The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program is a worldwide hands-on, science and education program focusing on the environment, now active in over 120 countries worldwide. It works to promote the teaching and learning of science, enhance environmental literacy and stewardship, and promote scientific discovery. Students and teachers collect data and perform research in collaboration with scientists from numerous international agencies, and their work is made accessible through the GLOBE website. Background The GLOBE Program seeks to teach young students experimental skills using real experiments and equipment. Students, teachers, and scientists collaborate in a unique global learning network. The program is housed by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) in Boulder, Colorado, and sponsored by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ), and the National Science Foundation, through an inter-agency agreement signed in 1998. The U.S. Department of State supports the work of the GLOBE Program internationally (see for example the agreement with Mexico); many other organizations support the GLOBE Program in the US and around the world. Mission The GLOBE Program's Mission is to promote the teaching and learning of science, enhance environmental literacy and stewardship, and promote scientific discovery. Specific goals include: Improve student achievement across the curriculum with a focus on student research in environmental and Earth system science; Enhance awareness and support activities of individuals throughout the world to benefit the environment; Contribute to scientific understanding of Earth as a system; Connect and inspire the next generation of global scientists; and Get young minds outside to explore new things. History 1995: The GLOBE Program launched by former US vice-president Al Gore on Earth Day, April 22 1997: GLOBE Teacher Conference held in the US 1998: 1st GLOBE Learning Expedition (GLE) held in Finland 2000: 2nd GLE held in the USA 2003: 53 protocols across atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and soil (pedosphere) 2003: 3rd GLE held in Croatia 2003: NASA selected the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), to operate The GLOBE Program Office 2005: Earth Day; GLOBE celebrates its 10th birthday with 15,000 schools in 106 countries 2008: 4th GLE held in South Africa 2009: 20 million data in the global database 2011: Student Climate Research Campaign launches 2014: 1st regional student aerosols research campaign led by Europe and Eurasia; Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) and Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP), student research campaigns with NASA launched