AMS and Second Nature Announce 2nd Annual AMS Climate Studies Course Implementation Workshop for MSI Faculty

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 11, 2012
Contact: Ulli Klein, 617-722-0036 ext. 206, uklein@secondnature.org

American Meteorological Society and Second Nature Announce 2nd Annual
AMS Climate Studies Course Implementation Workshop for MSI Faculty

BOSTON,MA—As part of its Climate Studies Diversity Project, the American Meteorological Society (AMS) has partnered with Second Nature, lead supporting organization of the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), to introduce the AMS Climate Studies course at 100 minority-serving institutions (MSIs) over a five-year period.

AMS is now enrolling 25 MSI faculty members to attend the next expenses-paid Course Implementation Workshop. The 2013 event will take place in Washington, DC from May 19-24, 2013. The 2013 AMS Climate Studies Diversity Project informational website and application form are now available online. Deadline for application is March 15, 2013.

Faculty members representing 28 MSIs attended the inaugural Course Implementation Workshop in May 2012 and began introducing the climate course at their local institutions this fall. "Valuable information was gained from speakers presenting research methods and evidence for climate change, interpreting the evidence, evidence for global warming and the politics of global warming," reported Larry McAdam, Professor of Physical Sciences at Seminole State College, who participated in the 2012 workshop.

With a focus on climate change and sustainability-related topics, the May 2013 workshop will feature presentations from climate scientists at NOAA, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Howard University, George Mason University, James Madison University, and other DC-area educational and research institutions. Participating faculty will learn how to offer AMS Climate Studies and be trained as local climate education leaders. They will be invited to the January 2014 AMS Annual Meeting in Atlanta, GA, to report on their course implementation progress. Program funding is provided through the National Science Foundation Opportunities for Enhancing Diversity in the Geosciences Award #1107968.

AMS and Second Nature strongly encourage current and prospective ACUPCC signatories to apply for the program. The AMS Climate Studies Course Implementation Workshop helps signatories fulfill the curriculum component of their Climate Action Plan by introducing or enhancing sustainability-focused curricula. The 2012 cohort included nine signatory MSIs: California State University Monterey Bay, Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Jones County Junior College, Monroe Community College, Morgan State University, New Mexico St University - Grants Campus, New Mexico State University, and South Mountain Community College.

The broader impact of the program will include producing a large network of trained faculty, expanding course offerings at MSIs, and introducing thousands of students to the geosciences. The AMS Climate Studies Diversity Project follows a successful program model in which faculty at more than 170 MSIs have offered similarly structured AMS Weather and Ocean courses to nearly 20,000 MSI students.

For questions and more information regarding the 2013 AMS Climate Studies Diversity Project, please contact Elizabeth Mills, Associate Director, AMS Education Program, via phone at 800-824-0405 or emailonlineclimate@ametsoc.org.

About the American Meteorological Society: 
AMS is a scientific and professional society headquartered in Boston, with its Education Program located in Washington, DC. The Society promotes the development and dissemination of information and education on the atmospheric and related oceanic and hydrological sciences and the advancement of their professional applications in service to society. Founded in 1919, AMS has a membership of more than 14,000 professionals, students, and weather enthusiasts. AMS publishes nine leading refereed journals, sponsors more than 12 conferences annually, and offers numerous program and services. For more information, visit www.ametsoc.org.

About Second Nature:
Second Nature works to create a healthy, just, and sustainable society beginning with the transformation of higher education. Second Nature is the support organization of the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment, an intensive partnership among more than 650 colleges and universities to accelerate education, research, and community engagement to equip society to re-stabilize the earth's climate while setting an example by eliminating net greenhouse gas emissions from their own operations. Learn more at www.secondnature.org and www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org.

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Publication Date: 
Thursday, October 11, 2012