University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Global Warming/Climate Change Project
A Survey of Middle & High School Students
Student Researchers
Mahmoud Ahmed, Drew Christensen,
Elora Leene, Wesley Meives and Daniel Putman
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Eric Jamelske
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Overview
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Background
Past Research
Motivation
Survey and Sample
Results
Questions/Discussion
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Just the Facts
Anthropogenic
Climate
Change
is
REAL!
http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/publications_ipcc_fourth_assessment_report_synthesis_report.htm
IPCC – AR4: A State of the Planet Report
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“Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from
observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow
and ice and rising global average sea level.”
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“Global atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide have increased
markedly as a result of human activities since 1750 and now far exceed pre-industrial values
determined from ice cores spanning many thousands of years.”
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“There is very high confidence that the net effect of human
activities since 1750 has been one of warming.”
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Advances since the TAR show that discernible human influences extend beyond average temperature
to other aspects of climate. Anthropogenic warming over the last three decades has likely had a
discernible influence at the global scale on observed changes in many physical and biological systems.
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Anthropogenic warming and sea level rise would continue for centuries due to the time scales
associated with climate processes and feedbacks, even if GHG concentrations were to be stabilized.
http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/publications_ipcc_fourth_assessment_report_synthesis_report.htm
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Scientific Consensus on Climate Change
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“Reviews of scientific literature and surveys of climate scientists
indicate striking agreement, anthropogenic GHG have been
responsible for “most” of the ‘unequivocal’ warming of the Earth’s
average global temperature over the second half of the 20th century.”
- Anderegg et al. (2010)
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“Despite claims sometimes made by some groups that there is not
good evidence that Earth's climate is being affected by human
activities, the scientific community is in overwhelming agreement
that such evidence is clear and persuasive.”
- Oreskes (2004)
“With all of the hysteria, all of the fear, all of
the phony science, could it be that man-made
global warming is the greatest hoax ever
perpetrated on the American people? It sure
sounds like it.” 12/28/2003
Why Didn't the U.S.
Sign the Kyoto Treaty?
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Much of the reason that the US Senate failed to ratify the Kyoto
Protocol was due to lobbying efforts by right-wing groups
including conservative foundations, think tanks, media, and public
intellectuals (Dunlap et al., 2008).
http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/convkp/kpeng.pdf
“President Obama promised to begin to slow
the rise of the oceans… And to heal the
planet… My promise is to help you and your
family.” 8/30/2012
“More droughts and floods and wildfires are not
a joke….My plan will continue to reduce the
carbon pollution that is heating our planet.
Because climate change is not a hoax.” 9/6/2012
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
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Pew Research Center (2008)
Dunlap and McCright (2008)
Feldman et al. (2010)
Rabe and Borick (2010)
Villar and Krosnik. (2010)
Leiserowitz et al. (2011)
Previous Research
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Majority of Americans believe climate change/global warming is
real, but less support for anthropogenic causes
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Confusion about science and disengagement from policy, there is a
political divide
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Previous Research
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Jamelske, Barrett and Boulter (2012a, 2012b)
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US college students similar to other research findings
– Confused about science, disengaged from policy and divided
politically, the economy is a priority
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By comparison, Chinese college students much more aware and
concerned by every measure regarding climate change/global
warming issues, environment and economy of equal importance
“A flash point has emerged in American science
education that echoes the battle over evolution, as
scientists and educators report mounting
resistance to the study of man-made climate
change in middle and high schools.”
“Although scientific evidence increasingly
shows that fossil fuel consumption has
caused the climate to change rapidly, the
issue has grown so politicized that
skepticism of the broad scientific consensus
has seeped into classrooms.”
Tribune Washington Bureau, Sacramento Bee, 1/17/2012
Our Survey
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What do middle/high school children think about global warming?
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Is global warming happening?
Is it anthropogenic?
Level of risk/concern?
What does science say?
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What are the impacts?
Sources of learning/information?
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Yale/George Mason Project on Climate Change Communication*
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Our Sample
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545 middle and high school students from Western Wisconsin
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Convenience sample, university connections, science classes
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Sample size varies due to non-response on some questions
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Initial Statement
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Recently, you may have noticed that global warming has been
getting some attention in the news. Global warming refers to the
idea that the world’s average temperature has been increasing
over the past 150 years, may be increasing more in the future, and
the world’s climate may change as a result
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Results
A Preliminary
Look at the Data…
Is
Global Warming
Happening?
What is
Causing
Global Warming?
Is
Global Warming
Happening?
What is
Causing
Global Warming?
Is
Global Warming
Happening?
(View of Science)
What is
Causing
Global Warming?
(View of Science)
Is
Global Warming
Happening?
(View of Science)
What is
Causing
Global Warming?
(View of Science)
How Concerned
Are You About
Global Warming?
How Much Risk
of Harm Does
Global Warming
Pose to Humans ?
Comparing Responses by Grade
Comparing Responses by Grade
Comparing Responses by Grade
What Are the Three Most Important Issues for Society?
What Are the Three Most Important Environmental Issues for Society?
Comparing Responses by Grade
(% YES) What Events Have Been Affected by Global Warming?
P < 0.01, Grades 8, 9, 10
P < 0.01, Grades 8, 9, 10
P < 0.01, Grades 8, 9, 10
Hurricane Sandy!
Hurricane Sandy!
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Will Climate Change Get Some Respect Now?
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"You can't say any one single event is reflective of climate change,"
William Solecki, the co-chairman of the New York City Panel on
Climate Change, told me. "But it's illustrative of the conditions and
events and scenarios that we expect with climate change."
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“In that sense, whatever its causes, Sandy offers a window into the
way ahead.”
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“The storm took 55 lives in the U.S., and initial estimates of
damages and losses run in the range of $30 to $50 billion.”
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Conservatives Use
"Snowmageddon"
to Mock
Global Warming
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"In reality, winter snows do not invalidate the reality that the planet
just experienced the hottest decade on record. Scientists have been
warning for decades that global warming would increase the severity
of winter storms."
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Is Climate Change
Causing This Drought?
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“The best single reference on this
topic is the Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change (IPCC).”
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“Droughts have multiple causes. The US has suffered worse
droughts in the past. It’s not yet clear whether we’ve reached the
point where global warming is making droughts worse again, at least
in North America. But evidence suggests that droughts will become
more intense in many parts of the world if the planet keeps heating
up — a trend that could disrupt the world’s food supply.”
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
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“The Arctic is warming
even faster than other parts
of the planet, and the
rapidly melting ice is
causing alarm among
scientists about sea-level
rise. In northeastern
Greenland, average yearly
temperature have risen 4.5
degrees in the past 15
years, and scientists predict
the area could warm by 14
to 21 degrees by the end of
the century.”
A Melting
Greenland
Weighs Perils
Against Potential
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Where Have You Learned About Global Warming?
Where Have You Learned About Global Warming?
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Where Have You
Learned About Global Warming?
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School: Statistically Significant, many more 9th and 10th graders
say they have learned a lot about global warming in school
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Television: Not Statistically Significant, but more 6th and 7th
graders say they have learned a lot about global warming from TV
What About
Girls vs. Boys?
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
What About Girls vs. Boys?
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
What’s Next?
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Future Work
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More surveys across grades 6 - 12
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Student focus groups
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Science teacher surveys and focus groups
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More thorough analysis
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Our CHILDREN are our FUTURE!
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Future Work
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What should schools teach about climate change?
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When should our children be taught about change?
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Who will determine the curriculum?
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National Center for Science Education
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Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences
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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Questions/Discussion