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Science Teachers for Climate Awareness (SciTCA)
Latest News, Teacher Action, Conference Papers, Documents by the IPCC and national Science bodies, Teaching Resources, What can I do to help
Teacher Action on Climate Change
Science teachers have the knowledge base to understand climate change and the communication skills to explain it. We can be an important factor in increasing the community’s understanding of this most crucial issue.
The AIP (Vic Branch) Education Committee has established an initiative "Science Teachers for Climate Awareness" (SciTCA). The purpose of which is to raise the awareness of the voting public, starting with your teaching colleagues at your school, and then the parent body, and other community groups.
Latest Postings
Presentations from VCE Science Teachers conferences Feb 2013.
The following are the presentations from the VCE Physics, Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Science conferences February 2013.
Type | Filename | Filesize | |
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Keith Burrows Renewable Energy presentation at the VCE Science Conferences Feb 2013STAVCON 2012 |
16.4 MB | |
A presentation on why and how Australia can go to 100% renewable energy within a decade. Workshop A6 from the Physics Teachers' Conference. | |||
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Keith Burrows Climate Science presentation at the VCE Science Conferences Feb 2013STAVCON 2012 |
13.5 MB | |
A description of the science of climate change. Session B12 at the Physics Teachers' Conference. | |||
CONASTA and STAVCON 2012: Keith's presentations
The following presentations were given at CONASTA and STAVCON 2012 as indicated. The Renewable energy presentation given at Stavcon was an updated version of the Conasta one.
The sheet 'Climate Science - How do we decide' is also available in colour pdf format below.
Type | Filename | Filesize | |
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455 kB | ||
A two page document outlining basic climate science. This is aimed at the general reader who may have heard that "the science is not settled" and wants to know why we need to take urgent action to curb emissions. | |||
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Keith Burrows presentation: Climate Science & Science Teachers at Conasta 2012 |
20.3 MB | |
How and why science teachers could play a key role in helping everyone understand the climate problem. | |||
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Keith Burrows presentation: "Can the world move to renewable energy in time?" at Stavcon 2012 |
17.2 MB | |
Can the world move to renewable energy in time to avoid a climate catastrophe? YES! But the question is will we? | |||
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24.3 MB | ||
A description of the science of climate change | |||
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Keith Burrows Climate Science INTRODUCTION only presentation at STAVCON 2012 |
6.28 MB | |
This is just the first part of the Climate Science presentation dealing with some recent climate news and some 'denier' reaction to it. | |||
SciTCA Climate Change Workshops
The SciTCA Committee has developed a package of a selection of PowerPoint presentations, booklets and information sheets. It also organises Climate Change workshops on this material. There have been five workshops so far. We are planning another for March next year 2013. Watch this space!
The presentations from the last SciTCA workshop, Climate Change for Science Teachers on 2 April 2012 are available for download from the box below. If you are interested in more on the BZE Zero Carbon Australia Plan you could look at 'Can the world move to renewable energy in time?' above - or click on this link to go to the Beyond Zero Emissions website
Type | Filename | Filesize | |
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Links to websites referred to in the SciTCA Workshop 2 April 2012 |
164 kB | |
A document containing links to various websites referred to at the SciTCA Workshop. This document will be updated from time to time. This version 3 April 2012 | |||
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2.22 MB | ||
This is Dr Graeme Pearman's presentation from the SciTCA workshop 2 April 2012 | |||
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Changes in Weather and Climate Extremes, Prof Neville Nicholls |
5.66 MB | |
This is Prof Neville Nicholls's presentation from the SciTCA workshop 2 April 2012 | |||
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A Sustainable Energy Plan for Australia, Prof Peter Seligman |
7.37 MB | |
This is Prof Peter Seligman's presentation from the SciTCA workshop 2 April 2012 | |||
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5.77 MB | ||
The slides from Keith's looping power point from the SciTCA workshop 2 April 2012 | |||
To access materials from past workshops and conferences, see below for recent events or click here.for more
Department of Climate Change responds to Plimer's "Expelled" book
At the beginning of this year the IPA sent copies of Ian Plimer's very misleading book How to get expelled from school to all schools. It seems to have mostly died a well deserved death, but if it is still in your school library perhaps a copy of a recent document published by the Australian Government Department of Climate Change: "Accurate Answers to Professor Plimer’s 101 Climate Change Science Questions" should be placed with it. Click on this link to go to the Department's web page to download this document as well as some other good summaries of basic climate science from AAS, CSIRO etc.
