Climate Change & Alternative Energy

1. Climate Change & Alternative Energy An interdisciplinary course for chemistry and environmental science majors. Kimberly Cossey & Caralyn Zehnder, Georgia College & State University Activity #1: Media bias activity Students will read a current article and from the primary literature as well as coverage by two media sources. Students will analyze the differences and determine how the message changes. Both ENSC and CHEM majors Assessment Concept map diagramming their interpretation of how science changes as it moves through different media. Students will write a science article in the manner of a specific news media outlet (NPR, Fox, NYT, etc). Course Goals Students will be able to Evaluate bias in published data and recognize credible data sources Apply the scientific method to real world issues Recognize sources of uncertainty in data and make recommendations based upon ‘uncertain’ data Understand the role of science and scientists in the global community and be able to convey their knowledge to a non-scientific audience. www.doe.gov www.sciencedaily.com www.sciencemag.org Carbon Dioxide Models Making recommendations Uncertainty, pt 2: Variance Uncertainty activity, pt 1: Discussion / Experiments and extrapolation Activity #1: Media bias activity Research Problem Run Experiment Communicate Results Design Experiment Analyze Data www.climatechangeconnection.org Biofuels in the U.S. Transportation Sector www.eia.doe.gov/ • Activity #2 • Experimental design activity • Design an experiment that pertains to the research question, will the use of biofuel X increase or decrease net production of greenhouse gases? • CHEM Majors: Outline a method of measuring CO2 production from combustion of biofuel X. Considerations: quantitative data, limits of detection, control data, units needed to compare • ENSC Majors: Using a standard CO2 absorption experiment (with labeled 13C), Outline an experiment that measures the effect of changing a single crop variable on net CO2 production. Example variables: plant species or variety, use of fertilizer Y, • Assessment • Student proposals that contain: materials needed (with justification), type of data expected, and a hypothesis about the relationship of variables. • Rubric for proposals that assesses student coverage of the following: • Knowledge of relevant literature, sufficient control of outside variables, data from experiment is relevant to research question, reasonable expected relationship of variables. Analyzing data activity Analyze data from the 1o literature • Georgia College & State University • (GCSU) • Public Liberal Arts University • Part of the USG • 5319 undergraduates, 94% In-state1 • 46 majors and 18 graduate degrees • Course Description and Student Data • Upper-level seminar/lecture course focusing on research methods and skills used to solve interdisciplinary problems; content focus will be biofuels, greenhouse gases, and climate change. • Separate sections for each major, with possibility for cross-over and shared projects • ENSC Majors (Zehnder): Seniors, capstone • All majors are required to fulfill a capstone requirement their senior year. • CHEM Majors (Cossey): Juniors & seniors, elective course • All majors must have at least one semester of research to graduate • Chem Scholars program provides an opportunity to join a research group Freshman year and includes money for research and travel • 1 Data taken from fall semester, 2007 Activity #2: Experimental design activity Communication activity Write a policy brief summarizing data and making a recommendation www.ers.usda.gov www.eia.doe.gov Acknowledgements Special Thanks to Karynne Kleine, Amy Kelley, and Julia Metzker, leaders of the Sencer Faculty Learning Community at GCSU www.oar.noaa.gov US DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Biomass Program www.scientificamerican.com