This award will partially support a three-day workshop on Earth System Science Education (ESSE) in November, 2009. The discussions will focus on four major challenges that ESSE faces: poor perception of ESSE in K12 systems, inadequate preparation of ESS teachers, outdated and incomplete of standards for ESSE, and competition of ESS with different K12 curricula reform projects. The report resulting from this workshop will include: (1) articulation of challenges of ESSE; (2) identification initiatives, roles, and players needed to address the different challenges; (3) naming of groups across organizations to work on specific projects; (4) identification resources to carry out projects that address the challenges; (5) plan for regular participation of the US in the International Earth Science Olympiad. It is expected that the meeting will have about 60 participants representing a wide range of organizations (e.g. professional societies, federal agencies, universities, school districts, and nonprofit organizations).