STCA Workshop 19th March 2011
Type | Filename | Filesize | |
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2.19 MB | ||
Dr Graeme Pearman's presentation at the March 19 Science Teacher's Climate Change workshop | |||
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435 kB | ||
Dr Graeme Pearman's presentation on Pricing Carbon at the STCA Workshop 19 March 2011 | |||
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4.01 MB | ||
Keith Burrows' presentation on the bad way in which climate action is often reported | |||
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11.2 MB | ||
Keith Burrows presentation on ways in which we can move to 100% renewable energy. Largely focuses on the Beyond Zero Emissions - Zero Carbon Australia plan available from the Beyond Zero Emissions link below. | |||
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8.8 MB | ||
This is the presentation given by Dan O'Keeffe, AIP (Vic Branch) Education Committee. It is the same one listed on the next page as 'AIP Power Point' | |||
Discussion papers
Type | Filename | Filesize | |
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35.3 kB | ||
The AIP (Vic Branch) Education Committee is concerned about the level of understanding by the community of the likely causes and implications of climate change and it feels that science teachers are well placed to address these concerns. This discussion paper considers possible roles that this web page, the Committee and science teachers in general could play. The Committee welcomes comment, discussion and feedback. These can be sent to the chair of the Committee, in 'Contact Us' at the top of the page. | |||
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977 kB | ||
A presentation on the claims of climate deniers. A typical presentation by climate denier Leon Ashby is considered and shown to be very misleading. His arguments are similar to most denier claims and so it is not necessary to have seen his particular document. | |||
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6.24 MB | ||
What do we say to climate 'sceptics'? This presentation suggests some answers to this question. It is important to remember the basic reasons for concern and not get too tangled in the confusion that deniers find it so easy to create. See also 'Could Climate Sceptics be Right?' in the next group. KB | |||
Physics Teachers' Conference Papers
Type | Filename | Filesize | |
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7.71 MB | ||
A presentation on the physics of climate change from the sessions by Keith Burrows at the Physics Conference 2009. This is aimed at senior students but could be adapted to younger students by leaving out the more advanced slides. | |||
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848 kB | ||
A six page document outlining the basic science of the climate. It looks at the way the climate has changed in the past and the possible implications of our addition of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Keith Burrows | |||
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5.63 MB | ||
Presentation from all VCE science teachers conferences Feb 2011 on why we need science teachers to get involved in talking about climate change in the community. Keith Burrows AIP (Vic Branch) education Committee. | |||
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8.66 MB | ||
A presentation described at the STAV Feb 2010 teachers conferences by Keith Burrows AIP (Vic Branch) education Committee. | |||
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15.3 MB | ||
This is a presentation used at STAVCON 2009 and at the Feb 2010 teachers conferences by Keith Burrows on climate change sceptics. It contains answers to common climate denier arguments. It will be updated from time to time to deal with recent issues. | |||
Documents by the IPCC and international and national Science bodies
The Australian Academy of Science's comments on the Joint science academies' statement: Climate change adaptation and the transition to a low carbon society
"The Australian Academy of Science notes the statement on climate change by the academies of science for the G8+5 countries. Although the Australian Academy was not involved in the drafting of the statement because it is not a member of this group, we do endorse the concerns expressed in the statement. As recently summarised by the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the increases in global average temperature and sea level are unambiguous and are almost certainly primarily due to greenhouse gas emissions."
Joint science academies’ statement: Global response to climate change (June 2005)
The national science academies of the G8 nations and Brazil, China and India, three of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases in the developing world, have signed a statement on the global response to climate change. This link is to the web page of the Royal Society, where the document can be accessed as well as their press release. June 2005.
Joint science academies’ statement: Energy Sustainability and Security (June 2006)
G8 countries bear a special responsibility for the current high level of energy consumption, and should play a leading role in assuring global energy sustainability and security. The national science academies of the G8 nations and Brazil, China, India and South Africa, have signed a statement on this issue. This link is to a web page of the Royal Society which contains the report as well as their press release. (June 2006)
AAAS Statement on Climate Change
The Board of the American Association for the Advancement of Science issued this one page statement on Climate Change in December 2006.
AAAS Conference on Communicating and Learning about Climate Change
The AAAS held a conference for teachers, students, learners and communicators in Feb 2007. This link includes: a video on Climate Change and Human Well Being; An Abbreviated Guide for Teaching Climate Change; Opening remarks (video and ppt)and the video, ppt and pdf of presentations on 'Understanding climate science', 'In search of solutions', 'Profitable climate solutions', 'Cuting carbon emissions' and 'Teaching future innovators'.
Global Warming: Facts and Our Future
An extensive resource by the Science Museum of the US National Academy of Sciences. It includes IT activities, classroom activities as well as explanatory material on 'The Greenhouse Effect, 'Carbon Cycle', 'Causes of Change', 'Past Change', 'Predicted Change', 'Impacts of Change' and 'Responses to Change'.
