1. Local Action: Global Impact Student Global Issues Conference Students in Grades 6, 7,8 Sponsored by the Office of International Outreach, The European Union Center, & the College of Geosciences at Texas A&M University Thursday, February 10, 2011 Time: 9 am - 3 pm, includes lunch Fee: No charge for students and teachers Location: Koldus Building, Rooms 110 and111

2. Conference Requirements To be eligible to attend the conference, students must submit an environmental sustainability project either individually or in teams of no more than 4 students and be willing to actively participate in the conference. Students will display their projects during a poster session. First place project researchers will present their projects at the closing ceremony. All participants will receive a conference certificate. Schools should pre-register for the conference based on estimated attendance by emailing Martha Green at mgreen@ipomail.tamu.edu. Conference is limited to 100 students Project submission due date: February 4, 2011

3. What is sustainability? Sustainability is development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. – World Commission on Environment and Development. Our Common Future. (1987) Environmental Sustainability Issues Water Food Transportation Energy Climate Waste

4. Local Action: Global Impact Project Objectives Projects involve: Basic understanding of sustainability as a concepts: interconnectedness, systems, sustainability Local investigation of an environmental issue Research on environmental issue Making the connection: How does the local issue impact our world? Writing: Abstract & discussion of the local problem Presentation: Linking a local problem to global impact Poster: Illustration of project key concepts Projects teach: Environmental sustainability concepts Inquiry approach to action research methods Engage students in a real life learning experience Teach writing skills: how to clearly present a problem and make a connection between the local problem and how it impacts our world on global proportions Develop presentation skills: Technology presentation and poster

5. Local Action: Global Impact Student Global Issues Conference 8:00 am Registration, set up poster session, continental breakfast 9:00 am Key note presentation 10:00 am Environmental education activities 11:30 am Lunch 12:00 to 1:00 Poster session 1:00 to 2:00 pm Awards Ceremony 2:00 – 3:00 pm Tour: Environmental research at Texas A&M University 4:00 pm Visit to the George Bush Presidential Library (optional) 5:00 pm Chinese New Year Celebration (optional)

6. Key Note Speaker Dr. William D. Heyman Associate Professor Department of Geography “I developed a broad interest in science and sustainable management of tropical coastal and marine systems from the time I was a child, snorkeling before I could walk.”

7. Dr. William Heyman Associate Professor, Department of Geography Texas A&M University Education Ph.D., University of South Carolina, Marine Sciences, 1996 M.S., University of South Carolina, Marine Sciences, 1992 B.S., Tufts University, Biology and Environmental Studies, 1987 Biography I developed a broad interest in science and sustainable management of tropical coastal and marine systems from the time I was a child, snorkeling before I could walk. I graduated from Tufts University with a major in Marine Biology and Environmental Studies in 1983. I then spent three years working in marine aquaculture in the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, and the Marshall Islands. I did my MS and Ph.D. through the University of South Carolina, conducting field research in both the Marshall Islands and Belize, finishing in 1996. In 7 years of graduate work, I spent only 5 semesters in residence, gaining me the dubious honor of the student with the most degrees, and least amount of time on campus at USC. Meanwhile, I began working for the International Division of the Nature Conservancy in Belize where I lived for ten years. I am now an Associate Professor of Geography. Research Interest I am generally interested in the relationship between humans and the environment and utilize a multi-disciplinary approach to study these interactions. In addition to the science, I have dedicated myself to generating practical and useful guidance for resource managers. I collaborate with commercial fishermen; scientists from a wide set of disciplines; and marine area managers in state, federal, and non-government organizations. I use multi-disciplinary approaches to generate practical guidance for resource management and use remote sensing, and GIS. My recent research focuses on the ecology and management reef fish spawning aggregations, especially snappers and groupers. More generally I am interested in the relationship between underlying geomorphology and habitat for marine organisms as a means to provide ecosystem-based- management options and illuminate designs for marine reserve networks. I have a great interest in providing entertaining, science-based education to my students and the general public, in hopes that this will lead to broad changes in environmental policy and sustainable management of marine resources. I have worked in the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, the Marshall Islands, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, the Cayman Islands, Los Roques Venezuela, and most extensively in Belize.

8. Taking Out the Trash Presented by Sheila McQueen College Station Landfill Education Coordinator

9. POSTER SESSION Students will be expected to explain and discuss their projects with faculty and reviewers during the poster session.

10. Awards for a Job Well Done

11. Facing the Future: http://www.facingthefuture.org/http://www.facingthefuture.org/ Get Global! http://www.getglobal.org.uk/ (free PDF files) This resource provides group activities, worksheets, evaluation ideas to help young people taking action step-by-step.http://www.getglobal.org.uk/ How do we know it's working? http://www.globaldimension.org.uk/resourcesearch/details.aspx?id=1585 http://www.globaldimension.org.uk/resourcesearch/details.aspx?id=1585 This toolkit aims to help teachers target their efforts to deliver Global Citizenship effectively and measure the impact of their teaching. The World Room website http://worldroom.tamu.edu Sustainability Resources

12. Zooming Out for a Global View Student Global Issues Conference foe High School Students Sponsored by the Office of International Outreach, the European Union Center, the College of Geosciences, and the Academy for Future International Leaders at Texas A&M University Wednesday, May 5, 2011 Rudder Theater on the campus of Texas A&M University