FACE research site, where the effects of elevated CO2 and ozone are studies

This intensive, interactive six-day Institute is designed to involve middle and high school teachers in physical, chemical, and biological research on global change using the forest ecosystem as the classroom. Through lecture, hands-on data collection, field trips, and lab experiences, educators will obtain new knowledge and skills that will prepare them to engage their students in the real-world study of global change. National and Michigan content standards for mathematics; life, earth sciences, physical sciences; and technology will be addressed.

The Institute will be taught by internationally-recognized faculty researchers from the Michigan Technological University (MTU) School of Forest Resources and Environmental Sciences, along with guest scientists from the University of Michigan and the USDA Forest Service’s Forestry Sciences Laboratory.

Teachers will measure the potential impacts of global climate change, elevated ozone and CO2 levels, acid rain/Nitrogen deposition, and the invasion of exotic species on forest health and productivity, ecosystem carbon and nutrient cycling, species composition, and genetic diversity. Participants will visit the Aspen FACE (Free-Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment) Experiment research site (http://aspenface.mtu.edu/) at the Harshaw Experimental Forest near Rhinelander in northern Wisconsin (see photo left) where the effects of elevated CO₂ and ozone on forest productivity are studied.

The institute will provide teachers with standards-based professional development and the time to plan, discuss, and reflect on their teaching. Participants will receive a course notebook, handouts, a CD with ready-to-use powerpoint presentations from the course, and other curriculum-support materials.

About Michigan Tech’s Ford Center & Research Forest

Participants who satisfy all course requirements will earn three semester hours (FW5641/ED5641) of graduate credit from Michigan Technological University. To receive credit, participants must:

• Complete assigned readings and identify learning objectives for their students prior to course.
  
• Participate fully in the entire Institute, including lecture, field trips, and evening programs.
  
• Keep a field journal during the Institute.
  
• Design and submit a teaching unit that contains three to five lessons related to global change, following the rubric provided. The teaching unit should incorporate effective teaching strategies and
  meet Michigan (or national) content standards for two or more subject areas. Participants should plan to implement the unit during the 2005-06 school year. The teaching unit is due August 31, 2005.

Master of Applied Science Education
Graduate credits may also be applied towards Michigan Tech’s Master of Science in Applied Science Education program. For more information about the Master’s program, contact Dr. Brad Baltensperger at 906-487-2460 or brad@mtu.edu. Participants interested in pursuing an advanced degree at Michigan Tech in a field other than education, should contact the department of interest (http://www.mtu.edu/).

.

Dr. Kurt Pregitzer, School of Forest Resources & Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University, teaches forest ecology at Michigan Tech. He is well-know nationally and internationally for his research on global change. He received the Barrington Moore Award for life-long advancement of our fundamental understanding of forest biology and was recently recognized by Tompson’s ISI as one of the world’s most highly cited researchers in the area of environmental biology. Dr. Pregitzer has trained more than 35 graduate students and published more than 140 peer-reviewed scientific papers in the world’s top scientific journals.

Dr. Andrew Burton, School of Forest Resources & Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University
Dr. Burton teaches forest ecosystem measurements and field ecology. His research includes studies on the effects of global change factors (climatic variation, nitrogen deposition/acid rain, elevated atmospheric CO2 and ozone) on carbon and nutrient cycling, forest health and productivity, and physical and biological soil processes in forest ecosystem. He has published more than 36 papers in peer-reviewed journals, and authored/co-authored more than 38 presentations at professional meetings. Dr. Burton's work has appeared in Ecology and Ecological Monographs, Ecological Applications, Oecologia, Tree Physiology, and Global Change Biology.

Dr. Donald Zak, School of Natural Resources and Environment and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan. Dr. Zak teaches soil and ecosystem science at the University of Michigan. He is known around the world for his research on microbial ecology and the effects of global change on biogeochemical cycling in forests. Dr. Zak has been a pioneer in applying modern molecular tools to the study of soil processes and he has published more than 120 peer-reviewed papers in the world’s top scientific journals.

.

Dr. Erik Lilleskov, USDA Forest Service North Central Research Station. Dr. Lilleskov is an expert on mycorrhizae, the symbiotic fungi that are critical to the health most plants. Part of his program of research is focused on understanding how global change will influence the fungi that control soil food webs. He is also an expert on edible fungi and a great natural history expert who enjoys teaching people about the mushrooms in forest ecosystems and the vital roles they play in regulating forest health.

Links
http://forest.mtu.edu
http://wupcenter.mtu.edu
http://www.ed.mtu.edu/pd.html

Joan Schumaker-Chadde, Course Coordinator
Western U.P. Center for Science, Math & Environ. Education
105 Dillman Hall
Michigan Technological University
1400 Townsend Dr., Houghton, MI 49931
Tel: 906-487-3341 Fax: 906-487-1620

Copyright © 2005 by Michigan Technological University. Western Upper Peninsula Center for Science, Mathematics and Environmental Education
Hosted by Michigan Technological University

All rights reserved. The sale or commercial use of text, illustrations, photographs, and graphic images presented are not permitted. Educational uses are permitted on a limited basis, provided credit is given to the authors. Prior written permission of the primary author is required before broadly disseminating any part of this publication in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise.

If you have any problems or comments, contact the page designer and webmaster.
E-mail E.H.Groth, Webmaster