Improving Climate-Change Literacy and Science Communication Through Smart Device Apps

Abstract

Global change clearly one of the most important issues of the twenty-first century. Understanding of the impacts of large-scale human activities on communities, and how the natural world is being affected is arguably the largest area of research outside of the health sciences, and the two are intricately linked. Yet despite scientific consensus on human-induced climate change, many publics remain divided about its existence and impacts. More alarming still are the contradictory positions from leading governments around the world to address climate change. The most convincing scientific evidence is in vain if scientists fail to communicate key facts to policy makers or to the general public. Here, we investigate various "snakes" (pitfalls) and "ladders" (emerging opportunities) in science communication. Using the example of the "Global Change App," we argue that science education apps may be a promising and underrated way forward to improve how information is communicated between scientists, students and citizens. Smart device apps could be an effective way translate research outputs beyond scientific journals, support science teaching, and make information on global change more translatable and relevant to the general public.

Applying the Global Change App in Different Instruction Settings to Foster Climate Change Knowledge among Student Teachers

“…In relation to RQ 1, the results of this study show that the Global Change app is suitable to foster knowledge gains about global climate change in a relatively short period of time and is thus also suitable as a tool to support science teaching [15]. The question to be answered is how to structure the specific application of the app in a learning setting.…”

“…The Global Change app aims to promote climate change knowledge and especially climate change literacy through a digital tool [15,16]. It is an interactive teaching tool that illustrates how the biotic and abiotic systems involved in the carbon and water cycles are connected to the stomata and how human activities affect these processes [16].…”

“…In a nutshell, climate change literacy includes (1) knowledge of climate system science, (2) understanding of the impacts and threats of climate change, and (3) motivation to make informed decisions to implement mitigative and adaptive solutions to the climate crisis [26]. In this respect, the Global Change app focuses on the first facet-knowledge of the climate system science-in order to understand climate and climate change [15,16].…”

“…Thus, tools and approaches are needed to support climate change learning and literacy. The Global Change app was designed precisely for this purpose [15,16]. It was designed through a collaboration of scientists and digital creatives as an education platform to improve students' fundamental knowledge of the global carbon and water cycles, and how they are impacted by human activity.…”

“…The cellular respiration rate of the plants increases. 15. Which (indirect) effects do an increased CO 2 concentration in the atmosphere and the resulting temperature increase have on the water-cycle.…”