FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 25, 2013
Contact: Anne Waple, awaple@secondnature.org
American Meteorological Society and Second Nature Announce 3rd 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) is partnering with Second Nature, the 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 event will take place in Washington, DC from May 18-23, 2014. The 2014 AMS Climate Studies Diversity Project informational website and application form are available online. The deadline for application is March 14, 2014.
Faculty members representing 52 MSIs attended Course Implementation Workshops in May 2012 and May 2013, and are introducing the climate course at their local institutions. A faculty member from the 2013 cohort reported, “This was a very impressive and excellent workshop/meeting to advance climate studies.” Another stated, “This climate studies workshop was by far the most useful and professionally valuable conference I have ever attended.”
With a focus on climate change and sustainability-related topics, the May 2014 workshop will feature presentations from highly regarded climate scientists from the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Howard University, George Mason University, and other DC-area institutions. Participating faculty will learn how to offer AMS Climate Studies and receive training to become leaders in climate education. They will also be invited to the January 2015 AMS Annual Meeting in Phoenix, AZ 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 2014 Workshop. 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. “We hope all MSIs of the ACUPCC will take advantage of this unique training opportunity that is empowering MSI faculty members to champion climate commitments on their campus and prepare future graduates to address the climate crisis of the 21st century,” stated Ashka Naik, Director of ACUPCC Initiatives. The 2013 cohort included 12 signatory MSIs, adding to the 9 signatories in the 2012 group.
The broader impact of the program includes 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 builds on highly-successful, NSF-supported diversity projects for AMS Weather and Ocean courses conducted from 2001-2008. Together, the three AMS courses have reached 210 MSIs and nearly 100,000 students.
For questions and more information regarding the 2014 AMS Climate Studies Diversity Project, please contact Elizabeth Mills, Associate Director, AMS Education Program, via phone at 800-824-0405 or email onlineclimate@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 & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), a partnership among more than 670 colleges and universities in every state and the District of Columbia who have committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare students through research and education to solve the challenge of the 21st century. Learn more at www.secondnature.org and www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org.
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