• Apparently Girls Can Do Science
• Need Support for Elementary School Science?
• Treat Yourself to an Educational Escape in Boston
• Now’s the Time to Submit Your Conference Session Proposals
• The Science Teacher is Looking for Good and Novel Questions!
• New Online Solar System Course from the American Museum of Natural History
• Free AAAS Session on Obesity and Childhood Nutrition

Apparently Girls Can Do Science

For the first time, the Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology awarded top honors to female competitors. First prize in the team category was split between two high school seniors for their work on creating a molecule that helps block the reproduction of drug-resistant tuberculosis bacteria. First and second prizes in the individual category went to one high school senior for her studies of bone growth in zebra fish and another for her research identifying genetic defects that could play a role in the development of Lou Gehrig's disease. This year marks the first time that female finalists outnumbered males (11 out of 20). Most of the finalists have parents who are scientists and most attend public schools.

• Read the New York Times article (free registration required)

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Need Support for Elementary School Science?

The principal is generally the decision maker in elementary schools, so what better way to garner support for science than going right to the top? If your principal needs information on how to integrate science into the classroom, NSTA has an e-newsletter written especially for him or her. Each issue is based on typical themes found in elementary science curricula. To read a current issue or to sign up for this complimentary, monthly e-newsletter written especially for elementary school principals, please visit the Scientific Principals archive.

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Treat Yourself to an Educational Escape in Boston

Join NSTA at the 56th National Conference on Science Education, March 27-30, 2008. Listen to invited keynote speaker Barbara Morgan’s fascinating history as an elementary school teacher and astronaut logging more than 305 hours in space. Take advantage of ready-to-use lesson plans developed by experts and handed out to attendees. Win a well-equipped science classroom (one for each grade band) provided by top exhibitors in the Ultimate Classroom Giveaway. Don’t miss your chance to improve upon your professional development skills through entertaining workshops, events and networking.

Register by February 8 and save as much as $109 if you are an NSTA member.

Visit www.nsta.org/boston for more information.

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Now’s the Time to Submit Your Conference Session Proposals

Don't delay! Proposals are now being accepted online for the NSTA 2008 area conferences and 2009 national conference. Share your teaching experience with our attendees! Visit www.nsta.org/conferences to submit your proposal for our 2008-2009 conferences. In 2008-2009 NSTA will hold conferences in:

• Charlotte, North Carolina, Oct. 30-Nov. 1, 2008
• Portland, Oregon, Nov. 20-22, 2008
• Cincinnati, Ohio, Dec. 4-6, 2008

The proposal deadline for these conferences is January 15, 2008.

The proposal deadline for the 2009 National Conference on Science Education in New Orleans, Louisiana is April 15, 2008.

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The Science Teacher is Looking for Good and Novel Questions!

The Science Teacher, NSTA's peer-reviewed journal for secondary science teachers, invites teachers to submit questions for the journal's "Ask the Experts" department. Previous questions include, "What would a compass do on the Moon?" and "Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of its container?" In addition, the journal is always looking for experts from industry, research, and government to volunteer their time to answer questions. To submit questions or to volunteer as an expert, e-mail department editor Marc Rosner at mmarosner@aol.com with your title and full contact information.

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New Online Solar System Course from the American Museum of Natural History

Coauthored by Neil deGrasse Tyson and Denton Ebel, the American Museum of Natural History will offer The Solar System beginning in January, its latest addition to Seminars on Science, the museum's online professional development program. The course uses original essays, videos, and interactive media to address the origin and evolution of the Solar System, its rich diversity and extreme environments, the research focus of current space missions, and its eventual fate. To view the full syllabus and to register online today, visit learn.amnh.org/solar.

Graduate credit for all courses is available from several leading institutions. Courses may be used to meet your professional development needs, including degree, certification, NCLB, and salary gradation requirements.

Other spring courses include Evolution; Earth: Inside and Out; The Ocean System; Genetics, Genomics, Genethics; The Diversity of Fishes; and Space, Time and Motion. Come away from your class with a deeper understanding of both the science and the tools of scientific inquiry. Free sample resources for each course--including essays, videos, and interactive simulations--are available online at learn.amnh.org.

Registration is now open for the six-week sessions that begin January 28 and March 24, as well as two sessions for Summer 2008. Courses are easy to use and flexible enough to fit into a teacher’s busy schedule. Each participant receives a CD of course resources suitable for classroom use.

Registration for the January session closes January 14. Register by January 2 to receive a $50 discount. For more information and to register, go to learn.amnh.org or call 800-649-6715.

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Free AAAS Session on Obesity and Childhood Nutrition

NSTA and The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) cordially invite science teachers to attend a special program on obesity and childhood nutrition. A town hall meeting, “Understanding Obesity and Childhood Nutrition: A Special AAAS Public Engagement Event,” will take place February 17, 2008, during the AAAS Annual Meeting in Boston. Teachers, school health professionals, scientists, parents, and the public are all invited to attend this free event.

Featuring top obesity and childhood nutrition experts, the event also will include an appearance by Mark Fenton, “America’s walking guru,” and a demonstration of an interactive learning game. All participating teachers will receive useful resources such as Planet Health lesson plans, a plain-language Obesity booklet, a special AAAS video, and a letter reflecting three hours’ worth of professional development. For details, visit the AAAS website.

Middle school teachers—register today! The first 300 middle-school professionals to register will receive free copies of the Planet Health fitness curriculum at the end of the town hall event.

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And Don’t Forget…

Membership Means You Belong! Join NSTA for these essential benefits that will enhance your marketability in the teaching profession and build your professional knowledge. Being a member of NSTA means you’re part of an international community of practitioners dedicated to improving science education.

Visit the NSTA Science Store for an outstanding array of bestselling books and teaching resources. Receive 30% off of the December featured book, Teaching High School Science Through Inquiry: A Case Study Approach.

Visit our member services web page to ensure that NSTA has your current contact information.