Tag Archives: Science

With ‘Google Earth’ for Mars, Explore the Red Planet from Home

A new software tool developed by the HiRISE team in the UA’s Lunar and Planetary Lab allows members of the public to download high-resolution images of the Martian landscape almost instantaneously and explore the surface of the Red Planet from their own desktops.

Imagine zooming in over the surface of Mars, sweeping over sand dunes and circling around the rims of craters – all from your home desktop.

With HiView, the image-viewing tool recently released by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment, or HiRISE, team at the University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Lab, you can do just that. (more…)

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Microsoft Selects the Nation’s Top Educators at the U.S. Innovative Education Forum

*Outstanding educators using technology are recognized for their contribution and impact in teaching.*

REDMOND, Wash. — Aug. 1, 2011 — Microsoft Corp. today announced 11 educators from Alabama, Alaska, California, Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Washington who have been selected as winners of the 2011 U.S. Innovative Education Forum (IEF). The IEF is an event recognizing innovative teachers and school leaders who creatively and effectively use technology in their curriculum to help improve the way kids learn while increasing student success. Out of the thousands that applied, 100 educators from 25 states were selected for a spot to compete on Microsoft’s corporate campus in Redmond. IEF participants also voted on their peers in the Educator’s Choice category and selected a winning project. The winning educators will represent the U.S. and advance to compete against educators from around the world at the Partners in Learning Global Forum, Nov. 6–11, 2011 in Washington, D.C. (more…)

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New Report Summarizes Key Themes in American Doctoral Education

*Summary report, “Doctorate Recipients from United States Universities: 2009” is available online*

A new report recently released by the National Science Foundation, titled “Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: 2009,” presents a statistical overview of the U.S. doctoral education system in snapshots and long-term trends.

It notes the American system of doctoral education is widely considered the world’s best, as evidenced by the large number of international students who choose to pursue a doctorate at U.S. universities. But this status is subject to the many factors that shape U.S. doctoral education. (more…)

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Microsoft Makes Its Largest Technology Donation Ever to a Single Los Angeles School to Help Prepare Students for Their Future

*More than $1 million will enable the Felicitas and Gonzalo Mendez Learning Center to improve student skills in science, technology, engineering and math.*

Microsoft Main Campus, Redmond, Wash. Image credit: Microsoft

LOS ANGELES — Oct. 20, 2010 —

Microsoft Corp. today announced it is providing the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools with a more than $1 million grant to purchase new software and hardware for the two schools at the Felicitas and Gonzalo Mendez Learning Center. This grant will help bring state-of-the-art technology to the campus, helping bridge the technology gap of this underserved community. The grant also includes a $50,000 cash donation portion that will provide for ongoing technical support, teacher and student training, curriculum, and mentoring opportunities for students to learn about and explore careers. The goal is to create an instructional model that can be replicated and scaled throughout Los Angeles Unified School District and elevate teacher and student technology skills, thereby preparing youth for the competitive Los Angeles and U.S. job market. Microsoft education executives and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced the sizeable donation this morning at a press conference at Mendez, where city leaders, school leaders, teachers and students saw a preview of the new software and technology. (more…)

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