Make Climate a Class – April 2024

As part of the Year of Sustainability, LSA faculty are encouraged to engage their students in a 10 to 30-minute discussion around climate change and sustainability during Worldwide Climate and Justice Education Week (April 1-8 2024). 

While this initiative is officially concluded, we encourage you to still utilize our resources below. Our team is evaluating feedback and exploring potential future iterations of this program.

For every registrant, LSA Sustainability has made a donation to restore native oaks at the Nichols Arboretum.

The College of Literature, Science & the Arts is committed to sustainability across the curriculum. This initiative is just one strategy in an ongoing workstream. Participation and feedback on this program will inform future work.

Winter 2024 Results

Below are modules prepared by LSA faculty and sustainability staff, those teaching courses are able to use the modules on their own or request a speaker from the Year of Sustainability team. New modules will be added on an ongoing basis.

Teaching and Educational Resources

Example Modules

Distributed by the three core disciplines in LSA (humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences), the Year of Sustainability Team has prepared a list of thought-provoking conversation starters. To put these into a presentation see the slide example below and download our template slides.

Prepared by LSA faculty, this module provides an overview of the most up-to-date science and solutions. The content links to the intersectional topic areas including biodiversity and environmental justice.

Climate Foundations by Ella Kaplan

Just starting to learn about the climate or want a refresh? We’ve got you covered with the foundational knowledge on climate change that you need to talk, think, and take action on climate.

Climate Foundations by Jenna Steele

Developed by campus sustainability staff, this module gives an overview of the University’s approach to climate action and sustainability, including the Carbon Neutrality Commitment and progress and efforts on sustainability goals (information is from the Planet Blue Ambassador Training). It includes a discussion of solutions and opportunities for LSA and personal behavior changes.

Planet Blue{prints} by Jenna Steele

Using the 2023 Center for Sustainable Systems Factsheet, sustainability staff have assembled conversation prompts relating to food, energy, biodiversity, waste, water, transportation, and the environment. To put these into a presentation see our template slides.