Since 1991 the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) has led the Cooperative University-based Earth System Science Education Program (ESSE) under NASA sponsorship to develop programs and curricula in Earth Systems and Global Change Science at the undergraduate level. At that time twenty-two universities were selected to develop and offer courses at the survey and senior levels to provide a scientifically based appreciation of topical issues in global change, and to engage advanced students and faculty from different disciplines in addressing Earth Science and Global Change issues. Over 4000 students and 100 faculty and staff were involved in the program during the 1993/94 academic year. Response from a survey of the original participants indicates that the program has been successful in establishing an Earth System Science Education support group and forum for the discussion of courses, curricula, and learning modules.

As the program evolved, the need became apparent for a shared repository of educational resources for the Earth sciences which would be beneficial to all participants, as well as to the broader Earth science community. In 1994 the program established a server on the Internet with a World Wide Web Home Page (http://www.usra.edu/esse/ESSE.html) designed to foster the collaborative development of educational materials and to assist the organization of relevant source material already available on the Web. The content and organization of the server are being updated continuously with input from the program participants and others interested in studying and teaching about the Earth as a system.

In August of 1995 an additional twenty-two colleges and universities were selected to continue the program through the end of the decade, building upon the success of, and suggestions from, the original program participants. In addition to the continued maintenance of the server content, the program is exploring ways to further increase its impact upon undergraduate Earth System Science Education. A prototype Journal of Earth System Science Education is being established with the goal of providing peer review, publication, and recognition for the authors of quality learning modules. The ESSE program is also preparing to team with other Earth Science Education initiatives such as Project ALERT (Augmented Learning Environment for Renewable Teaching), which aims to reach students training to be teachers, and possibly the education component of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research, which aims to address the need for advanced study of regionally significant environmental issues in the Americas.

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