Faculty join fight against climate change

Faculty at Vancouver Island University are joining a province-wide initiative to tackle climate change.

Dr. Erik Krogh (Chemistry), Dr. Steve Earle (Earth Sciences) and Laura-Jean Kelly (Horticulture) are talking to students about what they can do as individuals and within communities to address this global crisis as part of the goBEYOND Teach-In initiative launched by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development.

“Climate change is the single most important environmental challenge facing the world today,” said Krogh.  “It’s unique in several respects, including global distribution of greenhouse gases, its link to well entrenched energy resources, the interdisciplinary nature of the issue and the lag time between cause and effect. It’s important that we discuss the implications of our studies on the issue of climate change and how actions in our own lives can influence the scientific, economic and political culture of our times.”

VIU faculty are among more than 150 instructors in 15 post-secondary institutions participating in the BC wide goBEYOND Teach-In initiative.

“The goBEYOND Teach-In supports the work the province is doing through initiatives such as the $94.5-million Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions to encourage students, schools, people and businesses around B.C. to look at ways they can make climate-smart choices," said Advanced Education and Labour Market Development Minister Murray Coell.

“By encouraging young people in our province to consider ways to reduce their carbon footprint, we can set them on a path to a greener future in their schools and in their everyday lives.”

A first of its kind in B.C., the goal of the Teach-In is to focus the resources at post-secondary institutions to tackle climate change issues.  Participating faculty members will set aside 15-20 minutes of class time this week to talk about climate change and if they choose, show a short video outlining steps students can take to become climate neutral.

“I will be spending some time in my CHEM 301 class (Environmental Aqueous Chemistry) to contribute to this initiative,” said Krogh. “Participation will allow students and faculty across BC to connect and share ideas.”

VIU Geology professor Steve Earle shares Krogh’s passion about educating others about climate change.

“We have a responsibility to increase the level of awareness about climate change amongst our students, our colleagues and the public,” said Earle. “We need to remind them that this is about our collective future and that of the other organisms with whom we share this planet.”

Krogh and Earle will launch a monthly segment examining the science of climate change on the science themed radio show "Not Rocket Science" produced by faculty of VIU's Science & Technology department. The program airs on CHLY 101.7 FM on Saturdays at 1 pm.

The B.C. Campus Climate Network launched goBEYOND last month as a way to educate, inspire, engage and support students and their schools take action against climate change.  

The Teach-In is based on the program’s education pillar, designed to connect students and faculty to learn about climate change issues by developing interdisciplinary solutions for themselves and their communities.

goBEYOND is funded by the Province and BC Hydro. For more information, visit www.go-beyond.ca http://w.go-beyond.ca/.  To learn more ways to make carbon-smart lifestyle choices and save money, visit www.livesmartbc.ca.