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Bob Mackay
Physics and Meteorology
Clark College
Bob MacKay is a professor in the physics and meteorology departments at Clark College in Vancouver, WA, teaching courses in introductory physics, physical science, and meteorology. He also teaches courses in environmental modeling and Earth’s climate for Washington State University (Vancouver). His past research interests include climate modeling and understanding the dynamic connections between atmospheric chemistry and climate change. Over his 30 year science education career he has developed many interactive learning experiences for his science students. Recently he has been exploring online delivery through hybrid courses using a format of face to face lab and online “lecture”.
Website Content Contributions
Course Modules (7)
Unit 5: Balancing the Radiation Budget: A Jigsaw Exploration of the Global Climate System (Part 2) part of Earths Thermostat
In this two-day activity spanning Units 4 and 5, students analyze spatial variation in climate through a map-based jigsaw exploration of NASA's Clouds and Earth's Radiant Energy Systems (CERES) Energy ...
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Activities (10)
Using a Mass Balance Model to Understand Carbon Dioxide and its Connection to Global Warming part of Quantitative Skills:Activity Collection
Students explore the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide over the past 40 years with an interactive on-line model.
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Courses (2)
Robert MacKay: Using Earth's Thermostat in Meteorology 101: The Atmosphere and the Environment at Clark College part of Earths Thermostat
Earth's Thermostat module engaged my introductory meteorology students in actively learning about energy flows and balances within the Earth system. Our module units help my student learn by analyzing data using the methods of geoscience. Systems thinking in relation to Earth's energy balance climate and society is also a central theme of our module.
Global Climate Change and Earth History part of Integrate:Workshops and Webinars:Teaching the Methods of Geoscience:Course
This course introduces students to Global Change Science through lecture presentations, classroom discussions, assigned readings, and activities designed specifically to complement lecture topics. The course is ...
Teaching Method Module (1)
Teaching With Models part of Starting Point-Teaching Entry Level Geoscience:Models
This educational webpage from the Science Education Resource Center (SERC) provides a comprehensive pedagogical guide on using scientific models—conceptual, physical, mathematical, statistical, and visualizations—in introductory geoscience instruction, offering definitions, teaching strategies, examples, and resources to support active, student-centered learning within an Earth systems framework.
Essays (2)
Using models in geoscience part of Integrate:Workshops and Webinars:Teaching the Methods of Geoscience:Essays
This webpage is an academic essay discussing the use of computer simulation models in geoscience education, emphasizing inquiry-based learning, systems thinking, and climate change modeling, with practical examples like CO2 cycle simulations and model-based games for undergraduate instruction.
Perspective on Complex Systems part of Complex Systems:Workshop 2010:Participant Essays
This webpage is an academic essay by Bob MacKay from a 2010 NAGT workshop, discussing pedagogical approaches to teaching complex systems in geoscience education, with emphasis on computer modeling, visualization tools, and student-centered learning methods for understanding system dynamics, feedback loops, and environmental processes.