Presenter:  Dr. Carol O’Donnell

Webinar Description

What are K-12 teachers' perceptions about climate change and sustainability education? How are state science standards addressing these topics? In this webinar, participants will learn about the results of two recent studies conducted by the Smithsonian and Gallup to better understand how state science standards can be used to build climate literacy. Participants will also receive free classroom resources from the Smithsonian to facilitate the teaching and learning of climate science and sustainability, including full week-long courses, ebooks, digital games, videos, and free leadership and professional development opportunities.

Presenter Bio

Dr. Carol O’Donnell is the Douglas M. Lapp and Anne B. Keiser Director of Smithsonian Science Education Center, dedicated to transforming K-12 Education through Science in collaboration with communities across the globe. Dr. O’Donnell’s career spans being a K-8 science teacher, curriculum developer, research analyst for the US Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, and part-time faculty for George Washington University’s Physics Department. Carol has served on both national and international STEM education committees, including for the Office of Science and Technology Policy at the U.S. White House; InterAcademy Partnership Science Education Programme Global Council, through a U.S. National Academies appointment; UN Broadband Commission on Sustainable Development; and the USGCRP Climate Engagement and Capacity Building Interagency Group, which  coordinates Federal agency climate and global change efforts focused on community engagement, education, public awareness, and training. Dr O’Donnell serves as an expert advising the OECD PISA Climate Change and Sustainability Assessment Framework. Carol has won numerous awards for her lifelong dedication to science education, including the NAPE Unsung Hero award for her efforts in promoting inclusive STEM classrooms; an AERA Award for her seminal scholarship in implementation science in K-12 curriculum studies; and the University of Pittsburgh Distinguished Alumni Award.