Hundreds of students in school districts across rural Wisconsin now have the opportunity to participate in an international climate science program through support from the Rural Partnerships Institute (RPI). Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) is an international youth citizen science and environmental education program that promotes scientific literacy and building connections between people passionate about the environment.
Michael Notaro, senior scientist and director at the Nelson Institute Center for Climatic Research at UW–Madison, is a Wisconsin GLOBE partner and trainer and is hosting a series of workshops in rural school districts to train teachers on the administration of the program. Notaro advises them on how to assist students in developing locally relevant research projects of value to their communities and trains them on the various equipment used to collect weather and climate data.
GLOBE is an excellent NASA-supported program for engaging youth as citizen scientists, supporting hands-on learning, fostering scientific inquisitiveness, and motivating the next generation of physical scientists,” says Notaro. “For rural communities, the GLOBE environmental education program opens the door of scientific discovery where financial resources are often limited.”
Support from RPI allows Notaro to provide all the necessary equipment at no cost. Teachers also receive a stipend to participate in the training and develop a classroom implementation plan. These resources are essential to expanding participation in GLOBE for rural districts that often have limited resources and capacity to develop new programs.
Notaro hosted a workshop with teachers at the New Lisbon School District in November 2024 and Nekoosa School District in March 2025. The Wonewoc School District will host a workshop in May 2025. These schools represent more than 2,000 students in rural districts. Program staff at RPI are continuing to expand the program to additional rural school districts across the state.
“We’re excited to fully implement this research in a new citizen science class next year, while also incorporating it into multiple other science courses,” says Rachel Stindt, science teacher at Nekoosa High School. “This integration will give even more students the opportunity to engage with real-world data collection and analysis, fostering curiosity and critical thinking across our science curriculum. By contributing to global research we hope our students develop a deeper appreciation for the world around them.”
The GLOBE program hosts a Midwest Student Research Symposium each spring, where students can present their GLOBE research, meet peers and scientists, and learn more about careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Notaro also hosts local symposia around the state where participating students can present to their family, peers, community members, and professionals in environmental research and education.
RPI’s mission is to conduct research and outreach to maintain the social and economic vitality of rural communities. RPI is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.Administrators and communities interested in learning more about RPI programs, including GLOBE, and how they can bring them to their schools, can contact Jackson Parr, Climate Hazards Planning Educator, at jgparr@wisc.edu.