Background• Hiked/Climbed since 1957

• Taught since 1971: UMC & UW

• Teaching and research in air pollution and climate change since 1972.

Critical Thinker/Problem Solver

• Nature of Evidence – Conversation– News– Reading– Web– Lecture/Lab/Quiz Section– Field Trips

• Ways of Knowing– Scientific method– Many other ways

Mountain Pine Beetle, BC

• Impact between 1996 and today: An area the size of North Dakota

• Today and 2020: Twice that area

Fires in Washington and British Columbia

2006 Tripod Fire: 175,000 plus acres, $82,000,000 - “…offers an unsettling glimpse of the future.”

Fire sizeFire intensity

Tripod Fire

Glacier Retreat and Decreases in Snowpack

Which image has the most impact on you (you want to know more or why)?

1 2

0%0%

1. Pictures of glaciers 1928 - 2003

2. Article in Science

10Answer Now!

This time sequence is used to show that the South Cascade Glacier has retreated between 1928 and 2003, what additional evidence or information would you want to have before you thought that this was really important?

• Visit the glacier yourself - 1

• Picture from 2007 - 2

• Pictures of other glaciers in the Cascades - 3

• Pictures of other glaciers in North America - 4

• Pictures of other glaciers in the world - 5

• Other - 6

What additional evidence or information would you want to have before you thought

that this was really important?

1 2 3 4 5 6

0% 0% 0%0%0%0%

1. Visit glacier yourself2. Picture from 20073. Pictures of Cascade

glaciers4. Pictures N American

glaciers5. Pictures of world

glaciers6. Other

10Answer Now!

The retreat of the South Cascade Glacier is evidence of climate change -- what additional information would you want before you would accept this statement?

• Information about more glaciers - 1

• Statement from Al Gore or Ron Sims - 2

• Knowledge that there is really is a link between glacier size & climate - 3

• Other non-glacial activity that also illustrates climate change - 4

• Never will be convinced - 5

• Other - 6

2006

What additional information would you want before you would accept this statement?

1 2 3 4 5 6

0% 0% 0%0%0%0%

1. Information about more glaciers?

2. Statement from Al Gore or Ron Sims

3. Scientific link between glaciers and climate

4. Non-glacial changes associated with climate

5. None

6. Other

Answer Now!

10

Evidence from Europe

• Reading the landscape

• Reading the literature

Summary

• Introductions• Course syllabus and requirements• Quiz Sections• Example with fires, glaciers and beetles

(climate change related phenomena)• Role of evidence (information,

observation, stories)– Role of visual or written or oral evidence– Ways of knowing

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/index.htm