The Climate Lab

Problem statement:

The fight against climate change and everything it implies — the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), the energy transition towards a decarbonised economy, energy efficiency, the change in consumer habits, etc. — requires a greater awareness and improved willingness to act by all civil society actors. Students don’t learn enough about climate change at school.

Target group: 

High school students (age 16-18) in Rome.

Proposed solution: 

To teach classes at high school to spread awareness among young people about the causes and effects of climate change and convey the message that individuals have the power to take action in their daily lives to reduce their impact on the environment

Activities:

The Climate Lab project was designed and piloted in 2019 and relaunched in 2020 at the Scientific Lyceum Isacco Newton in Rome, with the support of the principal and the teachers of the school and the European Space Agency (ESA). The course was composed of three interactive classroom lectures and an educational visit at ESA. The course was composed of:

1) Interactive lectures on the Causes and Impacts of Climate Change

2) Lecture on the link between climate change and sustainable consumption and waste management in the context of Rome

3) Lecture on the link between climate change and Sustainable production: Energy and businesses

4) Educational visit to the Centre for Earth Observation of ESA to learn the scientific evidence of climate change from space.

All course materials and workshops were developed and implemented by the Rome Hub.

Short-term goals/ Results: 

The students enjoyed the course and the fact of being taught by young professionals. Also the teachers were very eager to learn new things and new teaching methods.

Long-term change:

To transform the students who attended the course into more active voices in the fight against climate change, inviting them to teach future classes. 

Avaiable metrics: 

• 280 students were reached, 13 secondary school classes


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  11 Shapers participated

  
  

Collaborators:

European Space Agency (ESA)