Workshop "Why is the planet heating up?": a classroom-based approach to climate change

NADIA TESTANI; MALENA LOZADA; LEANDRO B. DÍAZ; NADIA ITZEL CASTILLO PEREZ

Conferencia; CALMet XV Conference 2023; 2023

Organización Meteorológica Mundial

Amidst the  constantly evolving landscape of climate change education, our efforts found their genesis in 2021 within the participating students of the Science Week organized by the Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences at the University of Buenos Aires. This propelled the inception of a meticulously structured workshop scheme, with the primary objective of elucidating the fundamental principles of climate change physics and unraveling its potential scenarios. Our initial focus was to empower secondary school students with a comprehensive understanding of this pressing global imperative.From these initial steps, our initiative gathered momentum, transcending the confines of Science Week to encompass a broader educational horizon. Over the course of three transformative years, we embarked on a journey of refinement, adapting our workshop to a variety of academic contexts. This culminated in the development of both the workshop itself and a corresponding webpage, both thoroughly crafted to facilitate seamless integration across diverse educational levels, particularly within university courses.The forthcoming conference presents an opportunity to disseminate our innovative workshop scheme—capturing the principles of climate change physics alongside its scenarios. Anchored within a meticulously crafted framework, the workshop unfolds across distinct phases:Exploration of Climate Change Indicators and Impacts: Participants engage in an in-depth exploration of various indicators and observed impacts attributed to climate change.Climate Change Scenarios: A prospective examination of climate scenarios unfolds, revealing the intricate interplay between present actions and future trajectories. To facilitate this, we have developed an interactive exploration employing the dynamic web simulator: C-Roads.Exposition of Climate Change Inequities: The Carbon Map emerges as a powerful instrument, casting a spotlight on and dissecting the inherent inequities within the realm of climate change.Discussion around Collective Actions: Culminating the workshop, dynamic deliberations catalyze actionable steps spanning diverse scales, fostering a collective commitment to initiate meaningful change.Our accompanying webpage stands as a guiding light, elucidating the intricate flow of the workshop while serving as a comprehensive repository of indispensable resources.In light of our dedicated efforts, we eagerly anticipate the occasion to share our extensive resources and insights, thereby nurturing an engaged interaction with students. Central to our initiative is the spirit of active participation, fostering interactions that are not only instructive but also profoundly engaging. It is noteworthy that the incorporation of cutting-edge information and communication technologies (ICTs) infuses dynamism and innovation into the educational experience.As we stand on the cusp of this impending conference, we find ourselves poised to contribute to the ongoing narrative of climate education—a narrative characterized by active participation and pioneering innovation.