How We Know What We Know about Our Changing Climate: Scientists and Kids Explore Global Warming by Lynne Cherry and Gary Braasch compiles a wide range of scientific study relating to the environment and presents the work in short vignettes.
According to author Lynne Cherry’s press release, “The book depicts scientists at work; teaches children the language, methods and process of science; imparts knowledge of technological tools and data collection; provides methods and ideas for school and home projects about weather and climate; describes and encourages participation in citizen-science programs; shows how each child can immediately reduce their carbon footprint and inspires them to do so by showing the effects of many kids working together already influencing communities to change.”
Juday, who has been a faculty member at UAF’s School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences since 1981, specializes in forest biodiversity, climate change assessment, climate change and forest growth, and old-growth forest ecology. He holds a doctorate from Oregon State University. The section of the book about his work details his involvement with rural Alaska high school students, who assisted Juday in taking tree core samples and tree growth measurements with a goal of understanding how boreal forests respond to climate change.
According to Cherry’s press release, the citizen-science projects described in the book allow students to see how they can contribute to understanding global warming and, “by seeing how scientific information leads to informed decision-making, students will understand the excitement, utility, and practical applications of careers in science.”
The book is a finalist in the AAAS/Subaru Best Science Book Award, and was named a School Library Journal’s Best Books of 2008. It won the 2008 National Parenting Publications Association Gold Award (Ages 9 to 12), the Publishers' Weekly 2008 - Green Books For Kids Selection, and the National Best Books 2008 Award/ Young Adult Education USA Booknews. It is included in the National Science Teachers Association Recommends list and was endorsed by the International Polar Year.
Further reading:
•"People on the front lines of climate change," Fairbanks Daily News-Miner article, July 25, 2008
•"Boreal Forest Biodiversity Meets Climate Change," Defenders of Wildlife conference, Washington, D.C., Sept. 27, 2007 (slide show by Glenn Juday)
1 comment:
Just around the time of the little ice age, the salmon started to disappear and according to a Tlingit story, it was one man who had the ability to listen to the message that was coming from the forests that went about and saved the salmon: that is why the salmon changes color when it returns to his grandfather's country...to remind everyone to always let some through and to listen to the trees,for the trees are just like people. I am a native storyteller from UAS, just wanted to add somee TEK to your studies. Saan'i
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