Climate Change Mind Map part of Curriculum for the Bioregion:Activities

Determining Energy Efficiency: A Lab Activity part of Curriculum for the Bioregion:Activities
Students determine the energy efficiency of different methods of heating substances in the lab and then assess the economic and environmental costs.

Research Project on Pollutants in Sacrifice Zones for Chemistry Courses: The Role of Industry, Governments, Local Communities, and Scientists part of Curriculum for the Bioregion:Activities
Students learn about "Sacrifice Zones" in the United States, where neighboring communities are exposed to disproportionately high concentrations of toxic air pollutants, with a focus on petrochemicals. They learn about the health effects, as well as how communities impacted by the petrochemical industry can effect change and how scientists can act as allies. Students research a sacrifice zone and present it to the class, then post what they learned on social media.

Systems Thinking and Civic Engagement for Climate Justice in General Chemistry: CO2 and PM 2.5 Pollution from Coal Combustion part of Curriculum for the Bioregion:Activities
Students apply chemistry to a climate justice case study using a systems thinking perspective in class and discuss the connections between chemistry and climate justice in a conversation with a community outside of the classroom for civic engagement. The instructor offers formative feedback during class time and in response to discussion posts. Feedback is meant to build understanding and application of concepts important to learning chemistry within a systems thinking context and using civic engagement to communicate how chemistry relates to climate justice.

Climate Justice and Health Impacts of Methane (so-called Natural Gas) in General or Introductory Chemistry part of Curriculum for the Bioregion:Activities
In this activity, students explore the chemical forms of methane (CH4), learn about the various sources and uses of methane, and gain knowledge of human health impacts and the disproportionate impact of extraction pollution on poor and racialized communities. They also connect the social justice impacts of methane to methane chemistry and exercises in the classroom.

Carbon Dioxide Birthday part of Curriculum for the Bioregion:Activities

Threading Climate Justice, an Equity Ethic, and Systems Thinking Through a General Chemistry Course part of Curriculum for the Bioregion:Activities
Using a series of case studies incorporated into lectures, activities, and laboratory sessions, I thread climate justice throughout the first quarter of General Chemistry. Case studies highlight social justice issues exacerbated by the climate crisis, which humanizes abstract chemistry content and engages students with an equity ethic. For some case studies, students use systems thinking to identify the compositions and phases of matter present in real-world environments and contexts.

Environmental Justice in Tacoma: A Non-Majors Qualitative Assessment of Pollution and Public Policy in the Local Community part of Curriculum for the Bioregion:Activities
This activity is designed to get non-environmental majors to qualitatively examine their own community for evidence of environmental injustice. Using a mix of evidence from online sources (U.S. Census, EnviroMapper, Toxic Release Inventory, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, etc.) and field observations, student groups describe the population and pollution sources found within an assigned elementary school district in Tacoma.

Particulate Matter Impact on the Lungs and on Communities part of Curriculum for the Bioregion:Activities
Students apply biology to a case study about the disproportionate effects of particulate matter pollution on people living in historically redlined areas. These issues are introduced with a scientific paper and popular news articles, after which students explore United States Environmental Protection Agency pollutant data and maps of historically redlined areas in a free online ArcGIS app. Students use what they have learned to talk with a family member or friend about these issues and to devise an action plan for protecting themselves and their communities from particulate matter pollution during wildfire smoke events.

Is The Water Safe for Aquatic Life? part of Curriculum for the Bioregion:Activities
In this field activity students ponder sustainability issues such as point and non-point sources of pollution (including personal contributions), impacts of pollution, and potential mitigations.