Carbon Connections

  • Developing three interactive, online units investigating the carbon cycle and the science of climate
  • Designed as a three-week supplement for high school biology, Earth sciences, or environmental sciences
  • Project Partner: Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB)
  • Funding source: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

BSCS and OPB are developing three online units to help high school students better understand the role of carbon in global climate change. Carbon Connections, a two-year project supported by NASA, will be a collection of three complimentary, internet-based units that will follow carbon records in past, present, and future contexts. The units will bring to life abstract concepts relating the carbon cycle to climate science, and guide students as they investigate and manipulate global data sets from NASA and other scientists in an interactive, web-based environment.

The web materials plus hands-on investigations are targeted to supplement high school courses in biology (general, IB, or AP biology), Earth sciences, or environmental sciences courses. BSCS conducted a field test of the units in spring 2011. During the field test, the project will also use internal and external evaluation protocols to compile data on learning from students and teachers.

Our project goals are to increase:

  • teacher and student understandings of biogeochemical cycles, systems-thinking, and climate science;
  • understandings of cutting-edge data from NASA and other scientists;
  • student interest in science and careers in related STEM fields;
  • understandings of the vital role of NASA in monitoring Earth systems; and
  • the ability of student-citizens to make decisions about complex, contemporary issues in science.

For more information, contact BSCS Science Educator Steve Getty.