[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 76 (Thursday, April 20, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19727-19729]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-9760]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 950113015-5089-02]
RIN 0648-ZA12


Global Learning and Observations To Benefit the Environment 
(GLOBE)

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, COMMERCE 
(DOC).

ACTION: Notice of program and invitation to participate.

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SUMMARY: This is an invitation for U.S. K-12 schools to participate in 
an international environmental science and education program known as 
Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE). 
U.S. schools can participate in the GLOBE Program if they meet the 
``basic requirements'' described in the announcement below. This notice 
revises a previous invitation to schools to participate in the GLOBE 
Program, which was published in the Federal Register on November 23, 
1994 (59 FR 60351). Federal assistance is not available at this time to 
enable schools to participate in the GLOBE Program to enable them to 
meet the ``basic requirements.'' In addition, more detailed information 
is provided for the scientific measurement instruments, other program 
information is updated, and the Government no longer provides Internet 
access to registered schools. This notice incorporates an Announcement 
section that includes a form for use by schools to register to 
participate in the GLOBE Program. This Announcement is also available 
in electronic and hard copy form from the sources listed below.
    The GLOBE Program is a hands-on program that joins students, 
educators, and scientists from around the world in studying the global 
environment. GLOBE is a worldwide network of students who work under 
the guidance of GLOBE-trained teachers to make environmental 
observations at or near their schools, report their data to a GLOBE 
processing facility, receive and use global images created from their 
data, and study environmental topics in their classrooms. GLOBE in the 
United States is managed by an interagency team that includes the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Science 
Foundation (NSF), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the 
Department of Education and State. GLOBE leadership also includes the 
Council on Environmental Quality and the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy, both within the Executive Office of the President. 
NOAA is the lead agency for GLOBE. As lead agency, NOAA invites U.S. K-
12 schools to participate in the GLOBE Program as described in the 
announcement below.

DATES: This invitation is open until further notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Further information or copies of the Announcement below, which includes 
a registration form, may be obtained by connecting to the GLOBE 
Internet World Wide Web server at http://www.globe.gov, by sending a 
request by electronic mail to [email protected], by calling the GLOBE 
information line at 202-395-6500, by mail to Thomas N. Pyke, Jr., 
Director, The GLOBE Program, 744 Jackson Place, N.W., Washington, D.C. 
20503, or delivered by express or courier service to Director, The 
GLOBE Program, The White House, New Executive Office Building, 725 17th 
Street, N.W., Room G-1, Washington, D.C. 20006.

ANNOUNCEMENT: April 20, 1995.

The GLOBE Program

744 Jackson Place / Washington, DC 20503

U.S. SCHOOLS ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GLOBE PROGRAM

    U.S. K-12 schools are invited to participate in a new international 
environmental science and education program known as Global Learning 
and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE). U.S. schools can 
participate in the GLOBE Program by agreeing to meet a set of GLOBE 
``basic requirements'' as listed below in ``How to Become a GLOBE 
Schools'' and completing the attached registration form.
    The GLOBE Program is a hands-on program that joins students, 
educators, and scientists from around the world in studying the global 
environment. GLOBE is a worldwide network of students who work under 
the guidance of GLOBE-trained teachers to make environmental 
observations at or near their schools, report their data to a GLOBE 
processing facility, receive and use global images created from their 
data, and study environmental topics in their classrooms. The data 
acquired by students will be used worldwide by environmental scientists 
in their research to improve our understanding of the global 
environment.
    GLOBE is managed by an interagency team that includes the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration (NASA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), 
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Departments of 
Education and State. GLOBE leadership also includes the Office on 
Environmental Policy and the Office of Science and Technology Policy in 
the Executive Office of the President. NOAA is the lead agency for 
GLOBE.
[[Page 19728]]

What is GLOBE?

    GLOBE is a hands-on, school-based program that will:

--Enhance environmental awareness of individuals throughout the world,
--Enable students to make environmental observations that will 
contribute to improving the health of planet Earth,
--Give students the opportunity to work with world class scientists, 
collaborating together through a worldwide network,
--Involve students, teachers, and scientists in sharing information 
about the global environment,
--Enrich and supplement existing school curricula in science and 
mathematics, and
--Help all students reach higher standards in science and mathematics.

