Nexus for Middle School Students Specializing in Climate Science Education, Eager to Connect with AGU Conference Scientists and Educators

Abstract:

Teams of students in Washington DC and California are quite committed to climate science: education, popularization, science-based climate action and in making their own contributions to research and monitoring of our planet. As we study your work at the virtual AGU, this poster will be our report on our progress.

In normal years, we bring AGU climate science broadly to the public on a massive scale -- in person. During the pandemic, we have shifted emphasis to connect remotely. Lowell School’s Climate Club and Mobile Climate Science Labs teams are now actively linking up with student-based programs around the world, including in Germany, Chile, Hong Kong and in 5 African countries; for example with the African Youth Initiative on Climate Change. Our school Zoom calls include those with climate scientists and colleagues in other education programs. The Covid-19 pandemic has also opened more time for students to create on-line videos.

Our students are very popular presenters of hands-on, interactive climate science at mass-scale events. Examples of venues: Science festivals, including the US Science & Engineering Festival in DC (350,000 attending) and the Bay Area Science Festival. Community events, with emphasis on under-served neighborhoods with populations that have faced generations of ethnic discrimination. Field trip hubs, where school groups from the entire metro area come to visit our teams! Environmental Youth summits and conferences.

Students also take part in place-based and project-base science research and Earth Science monitoring. Two focus areas: 1.) Ground level monitoring in short-wavelength and long wavelength infrared, aligned with imaging from GOES (geostationary) and TERRA (low Earth orbit) satellites. 2.) Food & Ag.

AGU Conference Video Playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmftP5AROc0mRh1UYQa96g73iI5KHx3ku

Ours is a multi-generational team, with adult team members acting as conference liaisons. We'll be holding AGU conference focused Zoom calls with the student teams, sharing as connections are made: before, during & after AGU.

We're members of, and active participants in: CLEAN Network, ASTC, National Science Teaching Association, and the UN Climate Education, Communication & Outreach Stakeholders Community.

ClimateChangeEducation.org and Lowell School, Washington, DC