Global Change Project Portal
Global change is the most pressing environmental issue of the 21st century. Global change includes climate change, biodiversity loss, ozone depletion, and other environmental changes with global impact. Global change, while relevant to every scientific field and human endeavor, is most centrally studied through Earth system science.
Through PRI's Global Change Project, we can help make sense of present and potential future change, while contrasting it with geological understanding of past global change. We provide outreach through exhibits, curriculum, presentations, professional development, website resources, and much more.
PRI's GCP is an endorsed outreach partner of the Cornell Center for a Sustainable Future.
Global Change for Teachers and Students
Museum of the Earth exhibitions, programs, and websites
PRI Global Change Publications
Global Change for Teachers and Students
Teacher Workshops
PRI will tailor workshops to help you teach about climate change past, present, and future, and about topics such as energy resources, sustainability, and biodiversity. For information contact our Director of Teacher Programs at kissel@museumoftheearth.org or 607-273-6623 x16.
Online Courses for Informal Educators
PRI hosts an online course on Global Change for informal educators (e.g., at museums, science centers, nature centers, and others) nationally and internationally. This course is one of a national series of courses supported by the Earth System Science Education Alliance. For information contact head instructor Carlyn Buckler at csb36@cornell.edu or 607-273-6623 x25, or go to the Earth System Science Informal Education Network (ESSIEN) to find out about the next offering.
4-H Educator Training
PRI is teaming up with 4-H to help students learn about the meteorology and water resources of their area, and about concepts of climate change and local impacts. The 4-H climate project is an NSF-supported project in collaboration with Cornell Cooperative Extension and Community Collaborative for Rain, Hail, and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS). Learn more about the project here and visit CoCoRaHS at CoCoRaHS.org.
If you are a 4-H educator interested in the project please contact Trisha Smrecak at smrecak@museumoftheearth.org.
Climate Change Presentations for Community Groups
PRI staff will give a presentation on climate change to your class or community group, at the Museum of the Earth or your organization''s location. Our talks focus on the paleoclimate perspective of current climate change. One of our staff provides talks on behalf of the Nashville-based Climate Project started by Al Gore. For information contact sls255@cornell.edu.
Teacher-Friendly Guides to Regional Earth Science
New resources for teachers on regional Earth science will be available in fall 2009, based on the model of the Teacher-Friendly Guide to the Geology of the Northeastern U.S., and will now have a chapter on climate and climate change. This is an NSF-funded project; for more information visit teacherfriendlyguide.org and virtualfieldwork.org.
Museum of the Earth Exhibitions, Programs, and Websites
Global Change Website
PRI''s Global Change Website provides high quality information on climate change, ozone depletion, and biodiversity. The site also has links to news and other resources on climate change.
Ithaca Journal columns Climate Change 101 and Earth 101
PRI educators guest author an article a month in the Ithaca Journal. The first set of 12 articles were on climate change, and since that time Earth 101 articles have varied from evolution to natural gas to sustainability. Some of the articles are available at the Ithaca Journal website and all of them have been reprinted in American Paleontologist.
Climate Change 101 Blog
PRI''s Climate Change 101 Blog provides up-to-date informal discussion on climate change that goes beyond what you''ll find in our Climate Change 101 articles. Contributors to the blog include Cornell Earth and Atmospheric Science students studying Earth systems.
Climate and Energy Exhibit at the Museum of the Earth
The Museum of the Earth hosts an exhibit on current climate change and energy resources in the "link gallery," the start of the permanent exhibits. The Museum of the Earth is powered in part by geothermal and wind energy. Information about admission to the Museum is available on our hours and rates webpage.
Geological History of Climate Change Exhibit at Museum of the Earth
The Museum of the Earth long-term exhibit Journey Through Time incorporates Earth system change, in particular climate change, throughout the exhibits. An exhibit dedicated specifically to climate change, both over Earth history and recently, is located in the "Quaternary World" exhibit across from the Hyde Park mastodon.
Climate Change Education in Rural Communities
Starting with our own Tompkins County, PRI is starting a project to create a traveling climate change exhibit kiosk that will provide community-relevant information in rural centers such as libraries, fairs, and community centers. At each locality PRI staff will offer an open forum to talk about concerns and issues associated with the concept of climate change and to discuss the impact of local climate change.
Earth Day
Every year, PRI and its Museum of the Earth celebrate Earth Day through public events. In April 2008 we hosted renowned environmentalist Tom Lovejoy. To learn more about what we have in store for Earth Day 2009 click here!
Climate Change talks at the Museum of the Earth
The Museum of the Earth offers a wide range of talks on history of the Earth and its life, and on climate change in particular. Speakers have included Frank DiSalvo, Director of Cornell''s Center for a Sustainable Future, and Jason Hamilton, Global Change Biologist at Ithaca College. Check out events at the MotE for upcoming speakers.
Project GreenSTEM: Green Workforce Development
Project GreenSTEM, an effort of The College of Exploration with PRI, will focus on development of educational approaches to foster improved preparation for a green technology workforce. The project will build collaborations among informal and formal educators, and focus on development of a teacher learning community to create new curricula and share best practices. The overarching objective is to achieve carbon neutrality within participants'' homes and institutions and for the grant program itself by engaging participants in the rigorous analysis of emissions and the design, implementation, and analyses of methods for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions.
PRI & Museum of the Earth Sustainability Approaches
PRI and the Museum of the Earth, in practicing what we preach, have adopted numerous sustainable practices. The Museum is powered in part through wind and geothermal energy, and all paper products are made of 100% post-recycled paper. The Museum composts as well.
Community Initiatives
Discussion Space at Museum of the Earth
The Museum of the Earth welcomes opportunities to share its classroom space with those interested in hosting discussion groups around the themes of sustainability and climate change. For example, the Museum of the Earth hosted two "Ithaca Climate Summits" to generate community discussion around synergies among numerous local groups with interests in climate and energy outreach.
Tompkins County Climate Protection Initiative (TCCPI)
TCCPI is a coalition of community leaders in Tompkins County, including those from higher education, who are seeking synergies to decrease electricity consumption for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Museum of the Earth, Tompkins County/Cornell Cooperative Extension, and others are involved in outreach and education associated with TCCPI. More information can be found here.
Links to Local Climate Change and Sustainability Initiatives
Ithaca and Tompkins County are leaders in sustainability initiatives, climate change in particular. Click here for a list of some of the major groups and initiatives.
PRI Global Change Publications
Articles from American Paleontologist
The PRI membership quarterly magazine American Paleontologist has frequent articles on climate change past and present, in particular articles from Climate Change 101. Become a member here.
Staff Research and Outreach
A number of PRI staff do research and teach post-secondary courses on history of Earth systems, including paleoclimatology. See the Research section of the Museum of the Earth website.
Climate Change Past, Present, and Future: A Very Short Guide
This booklet reviews the science of climate change, explaining what climate change is and why most scientists think it's happened and of concern. Written by PRI staff members Warren Allmon, Trisha Smrecak, and Robert Ross. Go here to order one!
Other Resources to Know About
The Global Change Project Newsletter
Check out our Global Change Project Newsletter for a roundup of the latest in evolution here at the institution and in the news!
Some outstanding online resources in the area of climate change are here.
