Published on November 17, 2022
A new $2.3 million program funded by the US National Science Foundation will educate and equip young scientists to cultivate resilience to climate impacts such as flooding and extreme heat.
Partners include the University of Washington Interdisciplinary Center for Exposures, Diseases, Genomics and Environment (EDGE) and the Duwamish River Community Coalition (DRCC). EDGE is part of the UW Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences (DEOHS).
“Climate change is an environmental injustice, and equitable approaches to adaptation require prioritization of the needs and voices of those most at risk,” said Nicole Errett, assistant professor in DEOHS and director of EDGE’s Community Engagement Core. “Preparing youth, especially those from communities who will be hit the hardest, can help to ensure those voices are represented for years to come.”
The five-year program, called Youth Engaging in the Science of Resilience: Sensing the Environment and Envisioning Solutions, will be implemented in informal learning settings, such as museums and community centers.
Working with Latino and Indigenous youth, the program team will guide their exploration of local climate issues and facilitate dialogue about potential solutions as well as youth-led resilience projects. Researchers will collect data to understand how programming influences participants’ knowledge, skills and interest in community action.
Continue reading at the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences.
Originally written for Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences.