About
The Livability Community of Practice will introduce climate change and its impact on local and global populations, ecosystems and infrastructure, and it considers mitigation and adaptation strategies. The program will culminate with an on-campus capstone event.
Facilitators
Kelsea Best is an assistant professor of civil environmental and geodetic engineering in Ohio State's Knowlton School of Architecture. Best’s research focuses on understanding how climate change interacts with human societies and infrastructure, how people may adapt to climate change effects and how climate adaptation measures can be designed and implemented in a just and equitable way. Her work is highly interdisciplinary and strives to connect methods, disciplines and researchers from across geographies and fields. Best’s research is grounded in data-driven methods, including machine learning and agent-based modeling, but it also seeks to advance conventional modeling approaches by expanding the role of personal narrative and community participation in informing computational models.
Jason Cervenec is the education and outreach director for the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center at The Ohio State University. The diverse outreach portfolio of the Center reaches approximately 12,000 individuals annually and includes programs in cutting-edge science, science education, history and the arts. The most common request for information that he receives from the public is on climate change. Cervenec earned a BS in biology and an M.Ed. in secondary science education from Ohio State. He began his career as a high school science teacher, where he taught for more than a decade. During that time, he established two Science Olympiad teams and served as a lead instructor on an Ohio Board of Regents grant to train teachers in modeling instruction. In 2010, Cervenec took part in a Fulbright Teacher Exchange in Mumbai, India, and leads the Columbus Climate Change Action Plan Task Force and volunteers with Franklin County’s Restorative Justice Circles.
Additional Information
District leadership may nominate educators by completing nomination/application webform. Individual educators may nominate themselves using the same webform; however, they must include a letter of recommendation or concurrence from their school principal.
The program offers each participating educator a modest stipend as well as textbooks and other resources. There is no cost for the teachers to participate. Stipends will be disbursed following the successful completion of the institute.
- Which educators would benefit from participating in the Difficult Subjects Institute?
Any K-12 educator would benefit from the program. Institute workshops are at the heart of the program curriculum and are led by scholars from The Ohio State University who have expertise in history, literature, art, music, science and performance.
- How does the district nominate an individual to participate?
District leadership may nominate educators by completing the nomination/application webform.
- Can individuals volunteer without the permission of their district leaders?
Yes, individual educators may nominate themselves by completing the nomination/application webform. However, they must include a letter of recommendation or concurrence from their school principal.
- How long and how often are the sessions in which our district’s educators may participate?
The program consists of 30 hours of professional development engagement and includes an orientation session (in January); three-hour Saturday seminars once a month (for five months) followed by an in-person experiential learning field trip and workshop (in June).
- Are there any costs associated with participating in the institute?
The program offers each participating educator a modest stipend as well as textbooks and other resources. There is no cost for the teachers to participate. Stipends will be disbursed following the successful completion of the institute.
- What is the specific process for participating educators from my district to earn credit for participation?
Upon successful completion of the whole program, educators will be awarded a certificate and verification of contact hours that may be submitted for CEU consideration to the relevant district committee.
- What is the process for enrolling in the institute?
District leadership may nominate educators by completing nomination/application webform. Individual educators may nominate themselves using the same webform; however, they must include a letter of recommendation or concurrence from their school principal.
- Can I enroll in two tracks simultaneously during the same year?
No. Each program track runs concurrently; therefore, participation is limited to one track per year.
- Can I enroll in another program track if I’ve participated in the past?
Yes, per the discretion of the director. Email Program Coordinator Siatta Dennis-Brown (dennis-brown.1@osu.edu).
- Can I participate if I am educational staff but not a teacher?
Those who are not direct educators may participate per the discretion of the director. Email Program Coordinator Siatta Dennis-Brown (dennis-brown.1@osu.edu).
Program Expectations
- Are there any costs associated with participating in the institute?
The program offers each participating educator a modest stipend as well as textbooks and other resources. There is no cost for the teachers to participate. Stipends will be disbursed following the successful completion of the Institute.
- What is the institute’s policy on attendance?
We understand that life happens, and conflicts may arise. Institute participants are expected to attend all of the sessions unless there are exigent circumstances. We encourage participants to consider applying for the following year if they are unable to fulfill this commitment. Please note that if participants are unable to attend the final field trip, the final stipend amount will be prorated down to $250.
- What is the format of the sessions?
Sessions may be virtual or hybrid depending on the format indicated by the instructor.
Program Resources
- When will I expect to receive books and materials?
Attending the program orientation is mandatory. Institute participants will receive their textbooks and other relevant resources at this event.
- What’s the vendor form? How and why should I complete it?
The Ohio State University requires all institute participants to complete and submit a vendor form in order to receive a payment from the university. This form establishes participants as vendors for this purpose.
- If I completed a vendor form in previous years, could I use the vendor information that I have on file?
The University has recently updated its Vendor Form protocols, and all Institute participants will need to submit new forms regardless of previous enrollment.
- How long will it take for me to receive my stipend at the completion of the program?
Electronic Direct Deposits may take up to 60 days. Regular checks may take up to 90 days.
Email Program Coordinator Siatta Dennis-Brown (dennis-brown.1@osu.edu).