inside the Biosphere 2 facility, as well as at near-by field sites in the Sonoran Desert and Gulf of California. Informal seminars and discussion will emphasize the theme of Earth Systems Science. The program is open to students who have completed their sophomore year in college or who are near completion of a two year community college degree. Applicants should have an interest in pursuing a career in the broad area of Earth Systems, including its human components. Minorities, women and students with limited research opportunities at their home institutions are especially encouraged to apply. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

The award of these internships is contingent on the continuation of funding from NASA's Mission to Planet Earth Education Program. Confirmation of funding will not occur until later this spring, however, we are now accepting applications through April 1.

STIPEND

The stipend is $2500 for a ten week period. Interns are expected to be in residence for the full ten weeks of the program. In addition, the student will receive free housing at Biosphere 2 Center in Oracle, Arizona. Students who are traveling to Biosphere 2 from further than 200 miles away will be reimbursed for travel costs up to $400. Air travel will be reimbursed based on 21-day advance purchase coach fare.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applications must be received by April 1, 1998. Notification of awards will be made by May 1. We intend to select 10 interns and 2 alternates. Further information and application form are available online at http://www.bio2.edu. To apply, send the application along with the following material:

• Official college transcripts
• One letter of recommendation
• A resume
• A statement of interest. Describe how this experience will benefit you and how you expect to use this experience to benefit society at large. The goal of our program is to teach students about the research process and we encourage students with no prior research experience to apply.

Wednesday 11 February 1998

I have received a request to hold a help session on using HTML for posting dialog and assignment materials for the course. I will make a decision as to the time and place, as soon as I have received additional requests. If you would like to attend the session, please send me an email (mtaber@iastate.edu) by Wednesday 18 February 1998.

The due date for all quizzes in Block 1 is Monday 16 February at 11:00 AM. Make sure you have complete them all by the due date. Currently we do not have quizzes for Units 1-13, 1-14 or 1-15. Watch this space for updates.

9 February 1998

Several of you have asked whether you can make multiple postings on an assignment. The answer is "yes." For instance, if you forgot to include you references in submitting you paper topic, you can simply re-submit the references.

A note on quizzes...