QUEST 2018

Quest Institutes will offer two sessions from 8:30am until 3:30pm on the Princeton University campus.  Searching for Life on other Worlds: June 25-29th and Climate & the Ocean: July 9-13th.  And one research-based partnership also from 8:30am until 3:30pm at the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association: Watershed Science Teachers Academy: July 23-27th.

1. Searching for Life on other Worlds will take place June 25-29, 2018 for teachers in grades 4-12

What is life? What are the limits of life as we know it?  How do we search for and detect extraterrestrial life? Teachers will better understand the problems of searching for life as we know it (and as we don’t know it) through the lens of Engineering Design in the NGSS. Every teacher will receive a copy of Deep Life by Prof. T.C. Onstott.

At Princeton University with Prof. T.C. Onstott and Danielle Schmitt, Department of Geosciences.  Along with Lead Teachers: Dr. Kate Heavers and Jennifer Bridgewater, West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District.

2. Climate & the Ocean will take place July 9-13, 2018 for teachers in grades K-8

The ocean plays many important roles in our climate.  The ocean records changes in climate, modifies those changes, and is significantly impacted by climate. We will explore various interactions between the ocean and climate systems.

Climate & the Ocean will focus on the Disciplinary Core Ideas as well as Science & Engineering Practices of the Next Generation Science Standards to support teachers’ implementations.

Teachers will plan NGSS aligned lessons and engage in these NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

  •  Developing and using models
  •  Analyzing and interpreting data
  •  Engaging in argument from evidence

At Princeton University with Dr. Steve Carson, John Witherspoon Middle School and formerly with the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory and Danielle Schmitt, Geosciences.  Along with Lead Teachers: Martha Friend, Princeton Public Schools and Michelle Hill, Hillsborough Township Public Schools.

3. The Watershed Science Teachers Academy will take place July 23-27, 2018 for teachers in grades K-12

K-12 teachers will participate in field-based experiments and data collection with scientists to incorporate environmental science and engineering design into their curriculum.  This is an invaluable experience intended to be transferred to the classroom as teachers implement the Next Generation Science Standards.

The Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association, a non-profit conservation organization dedicated to protecting and restoring water and the natural environment in central New Jersey, will host teachers in an environmental investigation of water pollution and strategies to mitigate the problems of stormwater runoff. Teachers will learn about the major factors affecting water quality and the engineering principles behind water management from Watershed Association scientists, educators and water stewards. Teachers will design a solution to address problems of stormwater runoff created by a man-made feature on the Watershed Reserve.

Teachers will have first hand experiences with the Science Practices as specified in the Next Generation Science Standards for their application in classroom instruction, curriculum and assessment: 
  • Asking questions and defining problems
  • Constructing explanations and defining solutions
  • Developing and using models
  • Planning and carrying out investigations
  • Analyzing and interpreting data
  • Using mathematics and computational thinking
  • Engaging in argument from evidence
  • Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information

At Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association in Pennington, NJ with Steve Tuorto Ph.D., Director of Science and Stewardship.

QUEST is designed to enhance teachers' knowledge of science and mathematics through laboratory experiments and experiences aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards.

Registration fee is $250 before 4/6/18 and fee increases to $300 after 4/6/18. Apply here.

Space is limited and we may not be able to accept all applications.