Cool Us or Kill Us? An Introduction to Geoengineering | Weathered

This episode of Weathered explores solar geoengineering, a controversial method of injecting sulfate aerosols into the stratosphere to create a global cooling effect. Students will learn about the theoretical promises and possible risks associated with manipulating the Earth’s atmosphere in this manner. Students will investigate why aerosols in the atmosphere can create temperature change and debate whether extreme times call for extreme measures. An optional ELA activity allows students to align themselves with one of two opposing opinion statements about solar geoengineering, and evaluate how rhetoric devices were used in each.

About the Author:

Merek Chang is a high school science teacher in Hacienda La Puente Unified School District in Southern California. He received his B.S from UC Davis and an M.A in education from San Diego State University. He is a KQED Media Literacy Innovator and is passionate about uplifting student voices and connecting the community to the classroom through the lens of environmental literacy and civic engagement.