Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Dundee kids learning about climate change
MORE than 1,200 Dundee children are learning about climate change during COP26 Schools Week at the city’s science centre.
A series of activities, demonstrations and experiments for P4-7 pupils from 13 primary schools are being delivered by the centre.
Parents, grandparents and carers will be keen to know what they are learning about the planet and how – so we enlisted the centre’s Carlene Cura to give us the lowdown.
The first group from Longhaugh Primary was joined by Scotland’s Minister for Children and Young People Clare Haughey yesterday.
They will be followed by classes from Forthill, Mill of Mains, St Andrew’s, St Peter and Paul’s, Ballumbie, Dens Road, Fintry, Downfield, Tayview, Eastern, Ancrum Road and St Fergus’ Primary Schools over the coming days.
During two-hour workshops children are discovering how seas and oceans are warming, all about renewable energy and how climate change can affect our health.
Carlene said the pupils were discovering three things:
1. Ocean acidification impacts coral reefs and shellfish – as oceans are made more acidic by soaking up CO2, corals and animals with shells made of calcium carbonate use more energy repairing their shells, leaving less for growing or reproducing. An experiment shows the impact of acid by combining vinegar and calcium carbonate in a test tube and letting it fizz.
2. How CO2 traps heat – in the atmosphere carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas which has caused most of human-made global warming, traps infrared light or heat. The effect is demonstrated using a special camera to show how infrared light given off by humans is blocked by a perspex screen – like CO2 – but permeates through a binbag.
3. How engineers are fighting combat change – children are learning about renewable energy technology by trying their hand at being climate engineers. They are challenged to build their own simple windmill, using templates and split pins, then put them to the test.
Carlene, who is the centre’s development and fundraising advisor, said: “It’s important for us to continue the legacy of COP26 and ensure that these subjects continue to be in reach of younger people.
“Rather than leaving the climate decision-making to the policymakers and the big names, they too can see that they have a role to play.
“Our COP26 Schools Week will drill down to the detail, bring the topics to life and show their relevance to each and every one of the children involved.
“Who knows, we might even shape the next generation of change-makers in the process!”
The centre was asked by Dundee City Council to host COP26 Schools Week, which has been partly funded by the Edina Trust.
Ms Haughey said the Scottish Government was determined to ensure the climate change summit reached out to communities far beyond negotiations in Glasgow, and has provided almost £950,000 to allow children and young people to participate.
She said: “The COP26 Schools Week being hosted by Dundee Science Centre in partnership with the city council is a great example of continuing the legacy of COP26 and underlines the importance of the voice of children and young people on this issue.”