Transcript 1212_EdLiteracyN-G - Yale Climate Connections

Improving Climate Literacy
A State Climatologist’s Perspective
John Nielsen-Gammon
Texas A&M University
Texas State Climatologist
I am a climate
literacy heretic.
False climate change
statements
• The Earth gets its heat from volcanoes.
False climate change
statements
• Summer is warm because the Earth is
closer to the Sun in the summer.
False climate change
statements
• The Ice Ages were so cold because ice
reflects incoming solar radiation.
False climate change
statements
• Storms like Sandy will become more
frequent because of climate change.
Scientists evaluate the source
“On the Internet, nobody knows you’re a dog.”
SCIENTIFIC META-LITERACY
• Where we get our scientific knowledge
• What makes some of it reliable
• How to tell the difference
SCIENTIFIC META-LITERACY
XKCD.com
This was their last chance…
BE, IN PERCEPTION AND
REALITY, A RELIABLE
APOLITICAL SOURCE OF
CLIMATE INFORMATION.
Summary
• Barrier: politicization
• Misconception: perceived need for
climate literacy, or scientific literacy in
general
• Progress:
– Teach scientific meta-literacy
– Become a recognized trustworthy
source…and stay that way!