SEARCH WHAT'S IN A MODEL? EXPLORING CLIMATE AEROSOLS
PROGRAMS
 
Research-Based Online Learning Event (ROLE) Model Webinar
Webinar Topic: What's in a Model? Exploring Climate Aerosols
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
PRESENTATIONS and Q&A
Carolyn Jordan
Carolyn Jordan
Concept map
Kate Leavitt
Kate Leavitt
Concept map

About these Webinars:
The ROLE Model webinars provide scientists with the opportunity to interact with educators and present their research in a non-traditional format - through multimedia concept maps created with the Concept Map Builder and presented through the Ocean Climate Interactive. [more]

About this Scientist:
Dr. Carolyn Jordan is a research scientist at the Complex Systems Research Center: Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space at the University of New Hampshire.  She is a physicist by training and uses her mathematical expertise to build, analyze and refine computer models about atmospheric and climate phenomena.  Her work has focused particularly on aerosols, which have not been well understood for their role in climate systems. [more]

About this Educator:
Kate Leavitt is the Marine Science Program Coordinator at the Seacoast Science Center (SSC) in Rye, NH.  In her current and previous roles at the SSC, Kate has taught and developed marine education programs for all ages, including many school programs both on-site and remotely. Kate adapts and translates the high-level content of science researchers for SSC audiences, who range from two-year olds to octogenarians. [more]
WEBINAR RECAP
CTD
Atmospheric scientist, Carolyn Jordan, talked about how models are used in studying ocean/climate systems. A model design is driven by the purpose and goals of the researcher, which in turn determine the modeling process that is needed. This requires a multifold research approach. Carolyn's concept map illustrates some of the physical, chemical and biological processes that are taken into account in her models. The phenomena being studied can involve impacts or processes at different scales, from global down to an individual organism. Carolyn's presentation used aerosols to illustrate these varied scales and processes that she studies in her work.  Her concept map offers clear and effective videos illustrating the processes she discussed.
VIEW CLIPS FROM SCIENTIST'S PRESENTATION
1 - Sources of Aerosols   2 - Studying Uncertainty
3 - Different Models

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At a COSEE-OS workshop held in 2009, Kate Leavitt collaborated with University of New Hampshire scientist, Hui Feng, on his concept map about ocean aerosols. In this webinar, Kate described how she subsequently worked with Dr. Feng to adapt his map as a training resource for her co-workers at the Seacoast Science Center. She discussed the challenges informal educators face in translating high-level science content for general audiences who visit the center. Kate's presentation described useful techniques for explaining somewhat abstract ideas like clouds, aerosols and gases, and she shared lesson plans and activities that could be adapted to a variety of educational settings.
VIEW CLIPS FROM EDUCATOR'S PRESENTATION
1 - Complexity to Relevance   2 - Training Staff
3 - Teaching Aerosols

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Additional Resources
DISTRIBUTION OF WEBINAR PARTICIPANTS
Map showing distribution of webinar participants
Twenty five participants joined in from twelve different states. Of the six participants who filled out the post webinar survey, 83% said that the scientist presentation was "useful" or "very useful", and the same percentage said that they felt more comfortable with the topic than they had before. 67% also said they now feel the topic is more relevant to their own work.

View All Webinars in the ROLE Model Series
Concept map