An eye into developing technology to measure and monitor climate change impacts was given through touring Rutgers Center for Ocean Observing Leadership labs with Professor Josh Kohut and Michael Crowley of Rutgers Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences.

Hands-on lessons on heat vulnerability and renewable energy were conducted by Dr. Brielle Kociolek and Dr. Edward Cohen of the Rutgers Center for Mathematics, Science and Computer Education.

Connections to local issues were a focus of sessions with climate and sustainability leaders working within each of the communities where the schools are located. “My kids see the impact of [Hurricane] Sandy. They see the raised houses. The empty houses because people can’t afford to fix them. They know how to relate,” said one participant.

Educators left with an action plan to not only test the climate data and resources in their own classrooms but also a plan for their school involving their local community partner that considers their community’s needs and cultures. They will come back to Rutgers in the Spring with their students to share what they have learned. A Jersey City teacher noted, “There are many avenues of inquiry students can take regarding addressing climate change at the local level, and it is in large part thanks to Rutgers for hosting the summer workshop that teachers like me are able to guide students in their endeavor.”

The workshop was a collaboration among the New Jersey Climate Change Resource Center, Rutgers Center for Mathematics Science and Computer Education, Rutgers Center for Ocean Observing Leadership, Rutgers Climate and Energy Institute, Rutgers Cooperative Extension and Rutgers Science Explorer Program.