Avoiding Flawed
Demonstrations:
Greenhouse Effect
Intro/Index
Faulty Demos
Errors, Misconceptions
Testing, Lab Results
Scientifically Strong
Resources
Rebuttals
Acknowledgements
Contact
This web portal
is a resource within
America's online library
for Education &
Research
in Science,
Technology,
Engineering,
Mathematics:
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Demos Focusing on the Mechanisms of Global Warming, "The Greenhouse Effect"
Programs with hands-on demos, labs and activities more broadly on climate change, global warming, ocean acidification and solutions found here.
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Iain Stewart's
excellent on-line video demonstration
Professor of Geosciences Communication at the
School of Geography, Earth &
Environmental Science,
University of Plymouth
Using 3-5 micron imaging, with 4.3 µm filtering for CO2.
Birch Aquarium
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
University of California, San Diego
Scientifically sound demos that really work.
True hands-on exhibit:
Feeling the Heat
TV Evening News Broadcasts
Edited segments of demos
Lawrence Hall of Science:
Science center of the University of California, Berkeley
Global Systems Science & NASA's Lifelines
for High School Climate Change Education
   
Climate Science Demonstration
Development and Deployment
Working Groups
Climate science hands-on education specialists,
scientists,
engineers, teachers, communicators,
artists,
equipment manufacturers, aquarium & museum staff,
docents, students and parents.
Continually developing and testing new demos.
But never represent as vetted and ready
a demo
that doesn't actually do what is claimed.
No tricks, no faked science. No cheap short cuts.
Creating accessible, reproducible, fun,
inexpensive as possible, always safe presentations.
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Mobile Climate Science Labs
Hands-on demos, labs, experiments & activities
Serving Northern California; networking internationally.
Students & public get to do the experiments themselves.
Discovery of global warming and
"the greenhouse
effect" from many angles.
Fun, involving experiences in science.
Bringing science tools & evidence to the public:
Incoming solar radiation.
Reaction between atmosphere and incoming energy.
Absorption and reflection: IR and visible light energy --
solids, liquids and gases.
Nature of infrared in each energy band.
Emission of energy by solids, liquids and gases.
Resultant temperature changes.
Heat transfer: radiation, convection, conduction.
Energy science basics.
Sources of carbon dioxide: human and natural.
Fundamental chemistry of combustion.
Relative amounts of carbon dioxide produced & removed.
Various properties of CO2, other gases.
Molecular bonds, vibration, quantum energy states.
Other greenhouse gases.
Common confusion about "the greenhouse effect"
Atmospheric composition: Earth, planets. Over time.
Planetary & space studies.
Flawed, faulty & fake demos -- be a deception detective.
"Hoaxes and theories" used daily by industry & military.
Testing new demos; reviewing demos by others.
How specific science research missions
gather data,
create and test models. Connect with scientists.
Discoveries and technological innovation, careers.
(Each delivering required state K-12 content standards)
Labs & demos customized to suit wide variety:
Appropriate for audiences/ages (6-106): primary,
secondary school, college & university, general public,
museums, journalists,
science communicators,
government officials & staff, or business.
Broadcast television.
Delivering K-12 state science content standards.
Hands-on investigation & experimentation requirements.
Academic disciplines: e.g. chemistry, physics, earth
sciences, life sciences, energy, math, etc.
Brief to in-depth. Outdoor or indoor. Language.
Cost of equipment; expected level of rough treatment.
Educator professional development, hands-on experience.
Mentorship for kids and parents who lead presentions.
Audience participants: 10 to 1000 per day.
Within events attended by up to 100,000 per day
Range of technology used in labs & demos:
Very inexpensive, low tech, readily available materials
Basic, common lab equipment
Sensors, probeware designed for school use.
Custom designed & manufactered equipment.
Thermal imaging (7-13 microns) video cameras
Technology developed for energy efficient buildings.
Imaging 3-5 micron IR , with 4.3 μm cold filtering.
All labs and demos encourage:
Active involvement, learning;
Skepticism, critical thinking, discussion;
Testing, challenging, verifying, questioning.
Looking for flaws, seeking feedback.
Have fun! Discovery that is both serious and playful.
Safety and scientific accuracy absolute essentials.
Always eager to improve, correct errors.
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MythBusters -- TV Show
Testing global warming theory --
does CO2 warm air?
 
Demonstration is what it claims. Fun to watch.
Makes clear: this is a difficult demonstration to do.
If not done carefully, becomes inaccurate, doesn't work.
Commentary for science educators coming soon.
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Please keep in mind: MythBusters is a science
entertainment show. Educators need to go beyond,
especially in interpretation of what happens in demo.
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Carbo Schools/Carbo Europe
Hands-on activities: Outdoor Indoor
Using Scientific Data
Dr. Richard Somerville & EPA Ireland
On key discoveries in global warming science.
John Tyndall considered actual physical
demonstrations to be essential
in effectively
communicating his scientific discoveries.
Dr. Somerville (second from left), keynote speaker at
John Tyndall 150th Anniversary Conference,
Dublin, Ireland -- September 2011.
John Tyndall's original lab equipment in foreground.
History of Global Warming
Lecture, American Geophysical Union Conference 2011
ClimateCommunication.org
Thank you to leading organizations
supporting authentic hands-on science
demonstrations, engaging millions.
Including:
American Association
for the Advancement of Science
Tech Museum of Innovation
National Science Teachers Association
Boy Scouts of America
Recommendations-- seeking more:
If you know of other great demonstrations,
experiments, labs or activities of this nature,
by all means share them. We love to
recommend outstanding scientific programs.
More are needed. So many communities
are denied access to great hands-on science.
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