Reno, Nev. – Science teachers from across Nevada and Northern California gathered at Squaw Valley last week to take part in a four-day workshop focused on incorporating the Next Generation Science Standards into their classrooms.

Teachers participate in a solar car demonstration during the EnergySmart Education Workshop...

Hosted by the Desert Research Institute’s GreenPower K-12 outreach program and the Alliance for Climate Education (ACE), the 20-hour professional development session focused on helping teachers unravel the mysteries of the Next Generation Science Standards and strengthen their climate science and energy knowledge and curriculum.

 

“I’m here because I am really interested in climate and I want to be able to teach it better,” said Warren Wood, an eighth-grade science teacher from Churchhill County Middle School in Fallon. “We’ve had the chance to learn about climate models and using data, this is stuff I think my students can really use if it’s taught correctly. ACE and GreenPower have created a great resource for teachers and I hope to continue to learn more.”

 

Sponsored by DRI, NV Energy and Southwest Gas, this unique, summer training provided participating teachers with continuing education credits and travel stipends, said Amelia Gulling, DRI’s GreenPower Program Administrator.

 

“This wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our partners,” Gulling said. “Their investment goes directly to helping our educators prepare their students for STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers.”

 

EnergySmart Education Workshop Participants.

Teachers had opportunities to connect with several climate scientists and renewable energy experts throughout the week. Guests included Nina Oakley, Ph.D., a climatologist at DRI’s Western Regional Climate Center; Curtis Robins, an associate research scientists at DRI’s Clean Technologies and Renewable Energy Center; and Colin Murphy, Ph.D, a science and technology fellow with the California Council on Science and Technology.

 

Chad Piekarz, an energy consultant for NV Energy; Bunnie Hale, a teacher ambassador for the California Education and Environment Initiative; and Phil Romi, a science specialist with Sacramento County Office of Education also provided teachers with recommendations on how best to teach the Next Generation Science Standards and develop a variety of inquiry-based lesson plans for teachers to bring back to the classroom.

 

Topics included what makes a gas a greenhouse gas, getting to the core of climate change, and interactive, hands-on experience with several GreenPower Green Boxes – including electricity, solar energy, climate and thermal energy.

 

In the 2013-14 school year, the EnergySmart Education program provided more than 90 teachers with professional development teacher training, serving 58 schools throughout Nevada and California and reaching more than 3,400 students.