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 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.
We are most grateful to the Geological Society of London (GSL) for their support of the UK teachers who have attended GIFT in 2012 and again this year, 2013.
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.
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
Typically, around 70-80 high school teachers from across Europe (17 countries in 2006) 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. More about earlier GIFT workshops here
The next GIFT workshop:
8-10 April 2013,
Austria Center, Vienna
> NATURAL HAZARDS! <
Further details about are available now on this 2-page document
How to apply?
To apply please submit the following information to Dr. Phil Smith:
- Applicants name, contact information, E-mail address
- School name and address
- List the subjects you teach, and the ages of students
- The workshop will be conducted in English. Please describe your capability to understand and speak in English.
- A description of any leadership activities you have taken at your school or in national educational activities (examples: training new teachers, developing curriculum, etc.)
- The relevance of this years topic to your teaching practice.
- 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.
- (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 can be in the form of a talk, a poster or a demonstration. If you would like to present a science activity, please provide a title and description for inclusion in the program.
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 2013 are now closed and this year 6 teachers from the K have been selected to attend.
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