2020 MESTA Conference
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Date: Friday, February 7, 2020
Time: 7:45am-3:00pm Location: District 287 Conference Center. 1820 N. Xenium Ln, Plymouth, MN 55441 Keynote Speaker, Break-out Sessions, Activity Share, Free Resources, Breakfast and Lunch included Thursday night activity:(optional) Como Planetarium Graduate credit will be available for the conference for an additional fee. More information to come!
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LocationDistrict 287 Conference Center
1820 N. Xenium Ln, Plymouth, MN 55441 |
THURSDAY EVENING EVENT
View the Cosmos at the Como Planetarium
Join us at a Minnesota classic, the Como Planetarium. Recently updated with a state-of-the-art immersive video system, this intimate venue will be our vehicle to explore the solar system and beyond. Additional possibilities for the evening include a trip through deep space and updates on current space missions.
Participants have the option of meeting colleagues for a social gathering, networking, and dinner at Granite City Food and Brewery at their own expense before the planetarium program.
Join us at a Minnesota classic, the Como Planetarium. Recently updated with a state-of-the-art immersive video system, this intimate venue will be our vehicle to explore the solar system and beyond. Additional possibilities for the evening include a trip through deep space and updates on current space missions.
Participants have the option of meeting colleagues for a social gathering, networking, and dinner at Granite City Food and Brewery at their own expense before the planetarium program.
Keynote speaker
Climate Change: By the Numbers--presentation
Sven Sundgaard, KARE11-TV meteorologist and conservationist
415ppm, 0.9°C, 0.4°F, 127 billion tons, 8 inches, 95%, 12 years.... What do these numbers have in common? Explore with Sven as we tackle these key figures in a rapidly changing climate. How do we know humans are responsible? How likely is it? What can we do and how much time do we have? Hasn’t Earth always changed? What’s the difference today? From the Arctic where climate is changing fastest, to the subtleties of increased extreme weather in the Midwest, we’re pushing wildlife to the brink in already precarious environments we’ll explore around the world.
A graduate of St. Cloud State University, Mr. Sundgaard interned at the Twin Cities National Weather Service Forecast Office before becoming the chief meteorologist for KBJR-TV in Duluth and then later joining the weather team at KARE11-TV.
**Mr Sundgaard has also shared a folder of climate resources.
Sven Sundgaard, KARE11-TV meteorologist and conservationist
415ppm, 0.9°C, 0.4°F, 127 billion tons, 8 inches, 95%, 12 years.... What do these numbers have in common? Explore with Sven as we tackle these key figures in a rapidly changing climate. How do we know humans are responsible? How likely is it? What can we do and how much time do we have? Hasn’t Earth always changed? What’s the difference today? From the Arctic where climate is changing fastest, to the subtleties of increased extreme weather in the Midwest, we’re pushing wildlife to the brink in already precarious environments we’ll explore around the world.
A graduate of St. Cloud State University, Mr. Sundgaard interned at the Twin Cities National Weather Service Forecast Office before becoming the chief meteorologist for KBJR-TV in Duluth and then later joining the weather team at KARE11-TV.
**Mr Sundgaard has also shared a folder of climate resources.
CONCURRENT SESSION PRESENTER INFORMATION
A Different Way to Teach Moon Phases
Ken Fiscus, Albert Lea High School
Do you REALLY understand the cause of moon phases? Do you know how to use the moon to understand the Sun-Earth-Moon system as a whole? Explore fun new ways to challenge your students as you try different approaches to this challenging topic. Ken will show attendees several methods that he has developed to probe levels of student understanding and misunderstanding. Leave the workshop with time-tested techniques, handouts, and puzzles to help Earthlings grasp several foundational concepts for astronomy education.
MN State Science Standards and NGSS
Mary Colson, Horizon Middle School, MN Science Standards Co-Chair
The newly revised MN Science Standards rest on the foundation laid by A Framework for K-12 Science Education (NRC, 2012) and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS Lead States, 2013). In this session, we will explore the vision of three-dimensional learning in which students engage in the practices of science and engineering as they “figure out” instead of “learn about.” We will examine a unit designed to promote 3-D learning and to leverage student questions as a way to drive instruction forward. We’ll close with a look at resources to use as you think about how to modify your instruction to meet the new standards and benchmarks.
Hydropedology (Soil Hydrology)
Dr. Philip Schoeneberger, Research Soil Scientist USDA-NRCS
Water: the blood of the Earth. How does water flow through the landscape? Where does it flow? Discover water’s flow through soils and landscapes and implications for understanding ecosystem management and how to bring the "water veins" of the Earth alive in your classroom.
Circular Economy Concepts: Potential Applications to Minnesota’s Mineral Resources
Dr. George Hudak, Natural Resources Research Institute
Over the past few decades, the concept of “sustainable development” in the minerals industry has become increasingly important. A key component to engineering sustainable mineral resources requires a change from single use practices (linear economy) to developing products that can be re-purposed (circular economy). Such a change will require new ways of thinking about our resources to include not only the commodity being extracted but also potential development of byproducts from “waste” materials and re-utilization of existing mining infrastructure for new purposes. This presentation will cover the circular economy, focusing on applications to potentially increase the “sustainability” of Minnesota’s mineral resources.
Ken Fiscus, Albert Lea High School
Do you REALLY understand the cause of moon phases? Do you know how to use the moon to understand the Sun-Earth-Moon system as a whole? Explore fun new ways to challenge your students as you try different approaches to this challenging topic. Ken will show attendees several methods that he has developed to probe levels of student understanding and misunderstanding. Leave the workshop with time-tested techniques, handouts, and puzzles to help Earthlings grasp several foundational concepts for astronomy education.
MN State Science Standards and NGSS
Mary Colson, Horizon Middle School, MN Science Standards Co-Chair
The newly revised MN Science Standards rest on the foundation laid by A Framework for K-12 Science Education (NRC, 2012) and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS Lead States, 2013). In this session, we will explore the vision of three-dimensional learning in which students engage in the practices of science and engineering as they “figure out” instead of “learn about.” We will examine a unit designed to promote 3-D learning and to leverage student questions as a way to drive instruction forward. We’ll close with a look at resources to use as you think about how to modify your instruction to meet the new standards and benchmarks.
Hydropedology (Soil Hydrology)
Dr. Philip Schoeneberger, Research Soil Scientist USDA-NRCS
Water: the blood of the Earth. How does water flow through the landscape? Where does it flow? Discover water’s flow through soils and landscapes and implications for understanding ecosystem management and how to bring the "water veins" of the Earth alive in your classroom.
Circular Economy Concepts: Potential Applications to Minnesota’s Mineral Resources
Dr. George Hudak, Natural Resources Research Institute
Over the past few decades, the concept of “sustainable development” in the minerals industry has become increasingly important. A key component to engineering sustainable mineral resources requires a change from single use practices (linear economy) to developing products that can be re-purposed (circular economy). Such a change will require new ways of thinking about our resources to include not only the commodity being extracted but also potential development of byproducts from “waste” materials and re-utilization of existing mining infrastructure for new purposes. This presentation will cover the circular economy, focusing on applications to potentially increase the “sustainability” of Minnesota’s mineral resources.
Contact Us
Conference event information:
Brian Allison
[email protected]
Conference registration questions:
Jeff Lynum
[email protected]
Brian Allison
[email protected]
Conference registration questions:
Jeff Lynum
[email protected]