Syllabus: A Climate Change Toolbox
Through the study of Earth’s climate variations and how they affected human evolution and history, this course helps students judge the anomalous character of recent climate change, establish its anthropogenic nature and discuss solutions to the current climate crisis.
By Mariana Nájera '21
CLASS: ENST/ESCI 201 | The Science of Climate Change
DEPARTMENT: Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences and Environmental Sciences
Sylvia Dee is a climate scientist and an assistant professor of Earth, environmental and planetary sciences. Her course, The Science of Climate Change, introduces students to the science behind natural and anthropogenic climate change, delving into topics such as climate systems and weather phenomena. Building on her paleoclimate expertise, she teaches students what to expect from our climate futures and how to effectively engage with the human aspects of climate change.
“Every single person should walk out of here with the tools they need to explain the science, policy and economics of climate change to anybody they meet,” Dee said. “It’s such an important topic for students to be equipped to handle because it’s going to affect every single part of our lives.” Alongside lectures and comprehension assignments, students are also required to prepare for a debate with a climate change denier — played by Dee — and learn how to communicate climate science to different audiences.
“It’s important to be able to explain yourself in scenarios where the legitimacy of climate change is challenged,” said Charlotte Gidley ’24. “So many times I’ve been met with a comment I know is incorrect, like ‘global warming-schwarming, it’s so dang cold out!,’ and now I know enough about climate science to explain exactly how that’s wrong.”
While passionate about sharing the wonders of paleoclimate and atmospheric science with students from all disciplines, Dee’s primary objective is to prepare students to face the growing climate crisis. “There’s a lot of fear about climate change. There’s a lot of climate anxiety. What I try to do is teach the science so students know what is going to happen, and I also focus on solutions so students walk away knowing this is something we can fix,” Dee explained. “After all, the science is simple. The impacts are serious. But the problem is solvable.”