    The GLOBE concept was announced by Vice President Al Gore on Earth 
Day, April 22, 1994. Since then, over one hundred nations have 
expressed interest in joining the U.S. in the GLOBE Program. GLOBE will 
begin operation on the 25th Earth Day, April 22, 1995, and schools in 
the U.S. and throughout the world are invited to join in this exciting 
new venture.

How to Become a GLOBE School

    A school can register to become a GLOBE school if the school meets 
the GLOBE ``basic requirements,'' by agreeing to:

--Have its students acquire environmental data using scientific 
measurement instruments at their school,
--Have its students transmit these data to a GLOBE processing center as 
often as required for each measurement,
--Have its students study the global environmental images that will be 
generated based on GLOBE data taken by students around the world,
--Have its students participate in GLOBE guided by one or more teachers 
trained through the GLOBE Program, who will use GLOBE-provided 
educational materials,
--Send at least one teacher to a GLOBE-provided 3-day training workshop 
at a location in the school's general part of the country,
--Have the necessary GLOBE scientific measurement instruments, as 
identified below, for use by students, and
--Have a suitable school computer configuration, as described below, to 
be available for use at least 20% of each school day to support 
participation in GLOBE, i.e., to be used for data entry and 
transmission to a GLOBE processing center and for viewing of global 
environmental images and related information generated from GLOBE data 
by a GLOBE processing center.

GLOBE Scientific Measurement Instruments

    The GLOBE environmental measurements are in the following study 
areas:

Atmosphere/Climate
Hydrology/Water Chemistry
Biology/Geology.

    The initial GLOBE measurements and their respective instruments 
are:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Measurement                     Instrument              Grade  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atmosphere/Climate:                                                     
  Air temperature............  Maximum/Minimum Thermometer.   K-12      
                               Calibration Thermometer......  K-12      
                               Instrument Shelter.            K-12      
  Precipitation..............  Clear Plastic Rain Gauge.      K-12      
  Cloud cover................  Cloud Charts.................  K-12      
Hydrology/Water Chemistry:                                              
  Water pH...................  Litmus Paper.................  K-5       
                               pH Pen.......................  6-8       
                               pH Meter.....................  9-12      
  Water Temperature..........  Alcohol Thermometer.           K-12      
  Soil Moisture..............  Soil Moisture Meter and        9-12      
                                Gypsum Blocks.                          
                               Auger and PVC Piping.          9-12      
Biology/Geology:                                                        
  Habitat Study..............  Compass......................  K-12      
                               Meter Measuring Tape.          K-12      
                               Surveying Markers or Stakes.   K-12      
  Tree Height................  Hand-made Clinometer.          K-8       
                               Clinometer...................  9-12      
  Tree Canopy................  Hand-made Densiometer.         K-8       
                               Densiometer..................  9-12      
  Tree Diameter..............  Diameter Tape.                 K-12      
  Species Identification.....  Dichotomous Keys.              K-12      
  Phenology (seasonal change)  35 mm camera and film.         K-12      
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The total cost of the instruments, if they are not already 
available at the school, is estimated to be between $300-350 for 
elementary schools, $350-400 for middle schools, and $800-950 for high 
schools. After the initial year of GLOBE operation, additional 
measurements will be added, based on continuing work on the part of the 
GLOBE scientists and educators and the results of evaluation of the 
initial GLOBE Program by GLOBE teachers and others. The additional cost 
of the instruments necessary at that time to make these additional 
measurements is estimated to be about $100 for elementary schools, $300 
for middle schools, and $500 for high schools.

School Computer Configuration and Internet Connectivity

    Either an IBM-compatible PC or an Apple Macintosh computer can be 
used. An IBM-compatible PC must have at least a 386, 20 Mhz processor, 
4 MB (preferably 8 MB) of RAM memory, and at least 60 MB of available 
hard disk. An Apple Macintosh computer must have at least a 68030, 20 
Mhz processor, 4 MB (preferably 8 MB) of RAM memory, and at least 60 MB 
of available hard disk.
    The computer must have either a direct Internet connection or a 
dial-up capability to the Internet using a 14.4 kbps or faster modem, 
preferably employing V.42 bis data compression, and using either SLIP 
or PPP protocols. The computer must be configured with a World Wide Web 
browser that supports the ``forms'' capability. If a school is not now 
connected to the Internet, the GLOBE Program will provide information 
and assistance, if needed, to help the school make contact with an 
Internet access service provider.

