GIFT - Geoscience Information for Teachers

Every year TSN acts as the UK representative for this European-wide CPD opportunity initiated by the European Geosciences Union (EGU) in 2003. We advertise and process applications from UK teachers, selecting those to attend this 2.5 day teacher subject-knowledge enhancement workshop featuring leading speakers, practical sessions and teacher-teacher exchanges. Generously subsidised by the EGU, this event is usually free to teachers, asides from their time out of the classroom.

The GIFT workshops were initiated by the European Geosciences Union (EGU) in 2003, and have been promoted by TSN since their start. The workshops are held alongside the EGU’s general assembly held in April each year.

 

The program of each workshop, focuses on a unique theme and combines scientific presentations on current research in the Earth and Space sciences, given by prominent scientists attending the EGU General Assemblies with hands-on, inquiry based activities that can be used by teachers in their classrooms to explain related scientific principles or topics presented  by science educators. Teachers are also encouraged to present some of their own activities and classroom activities and share with colleagues from across Europe.

Read about the experiences of UK representative Julie Boyle who attended GIFT 2010. TSN is grateful to Julie for her dissemination efforts and the ASE for publishing her piece. For a more international flavour read this article charting the experiences of a Portuguese and Italian teachers who attended in 2013 (published in GeoQ, the EGU's quarterly newsletter, magazine and information service).

Workshop Themes

2003, Climate and Natural Hazards
2004, The Ocean
2005, The History of the Earth
2006, The Polar Regions (linked to International Polar Year, 2007)
2007, Geosciences in the City (one of themes of International Year of Planet Earth)
2008, The Carbon Circle
2009, The Earth from Space (supported by ESA in International Year of Astronomy)
2010, Energy and Sustainable Development
2011, Evolution and Biodiversity
2012, Water
2013, Natural Hazards
2014, Our Changing Planet (linked to publication of the 5th IPCC report)
2015, Mineral Resources
2016, The Solar System & beyond
2017, The Meditteranean
2018, Major Events that shaped the Earth
2019, Plate tectonics and the Earth's structure
2020, Water in the Solar System - Postponed - due to COVID_19 pandemic - to be rolled-over to 2021

Typically, around 70-80 high school teachers from across Europe (19 countries in 2014) participate in the GIFT workshops and the UK has been represented every year. TSN is keen that this trend continues with TSN-teachers and those from other regions attending the event.

In 2009, we received more applications than ever before for the 4 places offered to UK teachers. For the first time in 2009 a limited number of the presentations were recorded and are available as online videos. This has continued since then and provides a rich catalgue of accessible geoscience talks and presentations. More about the educational activities of the EGU Committe for Education and further details of the GIFT workshops can be found here

 

Next GIFT workshop: 2021, Vienna > Water in the Solar System<

How to apply?

To apply please submit the following information using the online application tool available here

1. Applicants name, contact information, E-mail address
2. School name and address
3. List the subjects you teach, and the ages of students
4. The workshop will be conducted in English. Please describe your capability to understand and speak in English.
5. A description of any leadership activities you have taken at your school or in national educational activities (examples: training new teachers, developing curriculum, etc.)
6. The relevance of this years topic to your teaching practice.
7. A letter of recommendation from the headteacher in your school supporting your application bearing in mind you will need 3 days out of the classroom to attend GIFT.
8. (Optional) There will be opportunities for teachers to present any creative science activities they have developed for their classrooms to other teachers at the workshop. These presentations are usually in the form of a poster as a part of the main General Assembly. Contact us for further details.

Teachers are notified swiftly so they can plan their trip early in the New Year. If you have difficulty getting support for your application by this date, please email us and let us know the situation, we will try to help and be supportive.

Applications for GIFT 2021 - watch this space as we hope to be able to roll-over our 2020 programme and selected teachers. Please ensure you use the online tool here to apply.