Climate Justice in Your Classroom
Alexandra Anderson-Frey, University of Washington
Brittany Johnson, University of Washington
Mikelle Nuwer, University of Washington
Luanne Thompson, University of Washington
Alex Turner, University of Washington
Miriam Bertram, University of Washington
Madeline Brooks, University of Washington
Issac Olson, University of Washington
Heather Price, North Seattle College
Alex Turner, University of Washington
Copyright Year:
Publisher: University of Washington
Language: English
Formats Available
Conditions of Use
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
CC BY-NC-SA
Reviews
This book is a resource for educators. I really liked how EDI focused they are and the wide range of topics. I found so much value including COVID examples. read more
Reviewed by Shanell Sanchez, Associate Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Southern Oregon University on 2/26/24
Comprehensiveness
This book is a resource for educators. I really liked how EDI focused they are and the wide range of topics. I found so much value including COVID examples.
Content Accuracy
Absolutely accurate!
Relevance/Longevity
Up to date, even as recent as COVID. I can easily update.
Clarity
This is written as an instructor resource and activities that are relevant for our students in upper division courses.
Consistency
Yes, it uses recent terms and allows for explanation where needed.
Modularity
Since this is more a resource with activities, absolutely!
Organization/Structure/Flow
It is organized exactly how they tell you it will be.
Interface
I LOVE the interface! It is easy to use and not something that would distract.
Grammatical Errors
I did not see any issues.
Cultural Relevance
EDI focus is stated at the beginning and shown throughout the book.
This book is as described in the subtitle: “Weaving climate, environmental justice and civic engagement into your courses.” It does not stand alone as a resource, and is not very comprehensive in the subjects it covers. The book includes five... read more
Reviewed by Brittany Blomberg, Affiliate Faculty, Metropolitan State University of Denver on 10/20/23
Comprehensiveness
This book is as described in the subtitle: “Weaving climate, environmental justice and civic engagement into your courses.” It does not stand alone as a resource, and is not very comprehensive in the subjects it covers. The book includes five lesson plans focusing on various subjects.
Content Accuracy
Appears accurate and unbiased.
Relevance/Longevity
The lesson plans are pretty specific in the scenarios they present. They could be relevant to a variety of courses. Many references to online supplements (some including links, some without); I worry some of these supplements may be harder to find after some time.
Clarity
I personally found it a bit much to follow.
Consistency
Each lesson plan is written by a different author(s), and thus is slightly different in its organization and thoroughness of content. Some lesson plans reference online supplements, but do not include links.
Modularity
The text is very modular, with each lesson plan standing alone.
Organization/Structure/Flow
For the most part, the text has an overall structure that each module attempts to align with. However, I don’t think it was as successful as it could be in terms of organization. While I appreciate the use of color in trying to organize and differentiate the lesson plan components, I don’t think it worked as intended.
Interface
Figures and text are clear.
Grammatical Errors
I did not notice any grammatical errors that obstruct understanding of the text. In some of the lesson plans, I find the overuse of bullet points can make the content less clear.
Cultural Relevance
Broad range of cultural relevance, including examination of impacts on different races and ethnicities.
CommentsThis text could be a helpful supplement for many earth science courses. It would serve primarily as an idea base for in-class activities, which is helpful. I appreciate the effort to weave together natural and social sciences, and think this text will be helpful for integrating environmental justice discussions and activities in the classroom.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Examining Air Quality Inequity in Major US Cities During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Exploring Links Between Agroforestry, Food Security, and Land Sovereignty
- Understanding the Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Shellfish and Reliant Communities in the Pacific Northwest
- Unequal Impacts: Justice at the Intersection of Risk and Exposure to Severe Weather Threat
- Exploring Issues of Coastal Climate Justice Through Haikus
About the Book
As the inequitable impacts of climate change become more evident and destructive, it is essential for climate and environmental justice, as well as methods of civic engagement, to be taught at a high-level to college-level students. This book provides real examples of how professors at the University of Washington integrated these critical issues into their teachings, both in targeted lessons and as throughlines across an entire course. These samples of how environmental and climate justice have been successfully integrated into higher-level education can serve as both a record of the UW's progress towards centering JEDI at the heart of all students, and as a model for future instructors to use as they work to incorporate more aspects of justice and engagement into their own material.
About the Contributors
Authors
Dr. Anderson-Frey is an atmospheric scientist who focuses on mesoscale meteorology and the study of severe storms. Her course focuses on the intersection between severe storms, climate change, and societal vulnerability.
Dr. Johnson is a soil scientist and plant ecologist interested in the interactions between climate and ecosystem function. Her work focuses on restorative soil management, and moving towards sustainable systems and communities for the future.
Dr. Nuwer is currently the co-chair of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) committee for the School of Oceanography, and discusses the importance of shellfish aquaculture in the ABOUT THE EDITORS AND CONTRIBUTORS vii vii Pacific Northwest and how changing ocean conditions are threatening the success of the industry and the communities that rely on them as a resource.
Dr. Thompson uses oceanic dynamics to understand climate variability and change. She uses climate models and satellite observations to untangle the role the ocean plays in moving and storing heat and chemicals in the climate system, and has been involved in interdisciplinary collaborations that address the challenges climate change will bring to natural and human systems.
Dr. Turner is an atmospheric scientist focusing on climate and air quality, and specifically, greenhouse gases. He is particularly interested in problems at the intersection of atmospheric chemistry and the carbon cycle, such as understanding how changes in the chemical composition of our atmosphere affect the cycling of carbon from greenhouse gases.
Editors
Dr. Miriam Bertram, University of Washington
Madeline Brooks, University of Washington
Issac Olson, University of Washington
Dr. Heather Price, North Seattle College
Dr. Alex Turner, University of Washington