2014-15 Climate Change Teen Summit Orientation Webinar

2014-15 Climate Change Teen Summit

Orientation Webinar

Project Goals:• Understand the basics of climate science as a

crucial component of being able to make informed decisions in our current lives and into the future

• Become "climate literate,” having more than a firm grasp of the science, also appreciating the affective, emotional and behavioral dimensions involved– Go beyond “10 simple things” you can do– Avoid the political debates which can distract from the

main goal of mastering the content.

Part I: Climate Science 101

• Student teams and their advisors will participate in a series of activities to enrich their understanding of climate change science as well as mitigation and adaptation strategies.

Student will: • Work with faculty at Rutgers to discuss climate

change research and gain exposure to career opportunities in climate change related sciences.

• Explore the climate change related service projects that they will do in their local communities.

Problem and Solutions

• The climate and energy challenges that society must address in the coming years and decades can be overwhelming for many learners. The scientific findings of global change research can be alarming and discouraging even for seasoned scientists. Many students, even before they fully master the science, will want to know what they can do to make a difference.

• Teachers are finding that weaving together science with solutions is an important strategy to avoid depressing their students.

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)….

propose markedly increasing the profile of human impacts on the planet (e.g., Earth and Space Sciences Standard 3.C). Furthermore, the new standards challenge learners to understand “how people model and predict the effect of human activities on Earth’s climate” in Earth and Space Sciences Standard 3.D (pg. 196).

What is Climate Change?

• The unusually rapid increase in Earth’s average surface temperature over the past century primarily due to the greenhouse gases released by people burning fossil fuels.

• Global average surface temperature rose 0.6 to 0.9 degrees Celsius (1.1 to 1.6° F) between 1906 and 2005, and the rate of temperature increase has nearly doubled in the last 50 years.

The Big Picture: Distinguishing Weather from Climate

It is only by combining a large amount of observations that we can view the big picture of global climate change.

Ice Core

Receding Glaciers

Tree Rings

Pollen Record

What will happen to Earth as a result of climate change?

Climate change impacts will depend on where you are, the time period in the future you are talking about, accuracy of the scientific model you are using.

The Role of Scientific Certainty

Scientific process is designed to find and correct mistakes…

Logistics

Cook Campus Center

After dropping students off, park in lots 76, 99C, or 99D (no permits required)

Lot 76

Lot 99D

Lot 99C

Student Discussion Activity10 am – 10:30 am

• Students participate in a line-up activity to meet representatives from other schools and share their thoughts on climate change

Climate Change: The Big Picture & Impacts10:30 am – 11:30 am

• The group will be split into two smaller groups• Students participate in two activities (30 min.

each):- Scientist talks (Intro & Impacts)- Hands-on activities

Lunch & Presentation from Alliance for Climate Education (ACE)11:30 am – 12:45 am

• Educate on basics of climate science

• Format that relates to teens

• Inspire them to want to do the service project and take action

Call to Action12:45 pm – 1:30 pm

• Students will learn more about the options for their community service project

Project Theme #1Support or volunteer with not-for-profit organizations working to restore natural areas to increase resilience, create healthy communities, and increase your awareness of climate adaptation.

Project Theme #2

• Interview local officials to determine the following:– Does your master plan discourage new development in

flood prone areas?– Do your building and zoning codes include shade tree

provisions to reduce heat as well as provisions to reduce paved surfaces to allow water to soak into the ground?

– Are critical facilities such as firehouses, police stations, schools, evacuation routes and shelter locations in safe areas?

– Does your town have a plan in place to communicate with residents?

Project Theme # 3 and 4• Ask your local department

of transportation and transit agency(s) to review or develop plans for helping neighbors with limited mobility during storms, flooding, and heat waves.

• Identify how a changing climate may affect your school and what steps you can take to prepare for or prevent these changes.

Preparation for December 11thCheck out the summit website (http://4hset.rutgers.edu/teen-summit) for information and lessons plans focusing on climate change and how to design and implement climate change

related projects.

Back at School• Students will:

- Work on and document their projects- View/vote on the other schools projects

New features of the Summit• After the December 11th event, students will

participate in a webinar led by a professional media producer on how to communicate the process and results of their project

• Larger prizes

March 27th event• Students will:

- Talk to more scientists- Visit the Rutgers’ solar farm- View the winning student films

Things we need from you:• Final head count for the event• Confirmation that you will be there for the 10

am – 1:30 pm program. If you must (we hope that you won’t) leave early – please let us know ASAP.

Evaluation• We need pre and post surveys from each

participant to help us measure the impact of the program and help us with securing future funding.

Questions?

• Email mcdonnel@marine.rutgers.edu or ferraro@marine.rutgers.edu with any concerns or questions