Climate Impacts Group

AGU Fall Meeting Abstract Submission Now Open!

Abstract submission is now open for the AGU Fall Meeting! The meeting will be held in San Francisco from December 9-13th, 2019. The Climate Impacts Group is involved in a variety of sessions. Please consider sharing your work in one of our sessions: 

PA049 Science to Action: Communication of Science – Practice, Research and Reflection 
Heidi A Roop, University of Washington, Climate Impacts Group, Seattle, United States, Samuel Michael Illingworth, Manchester Metropolitan University, School of Science and the Environment, Manchester, United Kingdom, Kristin Timm, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, United States; George Mason University Fairfax, Fairfax, VA, United States and John Cook, George Mason University, Center for Climate Change Communication, Fairfax, United States

PA055 Science to Action: The role of boundary organizations in advancing knowledge co-production 
Meredith K Jennings, Houston Advanced Research Center, Houston, TX, United States, Thomas Herrington, Monmouth University, West Long Branch, NJ, United States, Heidi A Roop, University of Washington, Climate Impacts Group, Seattle, United States and Caitlin Young, NOAA National Ocean Service, Silver Spring, MD, United States

Abstracts submissions will be accepted until July 31st, 2019. 

New video about the Washington’s ClimeTime initiative features CIG scientist

CIG’s Lead Scientist for Science Communication, Heidi Roop, was featured in a new video about Washington State’s ClimeTime effort which aims to bring climate science to every K-12 classroom in Washington state. CIG partnered with the non-profit, Washington Green Schools, to deliver STEM seminars to over 250 teachers between August 2018 and June 2019. Each seminar explored different climate impacts, worked with teachers to help them understand and interpret regionally-relevant climate data and emphasized how schools and students can engage in meaningful climate solutions. With continued funding from Washington State, the effort will continue over the next two years.

Registration now open for NW Climate Conference

Registration for the 10th Annual Northwest Climate Conference is now open! The Northwest Climate Conference provides a unique opportunity to learn from and connect with a diverse community of experts fostering a more climate resilient Northwest. The event brings together practitioners, scientists, tribal communities, and decision-makers to share knowledge, ideas, and best practices related to climate change science, impacts, and adaptation in the Pacific Northwest. Topics include drought, wildfire, extreme events, coastal flooding, human and ecosystem health, and resiliency planning.

The conference will be held at the Sentinel Hotel in Portland, OR from October 8-10th, 2019. Register today (early bird registration closes on September 6th)! 

Teaching the teachers how to teach kids about climate science

CIG’s Heidi Roop was featured in the Seattle Times for her work sharing regional climate science with classrooms across Washington state as part of CIG’s partnership with WA Green Schools on Washington’s innovative ClimeTime program. The program is implemented by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, and includes Washington Green Schools, the University of Washington and the State Board of Education, among others. 

Tribes are harnessing cutting-edge data to adapt to the climate crisis

An article in Indian Country Today profiles the Climate Impacts Group’s new Tribal Vulnerability Assessment Resources and includes comment by project PI, Meade Krosby. 

Climate Impacts Group Welcomes New Deputy Director

The Climate Impacts Group is pleased to welcome Dr. Jason Vogel to the team as our Deputy Director. Jason joins us after twelve successful years as a consultant at Stratus Consulting and Abt Associates where he helped local, state, federal, and international clients adapt to climate change.

Throughout his career, Jason has led many complex interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research teams, including a recent two-year research project on the state of climate adaptation practice with The Kresge Foundation. This project involved engaging over 50 thought leaders to provide comprehensive recommendations for how community champions can take concrete adaptation actions in their own communities. 

2020 Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Call for Sessions Now Open

The Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference is now accepting session proposals for the 2020 conference that will be held in Vancouver, B.C. from April 19-22nd, 2020. Proposals are due July 12th, 2019. For more information visit the conference website.

The Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference brings together scientists, researchers, decision-makers, managers and knowledge-holders from First Nations and Tribes, agencies, community organizations, businesses, non-governmental organizations, and academia. Participants present the latest scientific research on the state of the ecosystem, share information about the application of knowledge from science and other sources, and guide future actions for protecting and restoring the Salish Sea Ecosystem. 

Panel Event: Communicating Climate Change in the Pacific Northwest – May 20th

Join us on May 20th at 6PM for a panel conversation with regional journalists and CIG’s Lead Scientist for Science Communication, Heidi Roop. This event is sponsored by the Center for Communication and Civic Engagement and the Department of Communication.

Sea level rise, warming temperatures, and record-breaking wildfires are among the most obvious threats climate change presents to the Pacific Northwest. How we meet these threats will have a profound impact on the future of the region.

Communication around these issues poses a unique set of challenges: journalism business models continue to struggle, while public trust in news institutions has dipped significantly, and well-funded climate change denial campaigns still muddy debate. 

CIG, WA Sea Grant & ESS Receive Outstanding Community Impact Award

A team of researchers and communication experts from the Climate Impacts Group, Washington Sea Grant and UW Earth and Space Sciences were recipients of the 2018-2019 “Outstanding Community Impact” Award granted by the College of the Environment. The award acknowledges the teams recent work on assessing the impacts of sea level rise on coastal communities across Washington state as part of the Washington Coastal Resilience Project.

Award Recipients: 

Ian Miller, WSG
Guillaume Mauger, CIG
Harriet Morgan, CIG
Paul Dye, WSG
Nicole Faghin, WSG
Heidi Roop, CIG
Crystal Raymond, CIG
MaryAnn Wagner, WSG
David Schmidt, ESS
Mark Welch, ESS

Their nominators from the Washington Sea Grant and the Climate Impacts Group offered the following insights on the team’s work across the state:

“These outstanding scientists, planners and communication specialists have worked collaboratively and creatively with partners…and provided the clarity and detail necessary to communicate the significance of sea level rise to our community.”

“Within and beyond UW, the project brought together a diverse group of students, faculty and government scientists to address a common problem, deepening collaborations across academic and institutional borders.”

“The team has been instrumental in helping forecast sea level rise, open a dialogue with the public around climate change, and incorporate the emerging scientific data into our planning and construction projects.” 

Upcoming Amplify Event: Creating fruitful collaborations

Join us for the upcoming Amplify event “Creating fruitful collaborations – leaving the deficit model for the engagement model”. This panel features researchers who have built rich relationships with various communities, and how those relationships shape the questions and science they pursue. RSVP here.

Date: Thursday, May 16, 2019
Time: 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Location: Vista Café, Foege Genome Sciences

Panelists
Gordon Holtgrieve, Assistant Professor, Aquatic and Fishery Sciences
Meade Krosby, Senior Scientist, Climate Impacts Group & Deputy Director, Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center
Kate Litle, Assistant Director for Programs, Washington Sea Grant

Moderated by Ben Packard, executive director, EarthLab