We can either moan about and blame others for the dwindling numbers of people engaging in science or we can critically review our strategies and propose science through innovative modes that are inclusive, participative and relevant. Nationwide events promoting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), educator training, investment in resources and popularisation campaigns are key elements in attracting young people to science.

The Ministry for Education’s Di­rec­torate for Learning and Assessment Programmes  and the University of Malta’s Faculty of Edu­cation have been at the forefront in putting such measures in effect. This is witnessed through the steadily increasing number of students opting for science subjects at secondary level.

Among the initiatives hosted by the directorate, the Globe programme provides such an opportunity by promoting the teaching and learning of science, enhancing environmental literacy and stewardship, while fostering scientific discovery.

Globe stands for Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment. It is a worldwide community of students, teachers, scientists and citizens working collaboratively in data collection to better understand, sustain and improve the Earth system and global environment. Launched in 1995, Globe is jointly sponsored by US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Science Foundation, with support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Department of State.

Malta is part of this worldwide community and intends to officially launch the programme later on this year. In the meantime, the Directorate for Learning and Assessment Programmes and the Faculty of Education have initiated training for science teachers, education officers, heads of departments, peripatetic teachers in Education for Sustainable Development and geography with the aim of developing a critical mass of trainers to assist teachers and schools in the implementation of Globe.

Bára Semeráková and Dana Votápková from the Regional Coordination Office for Europe and Eurasia, and Kim Martinez from the US National Wildlife Federation were recently in Malta to provide training on the use of Globe re­sources, inquiry-based learning and ways of using Globe materials to promote cross-curricularity. Through outdoor hands-on sessions, teachers learned how to carry out meteorological measurements and how to observe and record data about the sky and clouds. They also tested out their hypotheses about the different microclimate in terrain with and without trees.

As the US National Eco-Schools Coordinator, Ms Martinez also conducted an interactive session to a group of Ekoskola link persons about the innovative ways through which the US is addressing STEM via eco-schools and Globe.

The session provided participants with specific examples of good practice involving schools using their environments as STEM learning labs to provide holistic curricular experiences through the eco-schools programmes. The US Embassy, through the Bureau of International Information Programmes at the US Department of State, funded Ms Martinez’s visit to Malta to provide this training.

Teachers, scientists and members of the public interested in being part of this global network may contact the author on paul.j.pace@um.edu.mt or Francesco Debono, Globe assistant country coordinator, on francesco. debono@ilearn.edu.mt. More information about the programme is available at https://www.globe.gov .

Prof. Paul Pace is Globe country coordinator in Malta.

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