This module on Climate Geoengineering was developed by science teachers within the EU-project IRRESISTIBLE (FP-7 project number 612367): www.irrestible-project.eu.

Geoengineering can be described as the deliberate large-scale manipulation of the planetary environment to counteract anthropogenic climate change, especially global warming caused by greenhouse gases emissions. Several methods have been considered for this purpose. They can be grouped into two categories: those relating to the removal of CO2 from the atmosphere and the ones that change Earth's capacity to absorb solar radiation. So far, the disadvantages of Geoengineering approaches have tended to outweigh the advantages in most minds that have turned to the issue. However, in recent years such proposals have received more support from a number of prominent scientists and economists, with calls for more research into their feasibility, costs, side effects and frameworks for implementation.

With this module, students, research about Geoengineering — which is presented to them as “maybe another conspiracy theory? – more precisely about its strategies in mitigation of Global Warming. It is intended that students understand the Biological/Physical/Chemical principles behind each strategy and, also, its advantages and disadvantages. In a second phase, students reflect about the criteria that research and innovation about this topic should respect in order to be considered responsible, and develop an exhibition as a way to educate the community about this topic.

This module comprises 6 steps, named Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Exchange and Evaluate, which are terms derived from the 5E-model for Inquiry-Based Science Education, complemented by a 6th and a 7th E (Exchange and Empower). By using this method, students are actively involved in the subject and are stimulated to search for information themselves.

The process of exhibits’ construction and presentation allows students to move beyond analysis and discussion, creating an opportunity for them to participate in (and even to instigate) community action on socio-scientific controversial matters. Exhibitions about Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) can raise questions, elicit personal reflection and stimulate conversations between students and visitors, transforming both of them into learners.

Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) is a term coined by the EU, where the goal is to bridge the gap between the scientific community and society. Science and industry need to question whether certain innovations are always wanted by society: although they have the power to transform our lives, they also create new risks and new ethical dilemmas. RRI seeks to bring these issues into the open, anticipate the consequences and directions of research and innovation, and involve society in discussing how science and technology can help create the kind of world and future we want.

This module is aimed at students from 12 to 18 years old. Climate Change, its causes and consequences should be a topic already addressed by students and such concepts must be clear so that students can understand not only the potential of Geoengineering but also the risks associated with this scientific field and, as such, the importance of Responsible Research and Innovation.

Learning activities based on the 7E-model 

Engage

Task 0 | This initial task is only to be used if students are new to the theme of Climate Change or if teacher feels it’s necessary for them to remind or refresh their ideas concerning this topic. It is important that students are aware of what Climate Change is in order to fully understand and benefit from the Climate Geoengineering module. Teacher can give text 0 in advance to students and have them answering the questions of the task, or can have them trying to answer without giving them prior access to the text.

Task 1 | In this task students are invited to analyze three cartoons related to Climate Geoengineering and come to their own interpretation of them. This task has the purpose of promoting a first glimpse on Climate Geoengineering to students, more precisely on some of its strategies, but also letting them anticipate some of the criticisms that have been made to this Climate Change mitigation approach. Also, through the pictures, teacher can start to approach some issues of RRI, namely the contribution of science and scientists and the role of the industry and their responsibility towards the change of climate.

Task 2 | In this task students have to explore some resources on Climate Geoengineering and, in pairs, build a concept map /or a draw that represents their own understanding of the theme. Then they have to present it to their classmates and justify their choices. The chosen resources present the theme of Climate Geoengineering as being related to conspiracy theories. This has the purpose to raise interest and engage students in the subject. It is also crucial, for their true engagement in the module and in the subsequent tasks, that they understand the purpose of their whole work: they, as active citizens, have the power to warn others and instigate them to change behaviors and ways of thinking, throughout an exhibition about RRI in Climate Geoengineering. Through the concept map/picture drawings activity and the confrontation of the several maps/pictures, questions or issues will emerge that need to be clarified in relation to student's doubts and misconceptions. This activity has also the purpose of making clear to students what they already know and what they don't know yet about the topic, but need and want to find out.

Explore
Task 3 | It is intended that students now dig deeper into the theme, understanding that there are various strategies of Climate Geoengineering that are currently being researched and/or officially being mentioned in important reports. There are two versions of this task. For older students, there is Version 1, in which they have to identify the main aspects that distinguish the various strategies and also to understand the main biological, geological, physical and chemical principles behind each strategy. Some strategies can be more emphasized by you according to your own subject, lesson plans and curriculum. Class will be divided into 2 groups regarding the two main strategies of Climate Geoengineering: Solar Radiation Management (SRM) e Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR); then, these 2 groups will be divided into subgroups, each responsible for, at least, one Climate Geoengineering technology (like, for example, Surface Albedo Modification). They will need to perform an oriented research (through given resources) that enables them to answer some questions: What are the biological/chemical/physical principles on which each technology rely on? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each technology? For younger students, the Version 2 of the activity includes a set of more oriented questions for their research.

