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From The Burke Museum: Professional Development Opportunity for K-12 STEM Teachers


participants in 2023 DIG Field School walk out to the field in Montana

The Discoveries in Geosciences (DIG) Field School is looking for applicants! The DIG is a professional development and scientific outreach program for K-12 teachers and students operated by University of Washington, Virginia Tech and the Burke Museum.


Over four days each summer, the DIG brings teachers from across the country out to active research sites in Montana or Arizona to participate in fieldwork with leading scientists in paleontology and geology. Teachers in the program have the unique opportunity to participate in authentic research, learn new ways to bring Next Generation Science Standards to their classroom, and can earn continuing education credits. 


The DIG Program also provides K–12 educators and their students with free educational resources available throughout the year. With these resources, students participate in real research as they look for microfossils in sediment samples, examine fossil casts, and connect with scientists from world-class institutions. 


We invite teachers of all age groups and backgrounds to apply to the program, and we encourage anyone from communities representing Black, Indigenous, and people of color to apply. Interested teachers can apply to the program here. The application closes on February 15 at 11:59 PST. Please feel free to forward this email to anyone who may be interested in the program and email us with any questions.


Best,


The DIG Team
 
DIG participant holds up fossils found during the program
Detail of plant fossils found by DIG participants
DIG participants do an activity in the field

2024 DIG Field School Timeline

Application period:
January 19 – February 15, 2024


Acceptance decisions
Mid-March 2024

DIG Petrified Forest Field School
June 5–8, 2024

 

DIG Hell Creek Field School
July 21–25, 2024

 

The application is open until Thursday, February 15 at 11:59 p.m. PST.
 

Land Acknowledgement

The Burke Museum stands on the lands of the Coast Salish Peoples, whose ancestors have resided here since time immemorial. Many Indigenous peoples thrive in this place—alive and strong.
 
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