HR: 15:10h
AN: ED33C-07    [Abstracts]
TI: Towards an improved understanding of climate and atmospheric concepts in education and the media
AU: * Dupigny-Giroux, L L
EM: ldupigny@uvm.edu
AF: University of Vermont, Department of Geography 200 Old Mill Building 94 University Place, Burlington, VT 05405-0114, United States
AB: Twenty years ago, El Nino warm events in the Equatorial Pacific Ocean, accelerated desertification, the thinning of the stratospheric ozone layer and the impacts of acid deposition were among the most common geophysical phenomena reported in the public media. Institutions involved in both formal and informal education, were instrumental in developing monitoring programs and resources that allowed K-16 students to work through the scientific method approach, while gathering data that would allow researchers to quantify the spatial patterns and perhaps test hypotheses of the causal mechanisms at work. Today, much of the focus has shifted towards the interrelated issues of climate changes, global warming and environmental changes. Along the way, post-secondary students have lost some of their ability to critically think about and process weather and climate information received in print and electronic formats. A holistic approach to teaching and understanding the land-ocean-atmosphere interface is needed in order to lead students, the media and all learners through the complexities of living with and mitigating against such issues as our growing vulnerability to natural hazards, environmental degradation and climate variability and change. This presentation will delve into insights gained as both a teacher/scholar and state climatologist, in working with K-12 teachers, university students, the media and other members of society. It will also highlight the activities of the recently formed Climate Mentoring Initiative of the Association of American Geographers (AAG).
DE: 0810 Post-secondary education
DE: 0850 Geoscience education research
DE: 3305 Climate change and variability (1616, 1635, 3309, 4215, 4513)
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting