Office of the Provost - Climate Across the Curriculum workshop; receive grant

Dear colleagues:

I am writing to invite you to a two-day pedagogy workshop on August 8–9, 2022, to gain knowledge and share ideas for integrating climate research into your classes across the curriculum. Faculty members and instructors of record in every academic discipline are encouraged to participate, including those who teach classes and topics where climate research is not necessarily the explicit theme. This workshop is being organized and presented by faculty currently engaged in developing cross-disciplinary curricula involving major climate topics. .

Possibilities for integrating climate research into a course might include, for example, using climate data sets to teach infographic design, choosing climate disaster communication as an optional student topic in small group exercises, analyzing climate-related films to understand cultural metaphors for climate issues, or focusing on a solar start up in a business course on entrepreneurship. These are just a few ideas to consider and pique your interest.

The chancellor has challenged CU Boulder to achieve a platinum rating in the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Reporting System (), and the STARS “Incentives for Developing Courses” credit supports that goal. Accordingly, if you are a participant, you will receive a $1,000 grant from the Mission Zero Fund at CU Boulder after completing the workshop and sharing your plans for how you intend to integrate climate information into at least one of your upcoming courses in the 2022–2023 academic year. 

CU Boulder, with our world-leading climate scientists and researchers, is an exceptional place to cultivate learning about climate across the curriculum. Please join me in this dynamic and engaging workshop.

Sincerely,

Russ Moore, provost


Climate Across the Curriculum: Summer Pedagogy Workshop and Training Grants

What: Apply to participate in a two-day workshop to learn, to brainstorm, and to practice in a cross-disciplinary context about major climate topics. Share ideas and opportunities to integrate climate research into the university’s diverse curriculum, from qualitative to quantitative methods, from short in-class exercises to semester-long projects, including peer experts from the humanities, sciences, and social sciences representing Arts & Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering, Environmental Design, and CMCI.

The workshop will include:

  • Learning/refreshing our understanding of sustainability’s key core concepts (environment, equity, & economics) as foundational to climate education.
  • Discussing faculty rights and how to navigate difficult climate-related conversations in the classroom.
  • Hearing inspiration from and networking with CU Boulder faculty who have successfully integrated climate research into their classroom exercises, lesson plans, and assignments.
  • Workshopping your ideas on integrating the climate crisis and/or solutions into your teaching.
  • Touring campus to deepen your understanding of the place where we work, including reflecting on the sustainability of operations on campus, the species with whom we live every day, and the ways we can reimagine our campus as a living and learning lab.
  • Gaining access to a digital toolbox of climate-related lesson plans and additional teaching resources.
  • Learning about various opportunities for faculty to apply for training grants.

Training grant, $1,000
Receive a $1,000 grant after completing the workshop and sharing plans for integrating climate information into at least one course in the 2022-2023 academic year.

Eligibility: Anyone who is the instructor of record for the upcoming class may apply, including tenured and tenure-track faculty, instructor-track and clinical faculty, lecturers, and GPTIs.

When and where:August 8-9, 2022, CU Boulder campus
Day 1: 9:15 a.m. to 5 p.m., includes lunch, a midafternoon break, and a social
Day 2: 9:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., includes lunch

Application: Complete this by May 2, 5 p.m. Participants will be notified of decisions by May 6. For questions, contact: Phaedra C. Pezzullo, associate professor, CMCI: phaedra.pezzullo@colorado.edu.

Presenters: This workshop is being organized and presented by faculty currently engaged in developing cross-disciplinary curricula involving major climate topics.

Faculty steering committee: Karen Bailey (ENVS/A&S), Clint Carroll (ETHN & CNAIS/A&S), Shideh Dashti (CEAE/CEAS), Max Boykoff (ENVS/A&S), Beth Osnes (ANS/A&S), Phaedra C. Pezzullo (COMM/CMCI), and Shawhin Roudbari (ENVD). 


Sponsors: CU Boulder’s Environmental Center in partnership with .