The Connecticut Science Center Collaborative

Connecticut is poised to become only the second state in the Union to have legislation calling for climate action on the books, and a new initiative driven by CA-CP will help insure that Connecticut residents understand global warming and what it means for this state.

More than 30 scientists and teachers representing two dozen science centers and research institutions gathered at Yale in late February to discuss how climate programs and tools can benefit science centers in Connecticut. They found out why scientists are concerned about a “shutdown” of the North Atlantic oscillation that brings warm water and temperate climate to the Northeastern US. And they dug into the Climate Change Backpack – a teaching tool developed by the New England Science Center Collaborative (NESCC) – to learn more about hands-on approaches to educating people about the reasons for and impacts of global warming.

Hosted by Clean Air - Cool Planet in cooperation with the New England Science Center Collaborative (NESCC), the meeting was “designed to introduce the collaborative to science centers in Connecticut,” explained CA-CP’s Adam Markham.

Collaborating on climate lessons…

The meeting featured two presentations on the latest climate science and an introduction to and demonstration of the NESCC’s Climate Change Backpack.

Bill Curry, director of the Ocean and Climate Change Institute at the Woods Hole Oceonographic Institution, discussed the potential for changes in ocean circulation to affect regional climate, and James Wang, an atmospheric scientist working with Environmental Defense, presented their study on impacts in Connecticut.

Bill Curry (left) and James Wang (right) present their findings to the group.

Before discussing next steps, the assembled educators pulled clothesline, mock ice cores, history, and charts and graphs from the NESCC Backpacks and enjoyed working with the various tools.

“We had very positive feedback from the group,” Markham said, “and we are now working with Richard Polonsky, NESCC founder, to meet individually with the Connecticut organizations to plan next steps.”

The “Climate Change Backpack,” a teaching tool for science educators.	Richard Polonsky (far left) working with Collaborative members

Markham noted that “a lot is happening on the climate front right now in Connecticut,” with a climate bill before the legislature and the plans underway for a statewide educational initiative.