ART SUSSMAN, Ph.D., is a science educator and author of the acclaimed and award-winning book, Dr. Art’s Guide to Planet Earth (over 70,000 copies sold). Sussman directs WestEd’s Eisenhower Regional Consortium for Science and Mathematics Education, based in San Francisco and serving science and math educators throughout the West. He directs California’s Building a Presence for Science, a project for NSTA involving 4,800 science educators statewide. In 2000 he received the Margaret Nicholson Distinguished Service Award from the California Science Teachers Association. In addition, Sussman is active nationally with the Council of State Science Supervisors and has assisted Nevada, Utah, Georgia and California in developing their science standards. Aside from his professional responsibilities, Sussman is best known for conducting “Dr. Art’s Planet Earth Show,” a theatrical science performance pitched to kids and adults and performed at education conferences and science centers nationally. As part of his intensive performance circuit planned for 2006, he’s scheduled as keynote presentor at the National Science Teachers Association Annual Conference.