Climate Change 2007: The Synthesis Report by the IPCC
An executive summary of the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (November 2007)
Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. The IPCC
The summary for Policy makers of the second of four 2007 reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (April 2007) (16 pages)
Confronting Climate Change: Avoiding the unmanageable and managing the unavoidable
The Executive Summary of the report by the Scientific Expert Group Report on Climate Change and Sustainable Development for for the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (12 pages)
Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science basis. The IPCC
The first of four 2007 reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (February 2007) (21 pages)
Sir David King video "Climate Change: State of Urgency: the Science, the Impacts and Maintaining a Growing Economy"
This is the web page of the Press Room of the AAAS. Go down to 'Events' and select 'video of Sir David King's presentation' for streaming video. The presentation goes for 1 hr 21 min. Sir David is the chief UK Scientific advisor and co-author of the book 'The Hot Topic: How to tackle global warming and still keep the lights on'.
The imperatives for Action from the Science of Climate Change
Text of of a speech by Sir David King, chief UK scientific advisor, to the AAAS in February 2004. (7 pages)
Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA)
The website of ACIA, an international project of the Arctic Council and the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC), to evaluate and synthesize knowledge on climate variability, climate change, and increased ultraviolet radiation and their consequences. The results of the assessment were released at the ACIA International Scientific Symposium held in Reykjavik, Iceland in November 2004. The site has links to the 140 page synthesis report "Impacts of a Warming Arctic", as well as the Scientific Report and the Policy Report.
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
The website of AGU. For their position statement on Climate Change go to the bottom of the page and select 'Science & Policy', then 'Position Statements'. If you type in 'Climate Change' in the search box at the top right of the home page, you get an extensive selection of their papers that give a comprehensive analysis of the research.
Climate change science misinformation
An article by Prof David Karoly, University of Melbourne and IPCC leader, published on the ABC's 'Unleashed' website, that identifies the falsehoods about climate change that regularly appear in some sections of the media.
Joint science academies’ statement: Climate change adaptation and transition to a low carbon society (June 2008)
The national science academies of the G8 nations and Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa have signed a statement on climate change adaptation and the transition to a low carbon society. Adaptation is necessary if the worst impacts of climate change, now and in the future, are to be alleviated. Mitigation and adaptation can complement each other and if pursued together can significantly reduce the risks of climate change impacts. This link is to a web page of the Royal Society which contains the report as well as their press release. (June 2008)
The Royal Society: Climate Change resources
This site has an extesniove range of resources on the categories of 'Climate Science', 'Facts and fictions about climate change', 'Global climate change policy', all their 'policy statements and reports' on climate change, 'Personal views on climate change by some prominent members of the Royal Society' and 'Climate change controversies: a simple guide' which outlines and rebuts common misleading arguments.
RealClimate: Climate science from climate scientists
A useful feature of the website is the 'Start Here' section. Select this and it displsys the following headings: 'For complete beginners', 'Those with some knowledge', 'Informed but need more detail', 'Informed but seeking serious discussion of common contrarian talking points'. Each of these has several links on offer.
Australian Bureau of Meteorology: Climate Change
"I expect climate change to affect all Australians. It is the Bureau's responsibility to provide decision makers and the general public with accurate observations and information about our changing climate." Dr. Geoff Love, Director of Meteorology The website has sections on 'Climate variability and change' for both Australia and the globe, 'Observing Australian Climate Change' and 'Future Australian Climate Change'.
Teaching Resources
Capturing the Greenhouse gang
A "NOVA - Science in the News" web page published by the Australian Academy of Science. a detailed introductory page is supported by sections on 'Key text', 'Activities', 'Glossary', 'Further reading' and 'Useful sites'.
The Stabilization Wedge game
The game is a hands-on learning tool that helps students learn the impacts of different strategies for reducing greenhouse gases. 16 pages of background notes, instructions, lesson plans and worksheets.
Communicating and Learning about Climate Change
An Abbreviated Guide for Teaching Climate Change, from Project 2061 at AAAS. (32 pages). Project 2061 is a US 'Science Frameworks' style project. The guide shows how Climate Change fits in with Project 2061. The concept maps, particularly the latter ones are quite useful.
Video: Communicating and Learning About Global Climate Change
This link is to the web page of the Press Room of the AAAS. Go down to 'AAAS Resources for Teachers' and select 'AAAS Climate Change Movie' for streaming video. The video runs for 12 min. It can also be downloaded.
What can I do to help
Carbon Footprint Calculator for Students
This website by 'Zerofootprint' has a simple to use carbon calculator available in several languages. International comparisons of CO2 use are also available. There is a resources link for teachers and parents.
Top 50 Things To Do To Stop Global Warming
A list compiled by "GlobalWarming-Facts.info". Most are the usual suggestions, but ther may be a few that are unfamiliar. The link is also on the AAAS site.
CO2 emissions calculator
A calculstor from the US National Academy of Sciences. A range of personal and national actions that could be taken to reduce CO2 emissions are displayed. You can pick one or more to see its effect on total emissions in the United States.