Geology for Global Development are involved in an international project on Sustainable Resource Development of the Himalaya (see www.gfgd.org/projects/himalayas2014), which will cumulate in the delivery of a students’ programme in Ladakh, India, in June 2014. The programme will include lessons on resources, climate, earthquakes and landslides. GfGD have particular responsibility for delivering the landslide part of the teaching programme.
The course will be delivered to 120 students from a marquee in a school playground overshadowed by the Himalayan mountains – a spectacular backdrop to discuss mountain processes and landslide events. We hope to develop a teaching plan that is as interactive as possible, and does not rely on access to projector facilities. Rather than have the teachers stand in front of slides, we hope to use large posters that students can gather round and discuss together. The posters will then be left behind with the schools to display for future students to benefit from.
We aim to take out four A1 posters with is to Ladakh, covering key topics
1 What is a hazard, and when does a hazard result in a disaster?
2 Introduction to landslides (classifications, how do they work)
3 Landslide triggers (both natural and anthropogenic)
4 Impact of landslides and managing the risk
We are offering the opportunity to members of our network to volunteer to make one of the posters. This could be a group or an individual activity. The posters should contain lots of images and only simple text – just like a good conference poster should, but aimed at younger students. GfGD will arrange for printing.
The material covered on the poster must be culturally appropriate, and suitable for 12-16 year old students in Ladakh, India. More information on Ladakhi culture and demographics can be found in Katharine Sherratt’s report on our website.
The teaching programme we deliver will provide vital education for students in a landslide-prone, mountainous region, helping them to understand and manage the hazards they face. Ladakh has a unique and diverse population, and is home to some of the world’s most threatened tribes. Many communities are isolated and highly vulnerable. Any ideas submitted will be used to teach young people from many schools across the Ladakh region, including members of the nomadic Changpa tribe. We hope to maximise the reach and impact of this work, by using effective, clear posters for teaching.
Taking part in this opportunity offers the student:
- An opportunity to make a valuable contribution to the fight against global poverty, helping to get appropriate information included within a hazards education programme.
- The opportunity to state on their CV that they have helped to produced a poster with Geology for Global Development.
- Practice at making effective posters to communicate science – a vital academic skill
- In addition, all those who contribute to this project through the development of a poster will be invited to a special seminar and drinks reception in the summer of 2014, after the completion of this project.
If you would like to make one of the posters, please contact Rosalie Tostevin, GfGD Himalayas Programme Officer [rosalie@gfgd.org]. More details can be provided upon request.
