NASA & GLOBE Connect the Dots Between Space and Earth
Imagine being a part of an experiment that could change the way we understand our planet. For thousands of students across the United States, that's exactly what's happening with NASA's Global Learning & Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) program.
The program allows elementary-aged students like 8-year-old Jack Harris to contribute to NASA's scientific research by collecting environmental data on land cover and clouds. By submitting their observations online, they help create a global network of citizen scientists working together to better understand our planet.
But what happens when these students send in their cloud observations? They receive an email from NASA with satellite data that aligns with their submission. This connection sparks excitement among the kids, as it reinforces the idea that their work is having a real impact on the scientific community.
Now, GLOBE volunteers of all ages will have even more opportunities to see how their observations fit into the bigger picture. The program has recently announced that it will start sending satellite comparison emails for land cover data, which will be linked to satellite images and other relevant information.
For Tina Rogerson, a programmer at NASA Langley Research Center who manages these satellite comparison emails, this is huge. "Feedback from NASA is huge," she says. "It ties NASA science into what they saw when they did the observation." By seeing their data alongside satellite images and other research, volunteers will gain a deeper understanding of how their observations contribute to the larger scientific picture.
These new land cover comparisons are expected to raise awareness about the importance of space-based research in informing societal needs. They'll help GLOBE volunteers see their work as part of a global effort to better understand our planet from space.
"We are bringing real science right into your world," says Rogerson, highlighting the significance of this initiative. By incorporating land cover data into the satellite comparison system, NASA is taking an important step towards creating a more inclusive and engaging scientific experience for its citizen scientists.
For students like Jack Harris, who see their work as part of something bigger than themselves, this connection to space research can be both thrilling and empowering. As they continue to contribute to NASA's scientific research through the GLOBE program, they're helping create a global network of citizen scientists working together to better understand our changing home planet.
Imagine being a part of an experiment that could change the way we understand our planet. For thousands of students across the United States, that's exactly what's happening with NASA's Global Learning & Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) program.
The program allows elementary-aged students like 8-year-old Jack Harris to contribute to NASA's scientific research by collecting environmental data on land cover and clouds. By submitting their observations online, they help create a global network of citizen scientists working together to better understand our planet.
But what happens when these students send in their cloud observations? They receive an email from NASA with satellite data that aligns with their submission. This connection sparks excitement among the kids, as it reinforces the idea that their work is having a real impact on the scientific community.
Now, GLOBE volunteers of all ages will have even more opportunities to see how their observations fit into the bigger picture. The program has recently announced that it will start sending satellite comparison emails for land cover data, which will be linked to satellite images and other relevant information.
For Tina Rogerson, a programmer at NASA Langley Research Center who manages these satellite comparison emails, this is huge. "Feedback from NASA is huge," she says. "It ties NASA science into what they saw when they did the observation." By seeing their data alongside satellite images and other research, volunteers will gain a deeper understanding of how their observations contribute to the larger scientific picture.
These new land cover comparisons are expected to raise awareness about the importance of space-based research in informing societal needs. They'll help GLOBE volunteers see their work as part of a global effort to better understand our planet from space.
"We are bringing real science right into your world," says Rogerson, highlighting the significance of this initiative. By incorporating land cover data into the satellite comparison system, NASA is taking an important step towards creating a more inclusive and engaging scientific experience for its citizen scientists.
For students like Jack Harris, who see their work as part of something bigger than themselves, this connection to space research can be both thrilling and empowering. As they continue to contribute to NASA's scientific research through the GLOBE program, they're helping create a global network of citizen scientists working together to better understand our changing home planet.