Program on the Environment

We are moving into a world where our society and our planet have been deeply impacted by climate change. The consequences of our changing climate are not felt evenly, due to a variety of social factors. This prompts the need for a just transition into our new world, with a key part of this transition being through education and ensuring that education gives students the opportunity to learn about power and place as it relates to climate change. It is important for educators and students to empathize and consider the needs of others in order to enhance student motivation and connection to local climate impacts and contexts. The purpose of this study was to determine the most effective aspects of a justice centered climate curriculum. To accomplish this, I worked with the Climate Impacts Group (CIG) to evaluate the pilot year of their Science Justice Summer School program offered to graduate students interested in learning more about climate justice and how to integrate climate justice principles into their respective fields. Findings from my evaluation tools indicated high student appreciation for immersive learning activities, including discussions with guest speakers, field trips, and collaborative activities. By creating an interactive learning environment where participants had the opportunity to learn within a variety of different contexts, students were able to empathize and understand climate justice not only through their own personal lens, but also through the contexts of others.