Registering as a GLOBE School

    Schools that agree to meet the ``basic requirements'' listed above 
in ``How to Become a GLOBE School,'' are invited to complete the 
registration form included below. The form must be signed by the 
school's principal, its designated GLOBE lead teacher, and by an 
official authorized to make the necessary certification on behalf of 
the school if the principal is not so authorized. The completed form, 
with original signatures, should be mailed to The GLOBE Program, 744 
Jackson Place, Washington, D.C. 20503. Facsimile copies are not 
acceptable.
    For each registered school, the Federal Government will provide:

--Global environmental images accessible through the Internet, based on 
the measurement data taken by GLOBE students around the world and a 
broad range of other information relevant to the study of the global 
environment,
--An opportunity for students and teachers to work interactively 
through the Internet with world class scientists, collaborating in the 
study of the environment, [[Page 19729]] 
--An opportunity for students, teachers, and scientists to share 
information about the global environment through the Internet with each 
other,
--Training for one teacher (the GLOBE lead teacher for the school) at a 
3-day workshop to be held at a location in the school's general part of 
the country (but not including the cost of travel or per diem for the 
teacher to attend the training or the cost of a substitute teacher if 
one is necessary),
--A set of GLOBE educational materials for use by teachers and students 
in the school to enrich and supplement existing school curricula,
--Information, if needed, to help the school establish its own 
connection to the Internet through a suitable Internet access service 
provider,
--Access to GLOBE school computer software for use of the World Wide 
Web information browser through the Internet, if the school does not 
already have software that can be used for this purpose or cannot 
obtain this software from its Internet access service provider. (This 
is the software necessary to transmit GLOBE data and access GLOBE 
global environmental visualizations and other information), and
--Access to the Internet-based help facility to obtain answers to 
frequently asked questions and to obtain assistance relative to program 
participation, and toll-free telephone access to a GLOBE help desk.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Connect to the GLOBE Internet World Wide Web 
Server at http://www.globe.gov, send a request by electronic mail to 
info@globe,gov, call the GLOBE information line: (202) 395-6500, or 
send a request by mail to The GLOBE Program, 744 Jackson Place, NW., 
Washington, DC 20503.

[Copies of this form may be reproduced so that a completed form can 
be submitted for each school.]

Registration for a School To Participate in the Globe Program

Name of School---------------------------------------------------------

Street Address---------------------------------------------------------

City-------------------------------------------------------------------

State------------------------------------------------------------------

ZIP--------------------------------------------------------------------

Type of school:

  Elementary-----------------------------------------------------------
  High school----------------------------------------------------------
  Intermediate/middle/junior high--------------------------------------

Name of the GLOBE Lead Teacher for the School
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Name of the School Principal-------------------------------------------

Phone numbers to reach the Teacher and Principal (with area code)
Voice (    )-----------------------------------------------------------

FAX (    )-------------------------------------------------------------

Internet address for the Teacher, if available

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Certification

    I certify that this school meets the ``basic requirements'' to 
become a GLOBE school as described in the GLOBE School Invitation 
dated (Insert date of publication in Federal Register], and that the 
school intends to participate in the GLOBE Program for a period of 
at least 3 years.

Signature of the GLOBE Lead Teacher
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Signature of the Principal---------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Identification of Local Educational Agency (e.g. school district) is 
this school is part of such an Agency

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Name, title, and signature of official authorized to sign this 
certification on behalf of the registered school (e.g. authorized 
L.E.A. official)
Date-------------------------------------------------------------------

    All communications, materials, or other resources under this 
agreement are administered as a joint project between the registered 
school and the Federal Government through the authority of the U.S. 
Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration under 15 U.S.C. 1525.

PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT NOTICE: This notice contains a collection-of-
information requirement subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The 
collection of this information has been approved by OMB, OMB Control 
Number 0648-0287, with collection approval through 11/30/97. Public 
reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to 
average .5 hours per response, including time for reviewing 
instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and 
maintaining data needed, and completing and reviewing the form used for 
collection of information. Send comments regarding this reporting 
burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, 
including suggestions for reducing the burden, to Thomas N. Pyke, Jr. 
(see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section), and to the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 
Washington, DC 20503 (Attention: NOAA Desk Officer). The required form 
for registration is included above.
Thomas N. Pyke, Jr.,
Director, The GLOBE Program.
[FR Doc. 95-9760 Filed 4-19-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-12-M