ED21F:
Climate Literacy: Improving Climate Literacy through Informal Learning and Citizen Science I


Session ID#: 8386

Session Description:
Anthropogenic climate change affects everyone, but not all people are aware of present and future climate impacts. Increasing climate literacy to support informed decisions by individuals, communities, and societies requires creative learning opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds. While classroom learning is constrained by formal educational systems and logistical limitations, the learning environment outside the classroom is almost limitless. Around the world, informal educators are trying innovative ways to engage people in understanding changes in their immediate environments and possible responses.  This special session will focus on programs, technologies, media, and messaging that are effective for learning about climate change among different audiences.  We welcome contributions from large and small organizations that present innovative and effective strategies, pilot or scaled-up programs, and strong evaluations that explain effectiveness.
Primary Convener:  Robert F Chen, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, United States
Conveners:  John McLaughlin, NOAA, Office of Education, Washington, DC, DC, United States, David Scott Lustick, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Education, Lowell, MA, United States and Amy P. Kaminski, NASA, Office of the Chief Scientist, Washington, DC, DC, United States
Chairs:  Geoffrey Haines-Stiles, Passport to Knowledge, Morristown, NJ, United States and William Spitzer, New England Aquarium, Boston, MA, United States
OSPA Liaison:  Michelle Hall, Science Education Solutions, Los Alamos, NM, United States

Cross-Listed:
  • GC - Global Environmental Change
  • SI - Societal Impacts and Policy Sciences
Index Terms:

0815 Informal education [EDUCATION]
6699 General or miscellaneous [PUBLIC ISSUES]

Abstracts Submitted to this Session:

Realizing the Value of Citizen Science Data. (Invited) (67029)
Waleed Abdalati, University of Colorado, Department of Geography, Boulder, United States; Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, Boulder, CO, United States
ScienceToGo.org: Using 'Ozzie the Ostrich' to Build Local Partnerships around Climate Change Learning (79076)
David Scott Lustick1, Jill Lohmeier1, Robert F Chen2, Rick Wilson3, David Rabkin4 and Shanna Rose Thompson1, (1)University of Massachusetts Lowell, Education, Lowell, MA, United States, (2)University of Massachusetts Boston, School for the Environment, Boston, MA, United States, (3)Texas State University San Marcos, Communication, San Marcos, TX, United States, (4)Museum of Science, Boston, MA, United States
Citizen Scientists Contribute National-Scale Phenology Data for Science, Conservation and Resource Management (67624)
Alyssa Rosemartin1, Jake F Weltzin2, Theresa M Crimmins1, Erin Posthumus1 and Staff of the USA-NPN National Coordinating Office, (1)USA National Phenology Network, Tucson, AZ, United States, (2)USA National Phenology Network, Fort Collins, CO, United States
Don't Just Sit There - Do Something!: Engaging and Empowering U.S. Adults Through Short, Funny, Internet Videos About Climate Change (84720)
Joylette Portlock, Communitopia, Pittsburgh, PA, United States and Hollis Laird, University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus, Behavior and Community Health Sciences, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
Putting Citizen-Collected Observations to Work -- The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) (Invited) (70420)
Nolan Doesken, Colorado Climate Center, Fort Collins, CO, United States
Approaches to Climate Literacy at the American Museum of Natural History (75992)
Robert V Steiner, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, United States
CROWDSOURCING SCIENCE TO PROMOTE HUMAN HEALTH: NEW TOOLS TO PROMOTE SAMPLING OF MOSQUITO POPULATIONS BY CITIZEN SCIENTISTS (75029)
Rebecca A Boger1, Russanne Low2, Mullica Jaroensutasinee3, Krisanadej Jaroensutasinee3, Elena B Sparrow4, Jen-I Costosa5, July Medina1 and Gary Randolph6, (1)CUNY Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY, United States, (2)University of Nebraska-Lincoln, School of Natural Resources, Lincoln, United States, (3)Walailak University, Thasala, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand, (4)University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, United States, (5)CUNY Graduate Center, New York, NY, United States, (6)The GLOBE Program/UCAR, Boulder, CO, United States
Picture This: The Art of Using Museum and Science Collaborations to Teach about Climate Change (80385)
Francesco Fiondella1,2, Rebecca Fowler3, Nicole K Davi4 and Elisabeth Gawthrop2, (1)Earth Institute, Palisades, NY, United States, (2)International Research Institute for Climate and Society, Columbia University, Palisades, NY, United States, (3)Foundation for Earth Science, St. Louis, MO, United States, (4)William Paterson University of New Jersey, Environmental Science, Wayne, United States

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