New course offered: Climate change and my community

Course Date: June 18-22, 2018

Location: University of Alaska Fairbanks Campus and nearby field sites

Climate change influences our lives in Alaska and the changes occurring in the Arctic impact the entire planet. The Arctic & Earth SIGNs course is for educators, youth group leaders, and/or community members interested in learning more about the impacts and feedbacks of a warming Arctic, braiding multiple ways of knowing and observing climate change from their elders, from satellites, and from their own observations, and making a difference on a climate change issue important to their community. You and the youth you work with will collaborate with University of Alaska Fairbanks and NASA scientists to conduct an investigation using Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) citizen science protocols and inquiry learning methods and use these data, satellite data, and the knowledge of community elders to inform a climate change stewardship or adaptation project in the place you live. Taking this course will engage you in a project called Arctic and Earth STEM integrating GLOBE and NASA (SIGNs), which is funded through a cooperative agreement with NASA.

Who can apply? Teams of one classroom teacher or informal educator (youth group leader, etc.) and one community member or community decision maker with long-term knowledge of the land. Youth aged 18 and older are also encouraged to apply with this team.

The course application is available online.

Application Due Date: Monday, April 16, 2018

Primary Course Instructors: Dr. Elena Sparrow and Dr. Katie Spellman, UAF International Arctic Research Center; Malinda Chase, Association of Interior Native Educators and Alaska Climate Science Center / APIA