Introduction to hydrologic model calibration part of Teaching Computation with MATLAB:MATLAB Workshop 2019:Activities
Matin Rahnamay Naeini, University of California-Irvine
In this exercise, we introduce the concept of model calibration for rainfall-runoff models. We specifically employ a synthetic precipitation data as input to the hydrologic model to generate synthetic runoff. The ...

Module 2 Introduction to R and Pair Programming part of Oceans in the News:Oceans in the News – Polar Ocean Science, Data, and the Media
Jonathan Cohen, University of Delaware; Matthew Oliver, University of Delaware; Victoria E Simons, University of Delaware
This unit is designed to take students with no programming experience and introduce them to R, a programming environment commonly used by scientists for analyzing and visualizing data. By introducing students to ...

Slicing Cylinders part of Spatial Thinking Workbook:Teaching Activities
Carol Ormand Ph.D., Carleton College
Students identify and draw slices through cylinders and partial cylinders, and use gestures to visualize slicing planes. This practice with visualizing slices through idealized geometric shapes is preparation for visualizing slices through geological features.

Coriolis Effect Activity part of Teaching Activities
Laura Wetzel, Eckerd College
The Coriolis Effect is the deflection of moving objects when they are viewed in a rotating reference frame. In oceanography, we are most interested in how the Coriolis Effect moves winds and ocean currents on the ...

Climate Justice, Life Expectancy, and Gender Disparities in Intermediate Algebra part of Curriculum for the Bioregion:Activities
Tatiana Mihaylova, Bellevue Community College
After an introduction to climate justice and life expectancy, students complete a two-part project. For the first part of the project, students use life expectancy data and plots using the Cartesian coordinate system to make conclusions about the impact of climate change on health and longevity and to explore gender differences. For the second part of the project, students continue to practice math skills, and also practice math communication and build their math literacy, by engaging civically through conversation about the first part of their project, as well as how they can take action to support gender equity through family planning and education for women and girls as a way to address climate change.

CREARE: Coral Response to Environment Authentic Research Experience part of CUREnet:CURE Collection
Juan Ramirez Lugo, University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras Campus
There is growing body of evidence to support that students who directly experience authentic scientific research are more likely to continue onto advanced degrees and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). In an effort to introduce more students to the benefits of scientific research we have drawn on an ongoing research project aimed at understanding how Corals Respond to the Environment (CRE) to develop an interdisciplinary laboratory course based on Authentic Research Experiences (ARE). A small cohort of undergraduate students enrolled in a semester-long course, entitled CREARE, perform biochemical experiments in the laboratory, analyze environmental data by R statistical software and prepared a report modeled after a research manuscript to present their work. The impact of CREARE on student learning gains and attitudes towards science is being measured, as is the impact of CREARE on participants' career choices and retention in STEM. This multidisciplinary research program addresses the impact of climate change on the health of a critically endangered coral species, ultimately leading to a better stewardship of this invaluable resource. Furthermore, CREARE offers a unique experience for students, one that may serve as a model for the development of more research-based courses, leading to improved retention in our STEM departments.

One day it is too hot and other days it is too cold. Do we need to replace the HVAC system? part of SISL:2012 Sustainability in Math Workshop:Activities
Monika Kiss, Saint Leo University
This project will allow students to create a mathematical model to help in making decision about replacing HVAC units on a large scale.

What's for Dinner? Analyzing Historical Data about the American Diet part of SISL:2012 Sustainability in Math Workshop:Activities
Jessica Libertini, Johns Hopkins University
In this activity, students research the historical food consumption data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to observe trends, develop regressions, predict future behavior, and discuss broader impacts.

Population Growth, Ecological Footprints, and Overshoot part of SISL:2012 Sustainability in Math Workshop:Activities
Rikki Wagstrom, Metropolitan State University
In this activity, students develop and apply linear, exponential, and rational functions to explore past and projected U.S. population growth, carbon footprint trend, ecological overshoot, and effectiveness of hypothetical carbon dioxide reduction initiatives.

Exploring Sea Level Rise in Algebra and Pre-Calculus: Learning About Affected Communities, Creating Mathematical Models, and Practicing Mathematical Communication Skills part of Curriculum for the Bioregion:Activities
Mathi Radhakrishnan, Bellevue Community College
Students begin this activity by learning how communities in Bangladesh are affected by melting glaciers and sea level rise, as well as why these phenomena are happening as a result of global climate change. They complete a modeling activity by collecting sea level height data from an interactive map, using linear regression to fit a mathematical model to the data, and reflecting on the accuracy of their model, as well as climate change models in general, by doing calculations with their regression equation. The activity ends when they present their models and have a conversation, with a person who is not a mathematician or familiar with mathematical models, about how models are sometimes misused to create an illusion of uncertainty about humankind's contribution to climate change.