NYSG expertise is helping New York City teachers, schools and communities proactively address climate change and resiliency
Contact:
Nordica Holochuck, NYSG's Hudson Estuary Specialist, P: 845-340-3983, E: nch8@cornell.edu
New York, NY, March 4, 2019 - Climate change poses significant risks to New York City’s communities and infrastructure, including schools. New York Sea Grant (NYSG) extension is contributing its expertise with New York City-specific, science-based curriculum development to help teachers, students and communities.
In 2018, NYSG partnered with the Cornell University-affiliated Paleontological Research Institute Museum of the Earth (PRI) to promote PRI’s recently-published The Teacher-Friendly Guide to Climate Change, and to develop and deliver a professional development workshop for teachers via the New York City Department of Education STEM Institute.
The workshop focused on four areas of climate education: (1) climate science, (2) climate action and mitigation strategies, (3) climate change resilience, including the creation of emergency preparedness “go-bags” for schools and families, and (4) climate communication strategies. NYSG’s focus on resilience education included developing the climate-related go-bags, featuring information, tools and resources recommended by New York City Emergency Management.
The three-day workshop served 18 K-12 teachers from across New York City. The program included curriculum implemented in the classroom as well as field lessons at the new Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island. One participant reported, “This workshop provided numerous resources and approaches to climate change. This has allowed me to rethink how I can teach my kids what they need to know and what they can do.”
A subset of the teachers who participated in the workshop are continuing their work in 2019 with PRI.
NYSG has introduced climate-focused ‘go-bags’ to additional teachers and other traditional teaching groups in New York City and along the Hudson Estuary.
Partners:
• Paleontological Research Institute Museum of the Earth
• Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay
• Cornell Tech, Roosevelt Island
• New York City Department of Education
NYSG educator Nordica Holochuck, right, leads New York City teachers through a sea level rise visualization activity. Credit: Jason Koski/Cornell University Photography.
NYSG educators Helen Cheng, left, and Nordica Holochuck introduce climate go-bags to NYC teacher workshop participants. Credit: NYSG/Ryan Strother.
More Info: New York Sea Grant
New York Sea Grant (NYSG), a cooperative program of Cornell University
and the State University of New York (SUNY), is one of 33 university-based
programs under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s
National Sea Grant College Program.
Since 1971, NYSG has represented a statewide network of integrated
research, education and extension services promoting coastal community
economic vitality, environmental sustainability and citizen awareness
and understanding about the State’s marine and Great Lakes resources.
Through NYSG’s efforts, the combined talents of university scientists
and extension specialists help develop and transfer science-based
information to many coastal user groups—businesses and industries,
federal, state and local government decision-makers and agency managers,
educators, the media and the interested public.
The program maintains Great Lakes offices at Cornell University, SUNY
Buffalo, SUNY Oswego and the Wayne County Cooperative Extension office
in Newark. In the State's marine waters, NYSG has offices at Stony Brook
University in Long Island, Brooklyn College and Cornell Cooperative
Extension in NYC and Kingston in the Hudson Valley.
For updates on Sea Grant activities: www.nyseagrant.org has RSS, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube links. NYSG offers a free e-list sign up via www.nyseagrant.org/nycoastlines for its flagship publication, NY Coastlines/Currents, which is published quarterly. Our program also produces an occasional e-newsletter,"NOAA Sea Grant's Social Media Review," via its blog, www.nyseagrant.org/blog.
