Paul Smith's College faculty member leading the charge on climate change education in the United States
Paul Smiths, NY (01/26/2021) — PAUL SMITHS, NY - Dr. Joseph A. Henderson, Paul Smith's College Environment & Society faculty member, alongside Dr. K.C. Busch (NC State University), secured a $50,000 grant from the Spencer Foundation to advance climate change education research. Together, Drs. Busch and Henderson alongside Dr. Don Haas from the Paleontological Research Institution (Ithaca, NY) used the funding from the grant to organize and host the Climate Change Education Collective earlier this month, a first-ever national conference on climate change education. The digital interdisciplinary conference was held January 6 - January 8, bringing together groups of experts to advance research, policy, and practice around broad themes in climate change education research. Approximately 75 people were in attendance from all over the world, including Australia, New Zealand, Europe and Canada.
The group is primarily research based, working with partners in the federal government and the United Nations to inform policy and best practices of climate change education. The Collective is also providing research based educational programs through partnerships in both the private and public sectors, including schools, museums, science venues and even among meteorologists. "Climate change adaptation is fundamentally an educational project. It is one of the greatest threats facing our country and citizens have a right to accurate information to guide their actions. Our project provides the research basis for the rapidly expanding field of climate change education both within the United States and internationally," states Dr. Henderson.
With its location in the Adirondacks, coupled with engaging program offerings in disaster management and response, human health and the environment, and ecological restoration, Paul Smith's College is poised to be a viable leader and informational hub for climate change education. "Climate change is one of the key issues of our time," observed Provost Nicholas Hunt-Bull adding that, "I am proud that Paul Smith's College is making a contribution to scholarship on climate change, and conducting research on how people learn about this issue and work together to develop solutions."
Dr. Henderson also took part in a book collaboration last year, co-editing Teaching Climate Change in the United States, a 222-page manuscript highlighting best practices in climate change education through examination of case studies throughout the U.S. The book was published in April of 2020 by Routledge.
For more information on the project, please visit www.ccecollective.org.
About Paul Smith's College
At Paul Smith's College, it's about the experience. We are the only four-year institution of higher education in the Adirondacks. Our programs - in fields including hospitality, culinary arts, forestry, natural resources, entrepreneurship and the sciences - draw on industries and resources available in our own backyard while preparing students for successful careers anywhere. For more information, visit paulsmiths.edu.
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Sarah Wheeler / Marketing & Communications / swheeler@paulsmiths.eduShare this Story
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