The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Smithsonian and multiple other federal agencies have combined their efforts to seek suggestions to update a key climate literacy guide.
NOAA is seeking input to update the guide, titled "Climate Literacy: The Essential Principles of Climate Science," as part of the U.S. Global Change Research Program, according to a March 23 news release. The guide has been widely used by educators, policymakers and scientists, both in the U.S. and internationally, but it was last updated in 2009. Suggestions on structure, topics and content are being sought to bring it up to date.
“The climate literacy guide is an essential reference for communities across the country. Its strength emanates from the diversity of communities that contribute perspectives to it," Frank Niepold, NOAA senior climate education program manager, said in the release. "We need a significant public response to ensure we create the best, most impactful update to the guide. We urge your feedback and input.”
The last guide was produced by 18 federal agencies and departments, in collaboration with several science and education organizations, seeking to provide a framework for understanding the fundamental principles and skills for climate literacy. The guide helped form national education standards in many states, and the agencies hope the latest version will provide a contemporary understanding of climate science and its implications, the release added.
"Climate literacy is inherently transdisciplinary and affects us on both a local and global scale. The Smithsonian is pleased to collaborate with NOAA and other federal partners as we collect feedback from users of the Climate Literacy guide from across the nation and world," Carol O'Donnell, co-lead of the project, director of the Smithsonian Science Education Center and member of the InterAcademy Partnership Science Education Global Council, said in the release.
Comments can be submitted electronically on the USGCRP's website until 11:59 P.M. ET May 31, the release added.
