Initial Publication Date: November 10, 2016

Teaching the Impacts of Human Carbon Emissions on the Atmosphere, Oceans, and Economy

Next Webinar

Biosphere and Critical Zone
Wednesday, November 30th
10:00 am PT | 11:00 am MT | 12:00 pm CT | 1:00 pm ET

Thursday, November 17th

10:00 am PT | 11:00 am MT | 12:00 pm CT | 1:00 pm ET

Presenters: Allison Dunn (Worcester State University), Sandra Penny (The Sage Colleges), and Cara Thompson (Arizona State University)

This webinar is part of a series supporting teaching with InTeGrate principles, using InTeGrate-developed and curated materials as tools.

Jump down to:
Resources, including presentation slides and the Screencast recording after the webinar

Summary

Climate change is a grand challenge facing society and, for this reason, it is important for students to understand the underlying processes that govern the climate system so they can make informed decisions about economic and public policy. Analyzing the atmosphere-ocean-climate system will help students identify current and future scientific challenges related to anthropogenic CO₂ emissions including increases in global temperature, ocean acidification, and resultant changes in the biosphere. Students can apply these scientific principles to economic and public policy decisions such as programs for regulating carbon emissions, which highlights their role in changing climate, oceans, and the atmosphere. This webinar highlights interactive, data-driven teaching strategies and examples ranging from in-class activities to capstone and summative assignments that address climate change, ocean sustainability, and carbon emissions regulation. The webinar will include 30 minutes of presentations and 25 minutes of discussion. Participants are encouraged to both ask questions of the presenters and discuss their own experiences teaching the impacts and of human carbon emissions on the atmosphere, oceans, climate, and economy.

Goals

At the end of this webinar, participants will have:

models for exploring how human carbon emissions affect the atmosphere, oceans, and climate
strategies for addressing issues related to carbon emissions
greater familiarity with InTeGrate principles and materials
new colleagues engaged in this work

Logistics

Time - 10:00 am PT | 11:00 am MT | 12:00 pm CT | 1:00 pm ET
Duration - 1 hour
Format - Online web presentation via Adobe Connect web conference software with questions and discussion.
Go to the webinar technology page for information on using Adobe Connect.
Detailed instructions for joining the webinar will be emailed to registered participants one day prior to the webinar.

Registration is closed due to reaching capacity

Preparation - There is no advance preparation required for this webinar.

Please email Rory McFadden (rmcfadden@carleton.edu) if you have any questions about this event.

Presenters

Allison Dunn, Earth, Environment, and Physics, Worcester State University

Cara Thompson, School of Mathematical & Natural Sciences, Arizona State University–West Campus

Sandra Penny, Chemistry and Physics, The Sage Colleges

Program

The powerpoint slides will be available here prior to the webinar

1) Welcome and introductory remarks – Rory McFadden, SERC staff

2) Earth's Thermostat module coauthor – Allison Dunn

Investigating Earth's changing temperature and the factors contributing to Earth's climate
Changes in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations and underlying drivers
Activities for further exploring Earth's energy balance and climate, including a potential capstone activity

3) Ocean Sustainability module coauthor – Cara Thompson

The effects of atmospheric changes on physical, chemical, and biological aspects of the ocean
Data driven student learning example: evidence of increased atmospheric CO₂ concentration and ocean acidification
Case study presented as a gallery walk: climate change and gray whale behavior

4) Regulating Carbon Emissions to Mitigate Climate Change module coauthor – Sandra Penny

Address uncertainty in projections of future temperature rise with an online climate change model – webdice
Discuss the economics and resulting political realities of carbon reduction strategies (i.e., cap & trade, carbon tax).
Summative assignment to write an op-ed piece on America's energy future.

5) Reflections by participants

Prompt: What strategies do you use, or plan to use, to get students to connect scientific principles of climate change to their lives?

6) Synthetic remarks - final remarks by presenters

The conveners will reflect on the chat and each provide a synthetic remark. The chat and final remarks will be discussed further in the InTeGrate discussion thread. This online interest group is aimed at providing you with a platform for continuing discussion and exchanging ideas with your new colleagues about climate, oceans, and the atmosphere, as well as broader InTeGrate principles that will continue to be discussed throughout the webinar series.

7) Opportunities for further interaction – Rory McFadden

8) Webinar Evaluation