CRESCENDOschools - European network of Schools for Earth System Modelling and Climate Change
CRESCENDOschools was created under the European Union Horizon 2020 research project CRESCENDO - Coordinated Research in Earth Systems and Climate: Experiments, kNowledge, Dissemination and Outreach. Schools within this network have explored the science of global change and the scientific modelling techniques CRESCENDO’s scientists use to understand and predict climate change.
CRESCENDO was a European Union Horizon 2020 Research Project that worked towards further developing computer models that can be used to understand and predict the future of the Earth’s climate.
Earth System Models developed and used by CRESCENDO's scientists are the cutting-edge scientific tools used to predict how the global environment will change in the future in response to the increasing amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Our scientists are also strongly committed towards engaging with society through communication and outreach activities. With these we aim to explain the science behind Earth system modelling, how future projections are developed and analysed, as well as communicating future changes in the Earth system and the likely consequences of these changes.
Through CRESCENDOschools the students explored the science of global change and the scientific modelling techniques CRESCENDO's scientists use to understand and predict climate change.
Students proactively worked with researchers, but mostly among themselves, to develop resources suitable for use by science students at similar stages in their education. In doing this our aim was to both increase the scientific understanding of global climate change across this age group and increase awareness of the urgency of the problem and potential solutions for future generations.
The overall aim was to help define and develop an appropriate suite of education resources, such as web-based documents, online videos, serious games, social networking, etc. on the science of climate change and climate modelling, targeted to the needs and interests of science students in the approximate age range 16-19 years old. While developing these resources the students learned new skills, benefited from the experience and also had fun.
CRESCENDOschools involved five schools from four different countries: Sweden, UK, France, Sweden and Albania.
Some testimonials from CRESCENDOschools participants:
“We have to realise the threat climate change poses to our way of life. Educating people about what we know and how we know it is the only way to have a real impact on policy.” – Freya, year 12, UK
“It amazes me how simple laws of physics can lead to our complex and ever-changing climate and weather. To be able to work with world experts is an unbeatable experience.” – John, year 12, UK
“The human impacts of climate change are going to be huge over my lifetime. Helping people to understand what’s at stake is really important to me.” – Callum, year 12, UK
“In CRESCENDOschools we really appreciate the possibility of bringing together the theoretical knowledge in biology, physics and chemistry, in practical applications such as Earth system science.” – Michael, teacher, Sweden
“I think we have gained a bit more understanding of what we learn at school by having the possibility to hear about climate change directly from climate researchers.” – Elin, year 10, Sweden