More Like this

1. Implementing Grand Challenges: A Case Study of Implementing Innovative Curricula

   https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-024-10228-8  

   Lesnefsky, Rebecca R; Sadler, Troy D; Fortus, David (January 2025, Research in Science Education)

   In response to the growing emphasis on addressing global socio-scientific issues like climate change and viral pandemics in K-12 education, we designed three socio-scientific units for middle school science. We call this curriculum Grand Challenges (GC). The GC curriculum shifts from traditional methods to a focus on socio-scientific issues that resonate locally and globally and prepare students for future complexities. GC is a response to the evolving landscape of science education which emphasizes transformative, future-focused approaches that engage students with science content through contextualized, disciplinary practices. This study explores the implementation of the GC curriculum by two teachers, highlighting their choices and the impact on instruction. The findings reveal the crucial role of teachers in actualizing innovative curricula, the challenges of adopting new practices, and the need for robust support systems. This work contributes to understanding how to effectively integrate socio-scientific issues into science education, fostering critical thinking and global citizenship among students. 

   more » « less
2. Motivated Localism: Polarization and Public Support for Intergovernmental Carbon Reduction Efforts

   https://doi.org/10.1177/10780874221109462  

   Deslatte, Aaron (September 2023, Urban Affairs Review)

   Climate challenges in the 21st century have given rise to re-thinking the role of local governments in confronting larger-than-local challenges. However, anthropogenic climate change has become a weaponized partisan issue, and surveys show a growing partisan tribalization over climate science. Empowering local governments to take broader climate and sustainability actions is one avenue for addressing this. This study tests a localism hypothesis, which holds that citizens will be more supportive of local climate efforts when the benefits are internalized by the community. This deference to locally directed actions springs from the predisposition for decentralization of political authority widely attributed to localism, a directional goal of motivated reasoners which may feed into social identity, cohesion and shared community values. Through three survey experiments, the study finds citizens are more likely to favor continuation of local climate-related programs in the face of high performance and politicization at the federal level. 

   more » « less
3. Using Storytelling as an Approach to Researching, Teaching and Learning about Complex Community-based Socio-Scientific Problems

   Gopal, S; Honwad, S (April 2022, Annual meeting program American Educational Research Association)

   Resolving global problems (e.g., climate change) requires decision-makers who can see problems through an intersection of disciplines and perspectives, and identify the root causes of disparate and inequitable outcomes between groups. As such, there is an urgent need to develop systems-thinking skills in learners so that they are able to address the interdisciplinarity and intersectionality fundamental to complex socio- scientific challenges when acting as decision-makers. This session highlights how storytelling can be used as a pedagogical approach to building systems-thinking and collaboration skills in informal learning environments. Research presented include examples of how podcasts, graphic novels, and theatre can be used as storytelling approaches. This interactive session brings together scholars who work in community- based partnerships around North America, India, and Bhutan. 

   more » « less
4. Localized Climate Reporting by TV Weathercasters Enhances Public Understanding of Climate Change as a Local Problem: Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Experiment

   https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-19-0079.1  

   Feygina, Irina; Myers, Teresa; Placky, Bernadette; Sublette, Sean; Souza, Tammie; Toohey-Morales, John; Maibach, Edward (July 2020, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society)

   Abstract A rapidly growing number of TV weathercasters are reporting on the local implications of climate change, although little is known about the effectiveness of such communication. To test the impact of localized climate reporting, we conducted an internet-based randomized controlled experiment in which local TV news viewers (n = 1,200) from two American cities (Chicago and Miami) watched either three localized climate reports or three standard weather reports featuring a prominent TV weathercaster from their city; each of the videos was between 1 and 2 min in duration. Participants’ understanding of climate change as real, human-caused, and locally relevant was assessed with a battery of questions after watching the set of three videos. Compared to participants who watched weather reports, participants who watched climate reports became significantly more likely to 1) understand that climate change is happening, is human-caused, and is causing harm in their community; 2) feel that climate change is personally relevant and express greater concern about it; and 3) feel that they understand how climate change works and express greater interest in learning more about it. In short, our findings demonstrate that watching even a brief amount of localized climate reporting (less than 6 min) delivered by TV weathercasters helps viewers develop a more accurate understanding of global climate change as a locally and personally relevant problem, and offer strong support for this promising approach to promoting enhanced public understanding of climate change through public media. 

   more » « less
5. Interdisciplinary and inclusive approaches to mangrove and coral restoration in the U.S. Virgin Islands

   https://doi.org/10.3389/focsu.2026.1782334  

   Grace-McCaskey, Cynthia A; Stevenson, Alexandra P; Grimes, Kristin Wilson; Brandt, Marilyn; Durdall, Allie; Camacho, Chloé (April 2026, Frontiers in Ocean Sustainability)

   In this paper, we describe a community-based approach to Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), focusing on the Hull Bay Coral and Mangrove Restoration Workshop held on March 2, 2024. Designed as a collaborative platform using community-based, participatory research methods, the workshop brought together community leaders, fishers, restoration practitioners, and agency personnel to co-produce knowledge and explore culturally- responsive strategies for coral and mangrove recovery. The workshop is part of a broader interdisciplinary research agenda grounded in the co-development of NbS to address complex social-ecological challenges associated with climate change. The workshop functioned as a dynamic site of engagement and learning, where participants shared observations on coral reef and mangrove degradation, voiced concerns about existing restoration efforts, and advocated for locally-driven solutions. Key findings include participants' emphasis on the importance of ecological function (particularly fisheries habitat, shoreline protection, and ecosystem resilience) over extractive tourism-centered benefits, the desire for deeper engagement with local ecological knowledge, implementation of programs that engage younger generations, and the development of co-management frameworks that prioritize local autonomy. Using qualitative data from workshop notes, participant feedback, and thematic analysis, this study contributes to a growing body of literature calling for transformative, inclusive, and collaborative NbS. It highlights how community workshops can foster inclusive governance, empower historically underrepresented voices, generate context-specific knowledge that complements scientific approaches, and reinforces community members' sense of place and marine identity. This research demonstrates that participatory workshops are not just outreach tools but critical interventions for reimagining NbS through relational, interdisciplinary, and community-oriented lenses. As coral reefs and mangrove forests face mounting pressures from climate change, this case study offers insights into how community-grounded efforts in the USVI can inform more fair, accessible, and resilient restoration practices across the Caribbean and beyond. 

   more » « less