Earth Week x Astrobites 2022

How can you transfer your (astro)physical skills for broader climate advocacy work?

UPDATE 04/25/22: Thank you all for your support. We learned so much and are so glad to have been able to share this with you. All posts and event recordings/recaps have been updated here. Please add us ([email protected]) to your contacts so you receive future communications from us. Check your emails for a wrap-up email including a feedback form! Lots of love from the Climate Change team here at Astrobites! 🌍 🌎 🌏

We are so excited for our first ever Earth Week x Astrobites event. Everything you need to know about our 2022 Earth Week events, posts, and recordings can be found here. Use the hashtag #EarthWeekxAstrobites2022!

If you would like to receive information about the events and zoom links, please RSVP here.

Program summary for Earth Week x 2022 with dates and times for each scheduled event. Please feel free to distribute this flyer to anyone interested! These events are free for all to attend.

Event Program

Bringing Climate to the Classroom

with Dr. Kathryn Williamson and Dr. Travis Rector
Tuesday, April 19 // 4–5 pm EDT (8:00 UTC)

How can we effectively introduce climate change concepts in K–12 classes and introductory astronomy courses? Learn and chat with our experts about how they have successfully brought the climate conversation to their classrooms and how astronomy’s perspective can help our communities.

Comparative Planetology as a Catalyst for Climate Conversation

with Dr. David Grinspoon
Thursday, April 21 // 2–4 pm EDT (6:00-8:00 pm UTC)

How can we apply our analysis of other planets and their atmospheres to climate change here on Earth? Come to this workshop and learn how your astrophysical skills (e.g. radiative transfer, modeling, data analysis) can be directly applied to climate studies.

Astro/Physicists in Climate Work:
Transferring Astro-skills to Climate Advocacy

with several expert panelists (listed below)
Friday, April 22 // 11:30 am EDT (3:30 pm UTC)

How can you apply all the skills you have gained as a scientific researcher to climate advocacy work? Come talk to our panelists who span a wide range of fields to see the different ways you can apply your specific skills to help save our Earth.

Featuring panelists:
Dr. Gabriele Betancourt-Martinez, Dr. Sydney Chamberlin, Dr. David Grinspoon, Dr. Kirsten Hall, Dr. Tanya Harrison, Dr. Colin Hill, and Nora Paul-Schultz

Posts

Here is a compilation of all the posts from our first ever Earth Week event! Note: We will continue to update as posts are published.

  1. Earth Week x Astrobites 2022: Introducing our speakers!
    Get to know our panelists and supporters who use their astrophysics/planetary science backgrounds doing climate work every day here.
  2. Earth Week x Astrobites 2022: Astronomy and Climate Change, A New Hope?
    Astronomy has not been the most environmentally friendly science out there, but have there also been some good things astronomy brought to aid in the climate crisis? Read more here.
  3. Earth Week x Astrobites 2022: Interviewing Dr. Kathryn Williamson & Dr. Travis Rector
    An exclusive interview with Dr. Kathryn Williamson and Dr. Travis Rector who hosted our first event on how to start climate change conversations through astronomy education. What got them started, how do they deal with eco-anxiety, and what they wish they knew? Read more here.
  4. Earth Week x Astrobites 2022: “Bringing Climate to the Classroom” Recap
    A summary of our first event: “Bringing Climate to the Classroom” given by our speakers Dr. Kathryn Williamson and Dr. Travis Rector. How can we utilize our roles as astronomers to engage students in climate conversation? Learn more here.
  5. The Insidious Environmental Impact of Astronomy Observatories
    Constructing and operating astronomical observatories at our current pace is unsustainable. Learn why here.
  6. Earth Week x Astrobites 2022: Interviewing Dr. David Grinspoon
    We talk to Dr. David Grinspoon, comparative planetologist, author, the inaugural Chair of Astrobiology at the Library of Congress, and the host of our second event: “Comparative Planetology as a Catalyst for Climate Conversation.” Learn about his diverse experiences and how he applies them to climate studies here.
  7. Earth Week x Astrobites 2022: “Comparative Planetology as a Catalyst for Climate Conversation” Recap
    A rundown of our second event: “Comparative Planetology as a Catalyst for Climate Conversation” given by Dr. David Grinspoon. How can Venus, Mars and Titan help us improve our climate models? Find out here.
  8. Earth Week x Astrobites 2022: “Astro/Physicists in Climate Work Panel” Recap
    A recap of the final event, our panel on “Astro/Physicists in Climate Work: Transferring Astro-skills to Climate Advocacy.” How do professional astronomers and physicists use their skills in climate and environmental spaces? Check it out here.

Recordings

Session 1: “Bringing Climate to the Classroom” with Dr. Kathryn Williamson and Dr. Travis Rector
Video and closed captioning text.

Session 2: “Comparative Planetology as a Catalyst for Climate Conversation” with Dr. David Grinspoon
Video and closed captioning text.

Session 3: “Astro/Physicists in Climate Work: Transferring Astro-skills to Climate Advocacy” (panel)
Video and closed captioning text.

Learn more about our Climate Change Series. We’d love to hear what you would like to see from this initiative – if you have ideas, please let us know in this google form.