Using the AAAS Project 2061 Atlas of Science Literacy to Develop Weather and Climate Literacy
Climate Literacy in the United States was the topic for the Framework for Climate & Weather Education Workshop held in Washington, DC, at the Department of Commerce, April 11-13, 2007. Supported through a NOAA Education Grant, the workshop brought together over twenty individuals representing various federal agencies, formal and informal educators, non-governmental organizations, and other vested institutions involved with climate research, education and outreach to work together towards the goal of building of a framework for climate and weather literacy, building on the research and science and technology education benchmarks developed by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Project 2061.

The workshop developed the initial framework through an iterative process rooted in scientific research, including education and social research, on weather and climate related topics. Conducted as an initial step with broad community involvement toward the development of a robust conceptual framework that will help address misconceptions about weather processes, the workshop focused on natural as well as human-induced climate processes, the workshop sought to identify the key and essential concepts that a climate literate citizen or student should know.

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Project 2061, http://www.project2061.org/, assisted in facilitating the workshop, providing research-based references, such as their publications “Science for All Americans,” “Benchmarks for Science Literacy,” and the “Atlas for Science Literacy, Volumes 1 and 2.” Drawing upon experience from prior AAAS Atlas workshops, the effort was customized specifically for developing a framework to begin establishing essential principles and fundamental principles for climate literacy.

This workshop was inspired and informed by the Ocean Literacy project conducted in recent years by a collaboration between NOAA, National Geographic Society, the National Marine Educators Association, the College of Exploration and others, resulting in a brochure which has been used by educators and policy makers to promote ocean literacy: (http://www.coexploration.org/oceanliteracy/documents/OceanLitChart.pdf). This product was discussed during the climate literacy workshop as a possible model for the current work.

Breakout groups worked on specific tasks, then gathered with all the workshop participants to discuss issues and refine the work of the small groups. Results of discussions were recorded in flipcharts and worksheets, and then further refined in subsequent sessions.

A core group agreed to continue to pursue developing the envisioned climate literacy product after the end of the workshop. Broader participation by other agencies, non-governmental organizations, and individuals will be sought. The possibility of a follow-up workshop in the fall of 2007, possibly in Boulder, is being considered. Meanwhile, the development of the fundamental climate principles will be continued via online resources, email, and other contacts over the summer. All draft and final reports will be posted at NOAA’s Climate Program Office’s Education site, http://www.climate.noaa.gov/education/.

For further information contact Frank Niepold at frank.niepold@noaa.gov or Mark McCaffrey at mark.mccaffrey@colorado.edu

For additional information on Project 2061, contact Ted Willard or visit http://www.project2061.org/