Contributed Session.
Lead Organizer: Brittany Schieler, Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (bmschieler@gmail.com)
Co-organizers:
Janelle Layton, Oregon State University (janelle.layton@oregonstate.edu)
Presentations
09:00 AM
Forecasting ice-out in inland lakes (9738)
Primary Presenter: John Downing, University of Minnesota (downing@d.umn.edu)
Ice-out on lakes marks the end of winter sports and the start of the open-water recreational season. Thus, the duration of ice cover is economically and culturally important to diverse segments of society. Across Minnesota’s 14,000+ lakes, before 2000, ice-out was fairly predictable from an observed historical ice-out date plus or minus about a week. In the last few decades, however, climate change has led to regional interannual differences of around 70 days between early and late ice-out. This is equivalent to nearly doubling the effective ice-free season. Forecasting ice-out date is important to business and industry because a poor forecast can lead to huge losses in supplies and inventory that spell the difference between profit and catastrophic losses. In this study we used a large historic database of observed ice-out dates coupled with sequential seasonal regression analysis to provide forecasts of ice-out as much as three months in advance of ice loss. The forecasts are based on lake size, latitude as a proxy for albedo, and cumulative freezing and thawing degree days measured at nearby airport weather stations. This is combined with a real-time Leaflet mapping application that uses JavaScript to pull daily climate data from the Applied Climate Information System (ACIS) Web Services JSON feed. This tool provides real-time forecast updates for fixed locations across Minnesota. These estimates serve as increasingly accurate forecasts that are widely used by the public.
09:15 AM
Using Children’s Books to Engage Age 6-10 Youth in Climate Solutions (9386)
Primary Presenter: Melissa Roberts, UMASS BOSTON (melissa.roberts003@umb.edu)
Stories provide access for early elementary school students to understand scientific components of climate change while simultaneously engaging them as agents of change within their communities. Climate-based picture books provide a safe space to express their visions and hope for their future while also expressing their fears and anxieties. In this way, a wide diversity of young children can feel welcome, included, and appreciated in future climate change adaptation development and acceptance. -a family or classroom For example, a book entitled A STUDENT’S GUIDE TO PLANNING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE has been written, illustrated, and submitted for publication. K-3 curriculum has been written to utilize this book in 45 minute learning experiences. We have found that children are engaged and eager to learn more. They learn that it takes a community, including themselves, and a variety of experts to provide a foundation for a transdisciplinary approach to problem solving and resilience in the face of climate change.
09:30 AM
An Analysis of North Atlantic Right Whale News Coverage (9457)
Primary Presenter: Amadi Afua Sefah-Twerefour, University of South Carolina (School of the Earth, Ocean and the Environment) (staamadi@seoe.sc.edu)
The critically endangered North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis; NARW) feeds and breeds along the coast of the US and Canada, exposing it to high threats of vessel strikes and fishing gear entanglements. In an era of climate change, rapid and unexpected oceanographic shifts are causing right whales to change their distribution. As right whales use novel habitats or change the seasonal patterns in their traditional habitats, their exposure to these threats increases. Since effective NARW protective measures largely hinge on public and stakeholder collective support and action, the role of news coverage is critical. This study builds and analyzes a database of news articles published from 2000-2022 collected using LexisNexis, a news-scraping research software, and analyzes the spatial, temporal, and thematic patterns of NARW news coverage and policy trends along the NARW habitat range years prior to and in response to the 2017 NARW unusual mortality event. Preliminary results from the 5 years currently under analysis depict some valuable results for characterizing public exposure to NARW issues. From observed initial patterns, news coverage is higher in Canada relative to the USA. Most news coverage focuses on policy developments and critiques, followed by updates to the NARW population status. Geographic patterns in news coverage of vessel strikes and entanglements do not align well with the location where these injuries and mortalities occurred, suggesting that news agencies may prefer to highlight distant issues rather than cultivate blame for local threats. The news media is a prominent force that shapes public opinion and, consequently, environmental policies and public action. This study gives insight into how science communication may influence policy development and threat mitigation for this critically endangered species.
09:45 AM
Inspiring Ocean Stewardship: The Aquarium of the Pacific VolunTEENs program (9649)
Primary Presenter: Jahlen Pinelo, Aquarium of the Pacific (Jahlenpi@gmail.com)
Adolescents play a crucial role in the future of marine biology and conservation science. The Aquarium of the Pacific’s VolunTEENs program offers teen volunteers the chance to connect with guests, interact with aquarium staff, and gain hands-on experience in conservation and science communication. As part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) program, the aquarium fosters a deep commitment to conservation and stewardship. In summer 2024, the program achieved a milestone with its largest cohort yet, consisting of 130 teens who contributed 7,800 hours of service. The program is free and open to 14-16 year old teens in the Southern California area. It runs for 10 weeks in the fall, spring and summer. The teens receive training to educate guests about organisms that are designated SAFE species using rolling carts. The purpose of these carts is to inspire stewardship amongst guests and educate about at-risk animals and ecosystems. The themes of the carts are subject to change but this year included: Sea Jelly cart, Kelp forest cart, Pollinator cart, Coral cart, Sharks and Rays cart, Abalone cart, and Sea turtle cart. Along with carts, the teens also used “BioFacts,” such as stuffed animals, frog noise makers, and replicas of biological artifacts. They were also trained to communicate with guests at exhibits, galleries and touch pools. At the end of the program, teens are required to create a final project highlighting their experience and what they’ve learned during the program. This project can be an art piece, poem, piece of music etc. Reworked in 2022, the VolunTEENs program allows teen volunteers to interact with marine conservation topics and practice public speaking skills by engaging with hundreds of guests per day. The goal of this program is to give teens the tools to increase their confidence in public speaking, empower them to be ocean stewards, and to forge long lasting friendships. This presentation will showcase the VolunTEEN program through their carts, examples of VolunTEEN experiences through teen speeches, and teen final projects.
10:00 AM
INCORPORATING SCIENCE COMMUNICATION TRAINING INTO UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE COURSES THROUGH INTERACTIVE, EXPERIENTIAL MODULES (9548)
Primary Presenter: Bradley Tolar, University of North Carolina Wilmington (tolarb@uncw.edu)
Science Communication (or “SciComm”) includes a diversity of practices and methods of conveying scientific ideas, research, and knowledge to non-expert audiences. In the face of growing public mistrust in science, it is increasingly important that scientists and trainees develop their SciComm skills. Beyond communication with the public, SciComm skills are increasingly necessary in our interconnected society, making excellent written and oral communication skills a baseline requirement for employment. Applicants who have such skills – and can explain complex topics in a simple, relatable, and understandable manner – have a competitive edge on the job market and can empower others to be inspired and/or take action. Additionally, a need and desire for SciComm training was identified nearly a decade ago as part of the EcoDAS XI program (Hundey et al., 2016, L&O Bulletin). With these ideas and recommendations in mind – alongside inspiration from a professional science media specialist – I have explicitly incorporated critical SciComm skills into both graduate- and undergraduate-level courses at UNCW. Initially, these activities formed the basis for an undergraduate Senior Seminar course focused on SciComm. However, over time I have transformed my weekly lesson plans into modules that could be modified for graduate students and/or ported into other courses a la carte. Here I present these SciComm modules and a structure for them that could comprise some or all of a training course for students in the aquatic sciences, as well as discuss student feedback and my own reflections.
EP06 - Communicating Science to the Public
Description
Time: 9:00 AM
Date: 30/3/2025
Room: W208