Who supports GLOBE Iowa?

The Iowa Academy of Science is sponsor and franchise holder for GLOBE Iowa and Iowa Project WET This allows a partnership between these two programs.

The Iowa Academy of Science was established to further scientific research and its dissemination, education in the sciences, public understanding of science, and recognition of excellence in these endeavors. GLOBE students directly participate in science by adding to the body of scientific knowledge about the earth. GLOBE and Project WET activities are used to integrate this involvement into the curriculum. Data collected by GLOBE schools is used by NASA, NOAA and other scientists to ground truth satellite data. So by participating in GLOBE students participate in an educational program which furthers scientific research. In this way the GLOBE program helps the Academy meet its mission.

GLOBE Iowa receives generous financial support from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust, Muscatine and the R. J. McElroy Trust. The Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust, Muscatine is providing grant funding in the amount of $197,450 to the GLOBE Iowa Program for 2000-2001 and provided $173,000 in 1999-2000. This funding provides equipment for the workshops, GPS units that will be loaned to GLOBE schools in Iowa, host site grants that cover room and board for participants and more. R. J. McElroy provided $30,000 to sponsor the first GLOBE Iowa host site, the University of Northern Iowa and some start-up equipment. In 2002, R. J. McElroy donated an additional $25,000 to host another GLOBE Workshop at the University of Northern Iowa. Without the support of these two trusts GLOBE Iowa would not exist.

At the national level, The GLOBE Program supports each of its franchises, including GLOBE Iowa by providing training for franchise staff, teacher materials, and LANSAT images. Each GLOBE teacher receives the GLOBE Teacher Guidebook, a cloud chart, a GIS for Schools and Libraries PC/MAC CD, and more. Each GLOBE school receives a LANSAT satellite image of each GLOBE data collection site and a GLOBE ID for data reporting. All GLOBE teachers and students have access to GLOBE, NASA, NOAA and other scientists, all of whom are willing to help answer questions about GLOBE.

Six of Iowa's institutes of higher learning also support GLOBE Iowa by hosting workshops. These institutions are:

• Buena Vista University
• Iowa Lakeside Laboratory
• Iowa Wesleyan College
• Loras College
• Simpson College
• University of Northern Iowa

GLOBE Iowa could not succeed without the skills and knowledge of the GLOBE Iowa trainers team.