Case Study: University Course on Climate Change: Science, Communication, and Solutions course
http://vimeo.com/36981150
In the first half of the course, students examine scientific concepts drawn from diverse fields, including atmospheric science, physical climatology, biogeochemistry, and ecology. Students learn about current and projected climate change and its impacts though inquiry-based analysis of climate data and visualization resources. The course then focuses on communication and policy solutions as they relate to climate change. Students work together in teams to produce a short video conveying their own perspective on a climate change science topic and its implications for society. Through this project, students both engage with science content and also improve their literacy in a medium that is emerging as a major means of communication. This literacy provides a means to:
- Become more sophisticated consumers of media related to climate change
- Provide a vehicle for active exploration and learning about climate change science
- Empower students to join the larger societal conversation about climate change
The CAM project approach of combining systems thinking, climate change science, simulation role-playing games, and media production was an effective means to teach upper level undergraduate and graduate level courses on climate change. The course pushed new boundaries by combining many scientific fields (physics, climatology, biology), social sciences (political science, sociology, psychology), and communication (video making, opinion article writing, public speaking) in one coherent course about climate change.
An overview of reading assignments and resources used in this course are provided below.
Integrating video production into university-level climate change education
With help from scientist-turned-filmmaker, Randy Olson, curriculum was developed to bring student media production into this cross-disciplinary course on climate change science and policy.
Working paper about this approach (coming soon): Student media production to meet challenges in climate change science education
Video script assignment, with student exemplars: Video Script Assignment (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 138kB May29 13)
Quick users guide for editing with FinalCut Express and FinalCut Pro: FinalCut Editing Guide (Acrobat (PDF) 25.1MB May29 13)
Sample Media Release Form: Media Release Form (Microsoft Word 24kB May29 13)
See examples of student work from this course, and others, on our CAM TV page.
Earth's Greenhouse Effect
Content: Quantum Mechanics; Blackbody Radiation; Light Spectra; Absorption and Emission of Radiation; Atmospheres; Anthropogenic Forcing; Feedback Effects
Carbon Cycle
Content: Photosynthesis; Respiration; Terrestrial, Oceanic, and Atmospheric Sinks; Increases/Decreases in Net Primary Production; Biochar
Example Reading Assignments and Resources:
- NASA - Carbon Cycle
- NASA - Drought Drives Decade-Long Decline in Plant Growth
- U.S. Climate Change Science Program - The First State of the Carbon Cycle Report
- Arneth, A., S. P. Harrison, S. Zaehle, K. Tsigaridis, S. Menon, P. J. Bartlein, J. Feichter, A. Korhola, M. Kulmala, D. O'Donnell, G. Schurgers, S. Sorvari, and T. Vesala. "Biogeochemical Feedbacks in the Climate System." Nature Geoscience 3.8 (2010): 525-32.
- Le Quéré, Corinne, Michael R. Raupach, Josep G. Canadell, Gregg Marland Et Al., Corinne Le Quéré Et Al., Corinne Le Quéré Et Al., Michael R. Raupach, Josep G. Canadell, Gregg Marland, Laurent Bopp, Philippe Ciais, Thomas J. Conway, Scott C. Doney, Richard A. Feely, Pru Foster, Pierre Friedlingstein, Kevin Gurney, Richard A. Houghton, Joanna I. House, Chris Huntingford, Peter E. Levy, Mark R. Lomas, Joseph Majkut, Nicolas Metzl, Jean P. Ometto, Glen P. Peters, I. Colin Prentice, James T. Randerson, Steven W. Running, Jorge L. Sarmiento, Ute Schuster, Stephen Sitch, Taro Takahashi, Nicolas Viovy, Guido R. Van Der Werf, and F. Ian Woodward. "Trends in the Sources and Sinks of Carbon Dioxide." Nature Geoscience 2.12 (2009): 831-36.
- Lal, Rattan. "The Potential for Soil Carbon Sequestration." Agriculture and Climate Change: An Agenda for Negotiation in Copenhagen For Food (2009).
- Lehmann, Johannes. "A Handful of Carbon." Nature 447.7141 (2007): 143-44.
- International Biochar Initiative
Modeling Climate Change
Content: Challenges; Time Scales; Basic Components of Model (Atmosphere, Ocean, Vegetation, Ice); Fluid Dynamics; EdGCM; IPCC Emissions Scenarios
Example Reading Assignments and Resources:
Paleoclimate and Abrupt Climate Change
Content: Geologic Time Scale (Epochs); Ice Core/Tree Ring Data
Example Reading Assignments and Resources:
- Hansen, James, Makiko Sato, Pushker Kharecha, David Beerling, Robert Berner, Valerie Masson-Delmotte, Mark Pagani, Maureen Raymo, Dana L. Royer, and James C. Zachos. "Target Atmospheric CO2: Where Should Humanity Aim?" The Open Atmospheric Science Journal 2.1 (2008): 217-31.
