" Explore the future through modeling, reading, and discussion in an open-ended seminar! Our fields of interest will include changes in science and technology, culture and lifestyles, and dominant paradigms and societies."

In recent years, the redistribution of risk has created conditions for natural and technological disasters to become more widespread, more difficult to manage, and more discriminatory in their effects. Policy and planning decision-makers frequently focus on the impact that human settlement patterns, land use decisions, and risky technologies can have on vulnerable populations. However, to ensure safety and promote equity, they also must be familiar with the social and political dynamics that are present at each stage of the disaster management cycle. Therefore, this course will provide students with: 1) An understanding of the breadth of factors that give rise to disaster vulnerability; and 2) A foundation for assessing and managing the social and political processes associated with disaster policy and planning.

CK-12 Earth Science For High School covers the study of Earth - its minerals and energy resources, processes inside and on its surface, its past, water, weather and climate, the environment and human actions, and astronomy.

CK-12 Earth Science For Middle School covers the study of Earth - its minerals and energy resources, processes inside and on its surface, its past, water, weather and climate, the environment and human actions, and astronomy.

A student work booklet for students aiming to achieve higher levels in the year. This booklet is designed to be used in the Energy and Sustainability topic from Exploring Science. Contains some 'British' example which would need to be adapted for American students.

A survey of how America has become the world's largest consumer of energy. Explores American history from the perspective of energy and its relationship to politics, diplomacy, the economy, science and technology, labor, culture, and the environment. Topics include muscle and water power in early America, coal and the Industrial Revolution, electrification, energy consumption in the home, oil and US foreign policy, automobiles and suburbanization, nuclear power, OPEC and the 70's energy crisis, global warming, and possible paths for the future.

This course explores the proper role of government in the regulation of the environment. It will help students develop the tools to estimate the costs and benefits of environmental regulations. These tools will be used to evaluate a series of current policy questions, including: Should air and water pollution regulations be tightened or loosened? What are the costs of climate change in the U.S. and abroad? Is there a "Race to the Bottom" in environmental regulation? What is "sustainable development"? How do environmental problems differ in developing countries? Are we running out of oil and other natural resources? Should we be more energy efficient? To gain real world experience, the course is scheduled to include a visit to the MIT cogeneration plant. We will also do an in-class simulation of an air pollution emissions market.

Species extinction is happening at an alarming rate according to scientists. In this lesson, students are asked to consider why extinction is a problem that we should concern us. They are taught that destruction of habitat is the main reason many species are threatened. The lesson explores ways that engineers can help save endangered species.

This course provides students with a scientific foundation of anthropogenic climate change and an introduction to climate models. It focuses on fundamental physical processes that shape climate (e.g. solar variability, orbital mechanics, greenhouse gases, atmospheric and oceanic circulation, and volcanic and soil aerosols) and on evidence for past and present climate change. During the course they discuss material consequences of climate change, including sea level change, variations in precipitation, vegetation, storminess, and the incidence of disease. This course also examines the science behind mitigation and adaptation proposals.

Frameworks and Models for Technology and Policy students explore perspectives in the policy process -- agenda setting, problem definition, framing the terms of debate, formulation and analysis of options, implementation and evaluation of policy outcomes using frameworks including economics and markets, law, and business and management. Methods include cost/benefit analysis, probabilistic risk assessment, and system dynamics. Exercises for Technology and Policy students include developing skills to work on the interface between technology and societal issues; simulation exercises; case studies; and group projects that illustrate issues involving multiple stakeholders with different value structures, high levels of uncertainty, multiple levels of complexity; and value trade-offs that are characteristic of engineering systems. Emphasis on negotiation, team building and group dynamics, and management of multiple actors and leadership. This course explores perspectives in the policy process - agenda setting, problem definition, framing the terms of debate, formulation and analysis of options, implementation and evaluation of policy outcomes using frameworks including economics and markets, law, and business and management. Methods include cost/benefit analysis, probabilistic risk assessment, and system dynamics. Exercises include developing skills to work on the interface between technology and societal issues; simulation exercises; case studies; and group projects that illustrate issues involving multiple stakeholders with different value structures, high levels of uncertainty, multiple levels of complexity; and value trade-offs that are characteristic of engineering systems. Emphasis on negotiation, team building and group dynamics, and management of multiple actors and leadership.

Scientists have provided extensive evidence that the climate is changing. However, the way that this evidence has been presented by some sources has been inaccurate or misleading. In these activities, students will investigate the evidence of climate change based on the “10 Signs of a Warming World” infographic from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), evaluate the reliability of sources of information, and make their own conclusions based on the evidence.

Climate change is occurring because more of the Sun’s energy that reaches Earth is being trapped by our atmosphere. In these activities, students will learn about Earth’s energy balance so that in later activities they will be able to explain how human activities have altered this balance and evaluate how these changes have led to an increase in global temperature and the subsequent consequences of global warming.

Climate change is occurring because the amounts of carbon dioxide and other “greenhouse” gases in the atmosphere are increasing. In these activities, students will learn about The Carbon Cycle so that in a later lesson they will be able to explain how human activities have altered The Carbon Cycle and evaluate how these changes have led to an increase in global temperature and the subsequent consequences of global warming.

In these activities, students will evaluate data to provide evidence to support the claim that “Human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, are adding more CO2 to the atmosphere. This is enhancing the greenhouse effect, trapping more heat and causing global temperatures to rise.”

A warming climate alters patterns of air movement and precipitation, causing an increased frequency of some extreme weather events. In these activities, students will analyze data on the frequency of severe weather events, evaluate the impacts, and propose solutions to help mitigate them.

Increases in CO2 in the atmosphere and warming global temperatures are having a significant impact on the chemistry, temperature, volume, and circulation patterns in bodies of water. In this set of activities, students will investigate these changes and evaluate their potential impacts.

The geographic range of a plant or animal species is determined by its environmental requirements – the conditions it needs to survive and reproduce. These conditions include abiotic variables, such as temperature, precipitation, and nutrients, as well as the presence of certain other species with whom the species shares important interactions. Climate change can result in shifts in all these things and can lead to an area that was once ideal for a species to become uninhabitable for them. However, it can also create new areas that meet the species needs that didn’t used to before. These changes result in shifting species ranges over time. These shifts can have a variety of impacts on ecosystems. In these activities, students will investigate these potential impacts.

As the global temperature continues to rise due to climate change, the timing of life cycle events might by disrupted in ways that affect ecosystems. In these activities, students will analyze data on the timing of life cycle events and predict possible impacts.

Climate prediction models help us to understand how the Earth's climate is changing over time and how it might change in the future. By predicting the potential impacts of climate change, we can prepare for and adapt to these changes. Accurate climate predictions can help inform policymakers about the potential consequences of their decisions and develop strategies for mitigating and adapting to climate change. In these activities, students work with simple climate prediction models.

Climate prediction models help us to understand how the Earth's climate is changing over time and how it might change in the future. By predicting the potential impacts of climate change, we can prepare for and adapt to these changes. Accurate climate predictions can help inform policymakers about the potential consequences of their decisions and develop strategies for mitigating and adapting to climate change. In these activities, students work with simple climate prediction models.