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Hello all - I'm writing to invite you to submit an abstract to a session at the upcoming GSA Annual meeting in Minneapolis that I and Carol Engelmann are hosting. Feel free to share this email with any of your colleagues as I know I've neglected to send this to some important potential contributers. We would like to have this session focus on issues that influence whether or not earth science is taught in K-12 classrooms - that are **not directly related to Earth science “content"**. Emphasis will be on the social, political, and bureaucratic milieu in which K-12 Earth science instruction occurs. We would like to see presenters describe concrete examples of current threats to K-12 Earth science instruction, such as the lack of qualified science teachers in general (and earth science teachers in particular), the vagaries of certification and subject-area endorsement rules, the timing of high-stakes tests and their emphasis, state and local guidelines for graduation standards, local and state politics, etc. The goal is to provide a forum to discuss the "non-content-related" obstacles that influence whether or not Earth science is taught in our nation’s K-12 schools and ways in which these obstacles may be overcome. We plan to end the session with an overview/summary to highlight the major themes presented. The overview will then be followed by an open discussion. The session information (needed for submitting) is: T168. Overcoming Threats to Earth and Space Science Instruction at K–12 Levels and you can log in to the GSA system to submit an abstract by going to: http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2011AM/cfp.epl I hope you will consider submitting an abstract! And again, please feel free to share this information with others. Jackie -- Jacqueline E. Huntoon, PhD Dean of the Graduate School Michigan Technological University 411A Administration Building 1400 Townsend Drive Houghton, MI 49931 Email: [log in to unmask] Voice: 906.487.2327 Fax: 906.487.2284 www.gradschool.mtu.edu