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Can We Solve Climate Change?

American Ingenuity Award winner Jim Anderson warns that no place on Earth is safe from the dangers of global warming.


Conversation Club

  1. Jim Anderson studies climate change. He describes one of his first projects, building an instrument and sending it into the Antarctic vortex, to establish the cause of the Antarctic ozone hole. Have you heard about holes in the ozone? If so, where did you learn of it, and can you explain what causes these holes?
  2. Anderson talks about the global distribution of ozone, stating that the ozone protects all life at the planet’s surface. What else do you think is necessary for life on this planet? What are ways we can protect those necessary things?
  3. Anderson describes his early interest, as a child, in building models. One project became so large that his family had to take out a window in their basement in order to get it out of the house. What were some of your early childhood interests? What was the biggest project, literally or figuratively, that you ever made as a child?
  4. What early interest do you still have? How has that interest changed or evolved? Do you think it’s typical for childhood pastimes to become adult occupations?
  5. Anderson explains that his current research is focused on better understanding super storms. What is a super storm? Can you think of a recent example?
  6. Anderson describes a “clean footprint.” What do you think he means? Had you heard of that term before in the context of climate change? What are ways you can help ensure a clean footprint?
  7. Had you heard of Jim Anderson before watching this video? Can you think of other people who have dedicated their careers to studying climate change or to communicating climate science to the public? If so, who are they? If not, why do you think that is?
  8. Are there certain science stories that interest you more than others? What are they? Do you think that scientists do a good job of communicating their research to a wider public? How do you think they could do better?

Video Series

This video exists as part of a series gathered around the theme of Environment & STEM. Other videos in this series are listed below.

Can Ocean Optimism Save our Seas? Thumbnail Can Ocean Optimism Save our Seas?
What is the Future of Nature? Thumbnail What is the Future of Nature?
Pardis Sabeti's New Look at Infectious Disease Thumbnail Pardis Sabeti's New Look at Infectious Disease
Hugh Herr’s Bionic Future Thumbnail Hugh Herr’s Bionic Future
Why Scan a 3-D Dinosaur? Thumbnail Why Scan a 3-D Dinosaur?
Visualizing One Earth Thumbnail Visualizing One Earth
Can We Solve Climate Change? Thumbnail Can We Solve Climate Change?
Jack Andraka's Pancreatic Cancer Breakthrough Thumbnail Jack Andraka's Pancreatic Cancer Breakthrough