Paleontological Research Institution Launches Center for Climate Change Education
Paleontological Research Institution Launches Center for Climate Change Education
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 25, 2024
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The Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) has announced the establishment of the Center for Climate Change Education, furthering its commitment to climate and energy education. This new initiative will equip educators and the public with practical tools for addressing climate change while contributing to global mitigation efforts. The Center will produce educational resources, create museum and nature center exhibits, offer professional development for educators, and provide climate education programs designed for diverse audiences. It will also support the broader climate education community.
“Our mission is to provide and support action-oriented climate change education everywhere,” said Don Haas, PhD, Director of Teacher Programming at PRI. “We believe humanity is facing a climate emergency and education is a fundamental tool for addressing this challenge.”
The Center’s creation underscores PRI’s decades-long leadership in climate change education, including the award-winning 2017 Teacher-Friendly Guide to Climate Change. With special expertise on the geologic history of life and climates and on Earth system education, the Center will enhance PRI’s role as a key resource for educators and the public, promoting urgent action on climate change.
Along with Haas, PRI’s Climate Team includes Alexandra Moore, PhD, Senior Education Associate; Rob Ross, PhD, Associate Director for Outreach; and Ingrid Zabel, PhD, Climate Change Education Manager. The team collaborates with leading scientists such as Toby Ault, PhD (Cornell University); Ben Brown-Steiner, PhD (National Science Foundation); Louis Derry, PhD (Cornell University); and Ben Luce, PhD (Buffalo Solar Solutions, Inc.).
“The science of climate change is evolving rapidly and the Center will play a pivotal role in ensuring the public has access to accurate, up-to-date information,” added Toby Ault, PhD.
Grants from the National Science Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Park Foundation, Cornell’s Einhorn Center for Engaged Learning, a generous endowment from an anonymous donor, and contributions from hundreds of private supporters fund the Center's work
About the Paleontological Research Institution
The Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) pursues and integrates education and research, and interprets the history and systems of the Earth and its life, to increase knowledge, educate society, and encourage wise stewardship of the Earth. PRI and its two public venues for education, the Museum of the Earth and the Cayuga Nature Center, are separate from, but formally affiliated with Cornell University, and interact closely with numerous University departments in research, teaching, and public outreach.
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