HR: 0800h
AN: ED21A-0052    [Abstracts]
TI: Conveying Climate Science Through the Internet: Two Projects Serving Varied Audiences
AU: * Gardiner, L
EM: egardine@ucar.edu
AF: University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, Office of Education and Outreach, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307 United States
AU: Johnson, R
EM: rmjohnsn@ucar.edu
AF: University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, Office of Education and Outreach, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307 United States
AU: Russell, R
EM: rrussell@ucar.edu
AF: University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, Office of Education and Outreach, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307 United States
AU: Bergman, J
EM: jenjoy@ucar.edu
AF: University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, Office of Education and Outreach, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307 United States
AU: Genyuk, J
EM: jgenyuk@ucar.edu
AF: University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, Office of Education and Outreach, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307 United States
AU: Henderson, S
EM: sandrah@ucar.edu
AF: University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, Office of Education and Outreach, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307 United States
AU: Ward, D
EM: dward@ucar.edu
AF: University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, Office of Education and Outreach, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307 United States
AB: Teaching the science behind climate from an Earth system science perspective promotes science literacy among students and the general public, enhancing understanding of our interconnected planet. We have created climate and global change content into two very different web venues to facilitate understanding of what is known about Earth's climate and how climate research is conducted so that users are able to better understand reports of dramatic effects of change and predictions of future climate change. Each project has its own unique method of approaching the topics of climate and global change based on the intended audience. Windows to the Universe (www.windows.ucar.edu), a long-standing Web resource funded primarily by NASA and NSF, provides users with content about the Earth and Space sciences at three levels - beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Windows to the Universe has developed a dedicated climate and global change section that unites newly developed and previously existing content within a new framework making it easy for users of all ages to navigate through climate topics while also able to explore related areas of the broader site such as sections about the Sun or Earth's Atmosphere. Kids' Crossing (www.eo.ucar.edu/kids), developed through the National Center for Atmospheric Research, is a web site designed for upper elementary and middle school students to promote understanding of the Earth and atmospheric sciences. A section entitled "Living in the Greenhouse" addresses climate and global change topics. The challenge of presenting climate change content at the primary level addressing the potential causes and effects of climate change without a "sky is falling" mentality was met by combining whimsical design and simple interactivity with straightforward scientific information. Content about Earth cycles adds depth and connections to curriculum.
UR: http://www.windows.ucar.edu
DE: 0805 Elementary and secondary education
DE: 0815 Informal education
SC: Education and Human Resourcese [ED]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting