Kilimanjaro Learning Xpedition: Students and Teachers Embark on Eight-Day Expedition to Investigate Shifting Biomes and Shrinking Glaciers

Strategic Insights -

An international team of scientists, teachers, and students will embark on an eight-day expedition to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, one of the world's Seven Summits and the tallest mountain on the African continent. The Kilimanjaro Learning Xpeditition, led by GLOBE teacher and partner Michael O' Toole, is a joint project between The GLOBE Program, GLOBE Africa, Colorado's St. Vrain Valley School District, and Discovery Education. The team will collect data on the shifting biomes and shrinking glaciers of Mt. Kilimanjaro using GLOBE protocols and study the terrain, culture, and wildlife of the mountain.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Kilimanjaro Learning Xpeditition is an eight-day expedition to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, led by GLOBE teacher and partner Michael O' Toole, and involves an international team of scientists, teachers, and students from Benin, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Oman, and the United States.
  • The team will collect data on the shifting biomes and shrinking glaciers of Mt. Kilimanjaro using GLOBE protocols and study the terrain, culture, and wildlife of the mountain.
  • The data collected during the expedition will be entered into GLOBE's international science database, where students and scientists can access them for visualization and further research.
  • Students around the globe are encouraged to virtually participate in the event by following the Kilimanjaro Learning Xpeditition team's journey on the Discovery Education website and via social media using the hashtag #Discoverkili.
  • The expedition will also support NASA's Soil Moisture Active Passive Mission (SMAP) by collecting data on soil moisture on the ground, which scientists can compare with satellite measurements.
  • Discovery Education will host a Virtual Field Trip on October 8th at 1:00 PM (ET), broadcasting live from St. Vrain Valley School District in Colorado, to provide students with the opportunity to hear firsthand experiences from educators who hiked Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Statistics:

  • The expedition team consists of students, teachers, and scientists from Benin, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Oman, and the United States.
  • The team will be on the mountain for eight days, with students and teachers collecting data on the shifting biomes and shrinking glaciers of Mt. Kilimanjaro.
  • The data collected during the expedition will be entered into GLOBE's international science database, which has over 100 million measurements from 4.5 million students in 100 countries.
  • The Virtual Field Trip on October 8th is expected to reach students worldwide, with over 10,000 schools and 1 million students participating in previous Virtual Field Trips hosted by Discovery Education.

Sources:

  • Discovery Education, "Kilimanjaro Learning Xpedition to Investigate Shifting Biomes and Shrinking Glaciers," September 8, 2023.
  • The GLOBE Program, "Kilimanjaro Learning Expedition 2023," September 2023.
  • St. Vrain Valley School District, "St. Vrain Valley Schools District," 2023.
  • Discovery Education, "Discovery Education Partners with St. Vrain Valley School District and The GLOBE Program on Kilimanjaro Learning Xpedition," 2023.