Wilmarie: Why we need Climate Change Literacy?

     ​After the Paris agreement had been adopted, I was hoping 2016 be more optimistic regarding Climate Change. However, this has started in the wrong way so far. One of the few positive things was Leonardo Dicaprio’s acceptance speech, last Sunday during the Oscars.

​     I started this academic year participating in the American Meteorological Society (AMS) Meeting. I was extremely surprised that still there are scientists who believe that Climate Change is due to natural causes. It was a small portion, but then I could understand why the public perception of climate change is still debatable. Last month, I participated in the American Association for the Advancement in Science (AAAS) Meeting, in which I took a Science Communication Workshop. Typically, I feel confident explaining my research and Climate Change topics to the general audience. However, during the workshop, I realized that I still need to decrease my explanation level and try to personalize it, depending the audience interest and without compromise people’s intelligence.

     ​​One of the conclusions is that teachers are not getting enough training in climate sciences, so the authors from the study suggest a continuing education. As one of the co-authors says “The Science is moving forward in ways that the education system has not caught them up with.” Also, the study states that some teachers are being influenced by the politicization of the subject outside of school, especially their political affiliation. Most of the leading Republican Presidential candidates have questioned the human role in global warming. (Today being the Super Tuesday and living in Texas, this is even more frustrated and painful.) The data from the study suggest, “…for political or cultural conservatives, simply offering teachers more traditional science education may not lead to better classroom practice.” The study also recommends helping teachers navigate the controversy surrounding the climate change issues. 

     ​In summary, I am trying show you why we need to promote climate change literacy, the main purpose of this program in which I was honored to participate. As the American Chemical Society (ACS) stated in their Climate Change Position Statement: Climate change education for the public is essential to inform rational personal choices, either formal or informal way. Nevertheless, we need Science Communication to empower our future leaders.

Sources:
http://science.sciencemag.org/content/351/6274/664
http://blogs.agu.org/wildwildscience/2016/02/13/political-belief-masquerading-as-a-science-class/
http://insideclimatenews.org/news/11022016/science-teachers-are-teaching-climate-change-not-always-correctly-education-global-warming
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/02/11/how-teachers-are-getting-it-wrong-on-climate-change/