Katrina Survivors in High School Offered Climate Studies

WASHINGTON, DC, September 6, 2007 (ENS) - World Wildlife Fund and the Allianz Foundation for North America Wednesday announced a new opportunity for high school students displaced by Katrina and now residing in nine U.S. cities to assess the climate change vulnerability of the southeastern United States.

"As these displaced students know from being on the frontlines, we're all increasingly vulnerable to climate change," said Dr. Lara Hansen chief climate scientist, World Wildlife Fund. "Now they have a unique chance to shape the future of their region - by exploring the science of what's happening and using what they discover to inspire action."

The project will give college-bound youth displaced by Hurricane Katrina an opportunity this spring to learn more about the science of climate change by working closely with scientists, use scientific tools for exploring and explaining regional vulnerability, and address decision-makers.

"Today's students - primary stakeholders in the Earth's future - deserve a voice in decisions being made now," said Reverend Christopher Worthley, executive director, Allianz Foundation for North America. "Because they'll be heirs to the environmental legacy of climate change, we have a responsibility to empower them to face the challenges ahead."

Through this project, 25 students will be chosen from public schools in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Gulf Port, Jackson and Biloxi, Mississippi; Mobile and Birmingham, Alabama; Atlanta, Georgia; and Nashville, Tennessee to assess the vulnerability of the southeastern United States to climate change.

Participants will receive a $1500 stipend and an Hewlett Packard laptop computer for their college studies. Selected students will also attend Climate Camp in June 2008 as well as a Youth Summit in Washington, DC next July.

This fall, teachers in these cities can send a letter to seclimatewitness@wwfus.org to nominate students for the program.

Nationally, teachers can use a curriculum on climate change designed for high school students to integrate climate change into their lessons and equip students for future responsibility and leadership. It is now available from World Wildlife Fund online at http://www.worldwildlife.org/seclimatewitness or via email at seclimatewitness@wwfus.org by request.

"These lessons are thorough, offering every type of activity I can imagine to help secondary students and teachers explore global climate change," said Tami Coleman, coordinator for Project Conservation Education Now for Tennessee Students, Tennessee Department of Education.

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2007. All rights reserved.