Join us in Chicago from March 10-12, 2027 at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum!

Strong, confident, resilient, Chicago first proclaimed “I will” in 1891, as a testament to the spirit and resolve of the city. In 2005, Chicago artist Common, encouraged us all to simply, “be.” Today, these ideas come together as a message of affirmation and purpose. Join NASA Earth to Sky in the world’s most resilient city to hear the latest in reliable Earth Science from NASA, and how to share it with your audience in relevant ways. 

Connect with your colleagues and learn in community at this free, three-day course, which aims to foster a community of practice to enhance the region’s capacity to access and share NASA science. Participants will leave equipped with knowledge and a plan for bringing NASA Earth Systems Science to their audiences. 

• Share the room with NASA scientists and facilitators.
• Join interactive sessions with experts from local organizations on topics from the natural and social sciences. 
• Engage with colleagues in an inspiring setting.
• Collaborate in small groups to foster shared learning. 

This course is hosted by NASA Earth to Sky in partnership with the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum of the Chicago Academy of Sciences. 

Questions? For more information and to receive course updates, contact the course coordinator at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Course Objectives

Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:

1. Design and execute an action plan to produce an education, outreach, and/or interpretative product/program.

2. Engage with the Earth to Sky community, both regionally and nationally, to exchange ideas and expertise.

3. Select relevant, audience-appropriate NASA science content and/or educational/visual elements to use in their product/program. Use an Earth Systems Science approach to describe how global change impacts the natural and human systems in their region.

4. Choose suitable communication strategies for a particular audience based on available audience research. Use engaging, audience-appropriate communication techniques.

5. Identify stories of mitigation, adaptation, resilience, action, and hope relevant to their region/site.

6. Consider how multiple perspectives can be incorporated mindfully into interpretive products and programs to find shared values.

Course Logistics

This FREE course will take place over three days, March 10-12, 2027. Limited space is available with 30 participants accepted through a competitive application process. 

Location

For over 167 years, the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum of the Chicago Academy of Sciences has served a unique role in the city of Chicago connecting people of all ages to nature and science through immersive exhibits, fun family events, important conservation research and in-depth education programs, inspiring the wonder in all of us. Located in the heart of Lincoln Park along the shores of Lake Michigan in downtown Chicago, the museum provides an ideal learning environment for course participants.