Climate Change / Global Warming Science Demonstrations, Activities and Labs

Avoiding Flawed, Problem Science Demonstrations -- Greenhouse Effect in a Bottle; Heating Carbon Dioxide vs. Air;
In Need of Verification. Any Possible Mistakes? Was Something Overlooked?:
CIRES Climate Science Lab with Dr. Lesley Smith and Anton
Hands-on Science Avoiding Flawed Demos > Greenhouse Effect > Problem Examples > Cires

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Avoiding Flawed
Demonstrations:

Greenhouse Effect
Intro/Index

Faulty Demos
Errors, Misconceptions
Testing, Lab Results
Scientifically Strong
Resources
Rebuttals
Acknowledgements
Contact














































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Index and Introduction (Special section's home page)
Overview of Flawed Demo Examples
Menu of the individual examples: Analysis and testing of flawed demo designs
Being most heavily promoted: Need -- National Energy Education Development     Keystone Center
Prominent demos:     CLEAN     Bill Nye & Al Gore    On BBC TV    AMNH -- American Museum of Natural History
Many examples currently on-line:    Spin on That   PBS's Nova Capturing Carbon    Pico Tech     CIRES        
Flawed demos of this variety have been carefully reviewed, tested and analyzed by other reputable scientists: Lueddecke et.al.
Common errors with these relatively rare variations: Using other heat trapping (greenhouse) gases    Sunlight as the energy source variations


Cires
http://vimeo.com/7171201
Climate Science Labs with Lesley & Anton
Greenhouse gas portion is the third part of this video, starting at: 5:25, running till the end

First off: applause to Dr. Lesley Smith and her son Anton for promotion of hands-on science.
Would expect that these nice folks will respond well. Acknowledge flaws. Naturally, will thank them for that.
A reason for noting the type is that this is one design people have tried. Volunteers we've know build their own version long ago.
One of those we tested out and learned from years back.
Is important to address why these don't work either.
Mom and son who did this video are clearly being sweet and very well meaning. Common to make these errors.
Bigger error is not trying at all.






Developer, sponsor-promoter:



Educational institutions in the United States presenting this demo include:
Science centers and museums, aquariums, k-12 schools, government outreach and education,
teacher professional development workshops, websites, videos, and educator conferences & trade shows.

Note: it has become a common practice to present educational materials without giving due acknowledgement and credit to their original creator.
This is not good academic etiquette or protocol, we feel. Notwithstanding, clear copies of the ------------ demo are spreading across the US.
In addition, several popular variations are being presented, that would appear to be have been derived from the version discussed here.

Note: it has become a common practice to present educational materials without giving due acknowledgement and credit to their original creator.
This is not good academic etiquette or protocol, and weakens science education, we feel.  Demos are frequently presented without crediting the original developer(s).


Introduction and Index
>>  Faulty demonstrations being heavily promoted -- over a dozen examples <<
Errors and misconceptions commonly found in flawed demonstrations
Testing the demos, mistakes revealed -- lab & field results from scientists and hundreds of students & teachers

Scientifically strong demonstrations engaging millions. Powerful, fun, dramatic, unforgettable.
Resources & Further Background
Encouraging rebuttal: welcoming sponsor-promoters to defend if demos are scientifically valid.
Testing the evidence for everyone to see, experience for themselves -- that's what has made science demonstrations so very powerful in history

Acknowledgements, Thank You's            Contact



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