Saving
The
Shore:
Using a Wave Tank to
Illustrate the Effects of
Climate Change on
New Jersey’s Coasts
Michael Schwebel, Ph.D. Community
Resilience and Climate Adaptation Specialist
November 30, 2016
Background in Climate Change
Education
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•
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Aside from NJ Sea Grant and other
institutions providing information, students
growing up far from the Shore do not
necessarily learn about shore processes;
and do not have many opportunities to
have tactile, hands-on experiences.
Ocean and other earth-science processes
are difficult to absorb from diagrammatic
and model-based texts.
Sometimes climate change, global
warming, sea-level rise are erroneously
used interchangeably
Discussing Climate Change with Youth –
In 30 Seconds at a Festival…
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Getting to hear their
familiarity – or lack thereof
of climate change
Can connect different
knowledge silos with
demonstrable / interactive
lessons
Gives an opportunity to
show and ask youth what
they think is happening
Using the Wave Tank to Teach + Entice
•
Designed for coastal processes – but that’s an important
component to still teach
•
Helps students see situation from an aerial and more
macroscale viewpoint
•
They get to put their hands inside, get wet, and smash things
Benefits and Engagements for Youth
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•
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“Tank time” masks but does not
overwhelm the underlying science
and quick-paced decision-making
needed.
Opens up the discussion to greater
social impact of policy,
engineering, and other decisions.
Teaches about some of the hard
questions without “correct”
answers, and ties it back to
climate change lessons
Collaboration and replication…
Thank you!
Any questions?
Saving
The
Shore:
Using a Wave Tank to
Illustrate the Effects of
Climate Change on
New Jersey’s Coasts
Michael Schwebel, Ph.D. Community
Resilience and Climate Adaptation Specialist
November 30, 2016