The R14Science Update

In a recent Texas Parks and Wildlife Newsletter they reminded me of something rather unique.  They were discussing "glowing scorpions."  They said: Under a black light, scorpions glow like a 70's poster. This trait makes it easier to find them since they're nocturnal, but scientists have yet to discover the real purpose of their fluorescence. Check out this video of a  black light night hike  to see one glow.  These arachnids are complex enough to have maternal traits, like carrying their babies around with them. They're also vital to the food web, and their disappearance in the wild indicates serious habitat decline. Scorpions in Texas aren't deadly (unless you're allergic) but do have a sting similar to a bee. So we recommend cup-and-postcard removal if one gets in your home, rather than the boot heel. 

The next Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is February 16–19. If your students have been observing birds at a bird feeder or on a walk, they may be interested in participating in a citizen science project to count birds during the GBBC. To sign-up and for more information on how to get this started in your own classroom, your own backyard, or both: http://gbbc.birdcount.org/

Winter in Texas is a unique experience for birding and bird watching.  Many northern species migrate either to or through the state.  Parts of the state even get chances to see Bald Eagles.  To draw more birds outside your classroom windows, Texas Parks and Wildlife have this brochure for bird feeders: Ways to feed Birds and Bird Feed Recipes (TPWD)

This came across our desk from the University of Texas at Austin Environmental Science institute:   Texas' Own Coral Reefs: Weathering the Storm   Join us on Friday, February 16, 2018 at 7 pm! Hurricane Harvey dumped thirteen trillion gallons of rain on southeast  Texas  in August of 2017. Do extreme storm events like Harvey impact  the coral  reefs off Texas' coast, in the Flower Garden Banks National  Marine Sanctuary?  Dr. Correa shares ongoing research connecting the  Gulf Coast, extreme  weather, and reef ecosystems.   Supported by the Leon Jones  Hot Science - Cool Talks   Endowment. Cool Activities  - 5:30 - 6:40 p.m. Talk with Q & A - 7:00 - 8:15 p.m. San Jacinto Hall (SJH) Multipurpose Room UT Campus At one time they had support for this to be sent out to school's via Distance Learning, or via webcast. You might check to see if this is s...

The ACS-Hach grant program is an "oldie but a goodie" having been around since 2008.  Teachers can request up to $1,500 to help with materials and resources to "reveal the wonders of chemistry."  More information and the application are available at: https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/funding-and-awards/grants/hachhighschool.html Deadline to submit is April 16th.

An interesting article worth reading came out last week in U.S News and World Report concerning the need for a healthy STEM Ecosystem in the educational climate of today.  The article starts by stating: " Yet, the  U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics projects  that by 2020 there will be 1.4 million IT jobs available but only 400,000 computer science graduates with the required skills to fill the positions. Companies continue to report their STEM jobs aren’t being filled, and HR departments are not finding applicants with the necessary skills for success. STEMconnector data shows there will soon be 3 million vacant jobs because students entering the workforce are lacking STEM skills." Continue reading the article.

Educators who are looking for a way to get students into the field to observe nature and help document local and global biodiversity may visit the  Encyclopedia of Life (EOL) Global Biodiversity Observations project on iNaturalist.org. Each month a theme is chosen, and project members document organisms that fit into that theme. Once verified on iNaturalist.org, images will be added to EOL species pages. EOL is a free resource of biodiversity information with contributions from scientists, citizen scientists and the public.  This is a foundational exercise for building science skills and encouraging students to ask questions about the natural world. To get started: Step 1: Visit  iNaturalist.org  and create an account. The iNaturalist app can be downloaded onto smartphones Step 2: Visit the   EOL Global Biodiversity Observations  project page and click “Join Project” Step 3: Get outside to take pictures of plants, animals, fungi, and other or...