Abstract
In this chapter we introduce our module Regulating Carbon Emissions to Mitigate Climate Change, in which students learn about the geoscientific analysis that has produced our understanding of the grand challenge of global climate change and then explore how that scientific analysis informs economic analysis and political decision-making in the United States. The module includes 4+ weeks of activity-based instruction within seven units that may be implemented in part or in whole. As with all InTeGrate-developed materials, this curriculum was piloted at three separate institutions and underwent revision both before and after the pilot. Highlights of the module are summarized and include a mix of pedagogical techniques including a climate-economics modeling, a role-playing game, and a unique format of summative writing assignment. Student attitudinal data was encouraging: almost all of the students surveyed stated that they became more engaged and aware of environmental issues after instruction.
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Acknowledgments
We are grateful for all of the help and support we received from the InTeGrate team throughout the process of developing these materials. In addition to facilitating the development of the module, the InTeGrate process taught us about research-based teaching strategies that have improved our own teaching. We are especially thankful for John Taber’s support as our editorial lead. In addition, Monica Bruckner’s technical support was invaluable. We are also indebted to Stuart Birnbaum and Aida Awad for their post-pilot review of our materials, two anonymous reviewers for their pre-pilot review, and two anonymous reviewers for their review of this manuscript.
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Penny, S.M., Smyth, R., Sethi, G., Leibensperger, E., Gervich, C., Batur, P. (2019). Interdisciplinary and Topical in the Science Classroom: Regulating Carbon Emissions to Mitigate Climate Change. In: Gosselin, D., Egger, A., Taber, J. (eds) Interdisciplinary Teaching About Earth and the Environment for a Sustainable Future. AESS Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies and Sciences Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03273-9_7
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