The EGU’s Geosciences Information for Teachers (GIFT) programme offers teachers attending the conference the opportunity to hone their Earth science skills. The General Assembly workshop is one of GIFT’s most important activities of the year, combining talks on current research with hands-on activities presented by educators. What’s more, scientists can also come to the sessions – here’s what’s in store…
The theme of this year’s GIFT workshop (EOS1) is Our Changing Planet – a topic that explores the impact humans are having on the environment, particularly the impacts related to climate change. Featuring talks by leading IPCC scientists, the workshop will focus on the outcomes of the IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report, and will kick off with a discussion of the physical science basis of climate change from Thomas Stocker (at 8:45 in G10). This is followed by two great talks on the information ice cores reveal about climate – by Thomas Blunier, from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and Valérie Masson-Delmotte, from the Laboratory of Climate Science and Environment, France. This is just a taster though – you can find out more about the workshop here.
Our Changing Planet – the theme of this year’s GIFT workshop.
During tomorrow’s GIFT poster session (EOS2, 17:30-19:00 / Blue Posters) teachers from across Europe will be presenting their tried and tested best practice for teaching geoscience. This is an excellent opportunity to get to grips with the methods teachers use in the classroom, so you can apply them to your research when you’re doing public engagement. You can also use the session to get inspiration for practical activities to do with the public by talking directly to the teachers and benefiting from their experience. By attending, you are also helping share your own scientific knowledge with the teachers, enhancing their experience of the GIFT workshop and providing them with more first-hand knowledge to take back to their classrooms.
The workshop series will be taking place from now until Wednesday, 30 April. To find out more, take a look at the workshop programme.
Meltwater from Switzerland’s Trift Glacier. (Credit: Romain Schläppy via imaggeo.egu.eu)
Finally, films on the topic of climate change and our changing planet will be screened at GeoCinema during the GIFT lunch breaks – head on over to B12, or take a look at the GeoCinema schedule to see what’s on!