Task 4 | This task is an experimental activity through which students can investigate the effect of surface color in Albedo, since painting rooftops white is one of the Climate Geoengineering strategies of Solar Radiation Management. It’s an activity adapted from the “Amazing Albedo” activity developed by the American Museum of Natural History. It’s an opportunity for students to develop experimental/research skills. It is given a protocol, but also teacher has the possibility of having students designing their own investigation. In this second option students receive a set of orientation questions. The data retrieved from the experimental activity can be used by students to revise the knowledge they have built so far.

Explain
Task 5 | Each of the 2 large groups will need to write a collaborative document (poster, presentation or a virtual board): each subgroup will be responsible for sharing with classmates (of the same large group) their findings. Next, each of the 2 groups must share with the other group their knowledge: students are invited to present and discuss the collaborative documents. Also, each group has to create (previously) an assessment instrument (an online questionnaire) that allows them to assess their classmates’ knowledge after their presentation. Also, at the end of this phase, each student has to build a concept map that incorporates what they have researched and, also, what their classmates have presented – therefore, integrating all knowledge. Students must be aware of these two tasks (questionnaire and concept-map) before the sharing-session takes place: this has the purpose of capturing their attention and also instigating their participation during the session.

Elaborate
Task 6 | This task has the purpose of explicitly introducing RRI to students, since it’s a somewhat new and not very easy topic for students to understand. After reading an initial text, they need to come to their own definition of RRI and also to what they think each of the 6 RRI dimensions means to them. Next they will need to make the correct correspondence between the RRI dimensions and their definitions. This explicit approach to RRI is intentional; from there, in the subsequent tasks, students will make a better connection between RRI (in abstract) and the theme of their module – Climate Geoengineering.

Task 7 | This task has the purpose of having students researching news on Climate Geoengineering strategies that have been implemented around the world. It is intended that students find in the news some aspects that are related to RRI (where all citizens in agree with the measure, who was involved in the decision, who should have been involved and why, etc.). If such information is not present in the text, students should, nevertheless, try to answer to the questions taking into account their own opinion. Then they need to present the news and their thoughts on it to their classmates.

Task 8 | In this task students will have a discussion session on Climate Geoengineering – that will be promoted by the teacher taking into account some of the guiding questions provided below. In order for students to be prepared for the discussion, they will need to read the given texts that relate RRI (and some of its dimensions) and Climate Geoengineering – they should take notes from them for the discussion session.

Elaborate, Exchange & Empower
Task 9 | In this task students are asked to elaborate a Manifest entitled "Responsible Climate Geoengineering: is it possible? If so, how?" which represents a set of guidelines on RRI on Climate Geoengineering to be presented to the community in the final exhibition that the class has to prepare. This final exhibition is very important, since it serves as a platform for students to share with others what they’ve learned and also share their own opinions and concerns about the topic. Class should be divided in groups, each with preferably 6 students since there are 6 dimensions of RRI. Each student is responsible for one dimension. After deciding on what the Manifest should look like, each group member will then establish a relation between Geoengineering and his/her RRI dimension, contributing to the final object. Each object built by each group must have the 6 RRI dimensions. Students must be aware of the importance of having groups choosing different objects as a warrant of a richer exhibition. Whatever the exhibit object chosen, they need to have in mind that it must: a) contemplate all of RRI 6 dimensions; b) interact with the visitor, stimulate interaction between visitors, and make them reflect about the theme. The Empowerment dimension relies on the notion (that has to be explicitly discussed with students) that students are active citizens, capable of acting collectively with the purpose of warning others about RRI issues in Climate Geoengineering and change their way of thinking. This action, funded on scientific research (therefore, not on common sense), may take the form of an exhibition produced by students.

Evaluate
Self and peer evaluation is present at different moments of the module:

Explain | At the end of this phase, students have to build a concept map integrating what they have learned throughout the performed research and also throughout the sharing-session. After that, they can compare this map with the initial one (from the Engage phase); in doing so, they will be able to be aware of their learning as well as the initial incorrect ideas. Both teacher and students will evaluate the presentations performed by the groups. Also at the end of the Explain phase, students need to prepare a questionnaire to test the effectiveness of their presentations in allowing their classmates to better understand the issue that was presented.

Elaborate, Exchange & Empower | Students should evaluate the exhibit objects built by their group (self-assessment), the ones built by other groups (hetero-assessment), as well as the final exhibition. Students will produce a questionnaire (online or printed version) that enables them to assess the impact of their work on visitors’ understanding of the topic and on their awareness regarding RRI in Climate Geoengineering.

Download the rubrics for the assessment of the concept map, presentation, exhibit object and exhibition to be use by both teacher and students. Students must have prior access to the assessment criteria in order to have the opportunity to perform at their best.