Cablegate: Revitalizing the Globe Program in Finland

VZCZCXRO6826
RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV
DE RUEHHE #0831 3190748
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 150748Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY HELSINKI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3899
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS HELSINKI 000831

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE PASS: OES/GLOBE COORDINATOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV ENRG TSPL KPAO KGHG FI
SUBJECT: REVITALIZING THE GLOBE PROGRAM IN FINLAND

REF: HELSINKI 00131

1. (U) Summary: Embassy Helsinki is actively promoting
activities to revitalize the GLOBE (Global Learning and
Observations to Benefit the Environment) program in Finnish
schools. Utilizing part of a $10,000 (FY2007) grant in
Public Diplomacy funding from the State Department, Embassy
Helsinki organized a very successful Teachers' Conference on
September 21st and subsequently worked with GLOBE
Headquarters to create an email listserv for educators to
communicate and share best practices. These activities are
designed to encourage educators to promote constructive
discussions about climate change, energy use and
conservation, as well as science education and discovery.
GLOBE is a U.S.-sponsored international program that brings
education to life through hands-on scientific discovery about
the Earth and its systems. End summary.

Teachers' Conference to Revitalize GLOBE
========================================

2. (U) To begin revitalizing the GLOBE program in Finland,
Embassy Helsinki worked with the Finnish Board of Education
and Vaisala (Finnish manufacturer of high-end weather
instruments) to organize a GLOBE Teachers' Conference in
Helsinki on September 21st. The one-day conference included
opportunities for educators to network and share best
practices. The Conference featured addresses by Ambassador
Marilyn Ware, Jari Koivisto from the Finnish Board of
Education and NOAA's Dr. David Schultz, visiting professor at
the University of Helsinki and the Finnish Meteorological
Institute. Using a variety of examples and historical
models, Dr. Schultz addressed "How Weather Observations Are
Used To Make Forecasts." Educators also shared a series of
"classroom best practices," and they established a governing
body of educators to oversee the GLOBE Program in Finland.

3. (U) At the conclusion of the Conference, Econoff unveiled
an exciting set of classroom materials that teach about
sustainable development and global climate change in a
non-political science-based way, including practice exercises
that introduce the importance of personal accountability.
The five sustainable development areas the materials cover
are energy, waste, transportation, biodiversity, and water.
Originally developed by GLOBE UK, Embassy Helsinki
coordinated the translation of the materials into Finnish
using Public Diplomacy funding. These materials, available
on CD ROM, are now being distributed to educators throughout
Finland.

Listserv Keeps Teachers Linked
==============================

4. (U) Building upon the momentum from the Teachers'
Conference, Embassy Helsinki worked with GLOBE Headquarters
in Boulder, Colorado to create an email listserv for GLOBE
Teachers to communicate and share best practices. The
listserv also provides Embassy Helsinki an easy way to
quickly share information with over 100 science teachers
throughout Finland. Recognizing Embassy Helsinki's
significant efforts, GLOBE Headquarters is drafting a
"GLOBE Star" to highlight the Embassy's best practices,
especially efforts to sustain GLOBE by building a strong
network of education, government, and business community
supporters in Finland. These activities also
dovetail nicely with Post's current focus on climate change
issues (Helsinki 00131).

5. (U) Embassy Helsinki appreciates the strong support from
the Department and GLOBE Headquarters in Boulder, Colorado.
WARE

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