The 90’s.
In 1990, the first summer session at AGCI brought together thirty-eight participants from three countries. One goal of the first summer session was to provide an environment where scientists and educators with different specialties could gather to compare differences and commonalities among their work and seek areas of collaboration. The workshops AGCI held during its first decade were generally between one and two weeks long, and the informal setting was highly conducive to this interdisciplinary goal. Active dialogue developed between participants as diverse as teachers, biologists, atmospheric chemists, climatologists, solar physicists, glaciologists, ecologists, and a range of social scientists. Workshops during this decade covered a variety topics, but, in reflection of the direction of the scientific community, special emphasis was placed on: emerging technologies such as remote sensing, development of coupled Earth systems models, identification of future research priorities, and the need for management methods for observational data. During this time, AGCI was also working in the field of education and outreach. Recognizing the increasing importance that remote sensing would likely play in Earth sciences, AGCI produced a handbook with a grant from NASA, designed with a primer on global change and remote sensing for teachers and age appropriate activities for elementary and secondary grade levels. The Handbook when coupled with satellite and aerial photography helped students gain an understanding of remote sensing and the role it plays in observing change on Earth. The Ground Truth Studies Teacher Handbook was published in 1992 and presented to educators across the nation in teacher training workshops.