One World Journey: The Sonoran Desert

Just can't get enough of the American Southwest? Want to learn a bit more about the Sonoran Desert on the U.S.-Mexico border? Then, here's a website for you.

The Sonoran Desert: 5000 Square Miles of Silence enables you to join a One World Journey team as they travel the historic El Camino del Diablo to explore the history and environment of the Sonoran Desert and efforts to preserve it.

Here you will find gorgeous photography, audio expedition journals, essays and a timeline of human interaction with the desert.

This is one resource that is well worth your time to explore.

Natural Science From the Inside Out

If you're interested in natural science, and what lifelong learner isn't these days, then the USGS CoreCast is just waiting for you. As of today, you have access to 52 podcasts, starting with episode 1, Hurricanes and Extreme Storms, August 2007 and up to Episode 52, Tribal Canoe Journey to Help Restore Salish Sea Resources, July 2, 2008. And in between you can learn about droughts, floods, wildfires, sinkholes, monthly hazard roundups, big oil in North Dakota and Montana, plus five episodes on Earth Science Week. This just a partial list, so you'll have to go take a look for yourself.

It's difficult to single out one or two episodes to highlight, but try these two. Of particular note are episodes 15 and 37. Episode 15, Who Do We Think We Are?, covers an overview of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and Episode 37, Science as it Happens--Glen Canyon Dam High Flow Experiment offers video, audio only, a slideshow, as well as a transcript and related links.

The podcasts range from approximately 3 to 20 minutes in length. Transcripts of all episodes are available. Don't miss the links for additional information. You have to scroll all the way to the bottom of each transcript page to find the list of links for that podcast.

This is just one resource made available by the USGS. We'll discuss more of their contributions to our learning toolbox in coming posts. Enjoy!