Recent AGI Outreach Events

STEM Night at Patrick Henry K-8 School (Alexandria, VA | February 2025)

On February 5, 2025, staff from AGI’s Education and Outreach Department participated in the annual STEM Night event at Patrick Henry K-8 School, engaging elementary students and their families in hands-on geoscience learning. AGI presented four interactive workshop sessions, Learning Topographic Maps with Duplos and Exploring Elevation with Duplos, where participants explored elevation changes and topographic representation through creative, hands-on activities. These sessions provided a fun and accessible way for young learners to develop spatial thinking skills while deepening their understanding of maps and landforms.

 

Teacher Field Experience for Educators (Wheaton, IL | September 2024)

AGI facilitated a one-day, field-based professional development experience in Wheaton, Illinois, on September 11, 2024, connecting forest preserve outreach specialists with soil scientists. The event included tailored fieldwork, along with meaningful discussions on soil science topics, daily responsibilities, career paths, and the application of soil science in various communities.

 

Fulbright Specialist (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | June 2024)

Throughout most of June 2024, Dr. Ed Robeck, Director of Education and Outreach at the American Geosciences Institute (AGI), focused on advancing sustainability-relevant education as a Fulbright Specialist at the invitation of the Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Dr. Robeck’s work in Malaysia built on a growing emphasis within the AGI Education and Outreach Department in recent years: integrating the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into geoscience instruction, particularly at the pre-college level.

 

Soil Science Workshop for Science Educators (Platteville, WI | June 2024)

AGI and NRCS hosted an immersive Soil Science Workshop for Science Educators in Platteville, Wisconsin, from June 24-27, 2024. Held in conjunction with the North Central Regional Soil Survey Conference, the workshop deepened participants’ understanding of soil science and its integration into standards-based curricula. It featured over 8 hours of standards-aligned activities, presentations from soil science experts, and hands-on field experiences. Participants also attended conference presentations and engaged with soil scientists and fellow educators, including during a day-long field excursion

 

NASA Treks (Gallup, NM | May 2024)

AGI, in collaboration with Brian Day from NASA’s Treks Program, developed an Earth Science Week activity on impact cratering, titled ‘Investigating Impacts,’ for students in grades 4-8. In May 2024, Brian successfully implemented the lesson with teachers and students at Del Norte Elementary School, Hózhó Academy Elementary School, and Hózhó Academy Middle School, all serving the greater Navajo Nation in Gallup, New Mexico.

 

ESIP Out2Lunch Presentation (Virtual | May 2024)

Lauren Brase, Education Specialist of the Education and Outreach Department at AGI, presented educational materials developed in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for an Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP) Out2Lunch webinar presentation on May 23, 2024. The goal of AGI’s ongoing partnership with NRCS is to support learning about soils and soil science in societies using real-world data.

 

Girls will be Women in STEAM (Macon, GA | March 2024)

Aligning with both Georgia’s STEM Day and International Women’s Day, the American Geosciences Institute’s Education & Outreach Department presented at Real Impact Center, Inc.’s “Girls will be Women in STEAM” conference, held on Saturday, March 2nd, at Wesleyan College. During this event, AGI staff used real-world data and hands-on modeling to teach about the hydrology of flash flooding, a growing area of concern in many communities.