FRIGID FACTS ARE HOT TOPIC AT JASON TRAINING CONFERENCE

MILWAUKEE -More than 500 educators from around the world are in Milwaukee for the JASON XIII: Frozen Worlds National Educators' Conference, hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee University Outreach and the JASON Foundation for Education. The June 20 Ð 22 conference prepares teachers and teacher trainers to participate in this year's JASON Project.

The JASON Project was launched in 1989 as the brainchild of Dr. Robert D. Ballard, noted scientist and explorer who located the HMS Titanic. Ballard, who has participated in more than 100 deep-sea expeditions, developed the JASON Project as a way to offer students grades 4 through 9 the chance to get directly involved in the multidisciplinary approach to exploring and preserving the natural wonders of our world. The result is an award-winning program based on a multimedia approach to enhance teaching and learning in science, technology, math, geography, and associated disciplines. The project delivers its content through a print curriculum, videos, interactive Internet programming, and live satellite broadcasts.

JASON XIII: Frozen Worlds themes include: geography of polar and sub-arctic regions; history of human exploration and adaptation; culture of Native Peoples of Alaska; tools and methods of scientific research; marine and terrestrial ecosystems of polar and sub-arctic regions; life forms living in severe, typically non life supporting conditions on Earth and in space; climatology and global climate change; and watershed studies.

This week's teacher training conference features research from frozen worlds, interactive activities and guides on how to use the JASON Project to measure student success. It also explores this year's multimedia curricular experience, featuring host researcher, guest speakers and teacher presenters.

The Conference begins approximately at 8 AM Wednesday, June 20, at the Milwaukee Hilton Hotel. Conference Center, 509 W. Wisconsin Ave. The conference ends approximately at noon Friday, June 22.

JASON XIII is the result of an enormous collaboration. This year's researcher affiliations include: National Aeronautics and Space Administration; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; National Science Foundation; National Center for Atmospheric Research; Office of Naval Research; Alaska Native Science Commission; Alaska Native Heritage Center; Alaska Sea Life Center; University of Alaska; Barrow Arctic Science Consortium; U.S. Geological Survey; Alaska Department of Fish and Game; and the National Park Service

For more information about the conference, please call Cathie Sanders at 414-227 -3366. To learn more about the JASON Project, go to: www.jasonproject.org ###