THE AMS EDUCATION PROGRAM: RAISING THE SCIENTIFIC LITERACY OF ALL STUDENTS
AMS Climate Studies explores Earth’s climate system while addressing the societal impacts relevant to today’s students and teachers. In addition, participants use the AMS Conceptual Energy Model to differentiate between climate variability and climate change. An inflatable globe brings oceanography to life in AMS Ocean Studies and helps students understand complex oceanographic principles, such as the Coriolis effect and plate tectonics. Using real-time, real-world atmospheric data, students learn about weather as it happens in AMS Weather Studies.
All three courses utilize resources from respected organizations, such as NOAA, NASA, USGCRP, and the IPCC. Course components include a textbook, investigations manual, and an optional online lab component, which instructors can use in any combination. The courses can be taught by experienced science faculty or those new to teaching the subject matter. Mentoring by AMS-trained course instructors is available.
Reaching students at minority serving institutions is a primary goal of the AMS. With support from NSF and NASA, and a partnership with Second Nature, thirty faculty members from across the U.S. participated in the first AMS Climate Studies Diversity Project in May 2012. Participants were immersed in the course materials, received presentations from high-level speakers, and were trained as change agents for their local institution. The diversity project followed the successful models of the AMS Weather Studies (2002-2007) and AMS Ocean Studies (2006-2008) Diversity Projects. Many institutions continue to offer the meteorology and oceanography courses. Subsequent workshops will be held throughout the next 3 years, targeting 100 MSIs.
The AMS is excited to bring meteorology, oceanography, and climate science course work to more students, strengthening the pathway towards advanced geoscience study and careers.