- NASA - Paleoclimatology
- NOAA - Paleoclimatology
- Union of Concerned Scientists - Abrupt Climate Change
- Kiehl, Jeffrey. "Lessons from Earth's Past." Science 331 (2011): 158-59.
- Ramanathan, V., and Y. Feng. "On Avoiding Dangerous Anthropogenic Interference with the Climate System: Formidable Challenges Ahead." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 105.38 (2008): 14245-4250.
Health Impacts of Climate Change
Content: Determinants of Health; Impact on Poor Countries; Extreme Weather Events; Spread of Infectious Disease; Heat Waves; Food Production
Example Reading Assignments and Resources:
Ocean Impacts
Content: Thermal Expansion; Glacier and Ice Sheet Melting; Ocean Acidification; Ecosystem Impacts (Coral Reef Calcification)
Example Reading Assignments and Resources:
Biodiversity Impacts
Content: Climate Envelope Changes; Projected Extinctions Under Different Climate Models
Example Reading Assignments and Resources:
- Thomas, Chris D., Alison Cameron, Rhys E. Green, Michel Bakkenes, Linda J. Beaumont, Yvonne C. Collingham, Barend F. N. Erasmus, Marinez Ferreira De Siqueira, Alan Grainger, Lee Hannah, Lesley Hughes, Brian Huntley, Albert S. Van Jaarsveld, Guy F. Midgley, Lera Miles, Miguel A. Ortega-Huerta, A. Townsend Peterson, Oliver L. Phillips, and Stephen E. Williams. "Extinction Risk from Climate Change." Nature 427.6970 (2004): 145-48.
- National Science Foundation - Earth's Sixth Mass Extinction: Is It Almost Here?
Energy
Content: Renewables (Solar, Wind, Biofuel, Hydro, Tidal); Peak Oil; Power Per Unit Land Area; Efficiency
Example Reading Assignments and Resources:
Economics of Climate Change/Green Economy
Content: Potential for Economic Growth; Estimating Cost of Climate Change (Market Value vs. Non-Market Value); Discount Rate; Mitigation, Adaption; Cap and Trade vs. Carbon Tax; Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Land Degradation
Example Reading Assignments and Resources:
- UNEP, 2011, "Towards a Green Economy: Pathways to Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication - A Synthesis for Policy Makers", www.unep.org/greeneconomy.
- Pollin, Robert, Heidi Garrett-Peltier, James Heintz, and Helen Scharber. "Green Recovery: A Program to Create Good Jobs and Start Building a Low-Carbon Economy." Center for American Progress (2008).
- New York Times - A Cultural Barrier to Action on Climate Change
- Now Public - Abolishing Fossil Fuels: Lessons Learned from Abolishing Slavery
- The Stern Review on the Economic Effects of Climate Change. Population and Development Review, (2006) 32: 793–798. doi: 10.1111/j.1728-4457.2006.00153.x
- Dasgupta, P. "Commentary: The Stern Review's Economics of Climate Change." National Institute Economic Review 199.1 (2007): 4-7.
- Carbon Tax & 100% Dividend vs. Tax & Trade (2009) (testimony of James E. Hansen).
- Metcalf, Gilbert E. "Designing a Carbon Tax to Reduce U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions." Review of Enviormental Economics and Policy 3.1 (2009): 63-83.
Politics of Climate Change Adaptation
Content: Negotiations (Kyoto, Cancun); Protocols, Accords, Treaties; Compliance; Negotiating Groups
Example Reading Assignments and Resources:
- Kaswan, Alice. "Environmental Justice and Domestic Climate Change." Environmental Law Reporter (2008).
- Baird, Rachel. "The Impact of Climate Change on Minorities and Indigenous Peoples." Minority Rights Group International (2008): 1-12.
- Frumhoff, P.C., J.J. McCarthy, J.M. Melillo, S.C. Moser, and D.J. Wuebbles. 2007. Confronting Climate Change in the U.S. Northeast: Science, Impacts, and Solutions. Synthesis report of the Northeast Climate Impacts Assessment (NECIA). Cambridge, MA: Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).
- Kirshen, Paul, Chris Watson, Ellen Douglas, Allen Gontz, Jawon Lee, and Yong Tian. "Coastal Flooding in the Northeastern United States Due to Climate Change." Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change 13.5-6 (2008): 437-51.
- National Security Implications of Global Climate Change. Rep. Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, 2009.
- Gibbs, Holly K., Sandra Brown, John O. Niles, and Jonathan A. Foley. "Monitoring and Estimating Tropical Forest Carbon Stocks: Making REDD a Reality." Environmental Research Letters 2.4 (2007): 045023
- United Nations. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. New York, 1992.
- United Nations. Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. New York, 1998.
- United Nations. Copenhagen Accord. 2010.
Communication
Content: Unique Challenges; Different Forms of Media
Example Reading Assignments and Resources:
Systems Thinking
Content: Mental Models; System Dynamics; Casual Loop Diagrams
Example Reading Assignments and Resources:
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