He signed up for the 29-year-old programme during a meeting with US Consul General Robert Settje on Thursday.

Mr Gibbons said: “The purpose of the agreement is to introduce a programme to the Bermuda public school system that will increase awareness of our students about the global environment, contribute to increased scientific understanding of the Earth and support improved student achievement in science and mathematics.

“The programme is a worldwide hands-on, primary and secondary school-based science education programme.

“GLOBE’s vision promotes and supports students, teachers and scientists to collaborate on inquiry-based investigations of the environment and the Earth system.

“Prior to Bermuda’s signing of the agreement, the rate of participation was at 112 countries and there are over 66,000 GLOBE-trained teachers representing more than 24,000 schools around the world.

“To date over 10 million students have taken over 100 million measurements which are now part of the GLOBE data base.

“They report their observations, use tools on the GLOBE website, analyse data and present and publish the results of their analyses.

“They will also get to work with other GLOBE scientists and students from around the world.”

Dr Gibbons said the programme would be rolled out during the next school year in selected primary and middle schools, with a view to expanding to more schools over time.

“In all cases, at schools and the Department, existing staff will be used to implement and support the GLOBE programme,” he added.

“The GLOBE programme complements the inquiry-based approach of our Cambridge science curriculum.

“It will help provide a significant resource to teachers, and give students the opportunity to be part of the larger science community, and to participate, explore, and better understand the world of science in their own local environment.”