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This problem-based case study guides students through a systematic exploration of the scientific issues surrounding the application and development of hydrogen fuel technology. A PowerPoint presentation introduces a New York Times article about the impact of our abundant natural gas resources on the cost of hydrogen fuel production. The article includes an Energy Department estimate that places the gasoline-cost equivalent of hydrogen fuel production, compression, and distribution at less than $4 per gallon, making it a viable option for the transportation sector. Students are then given primary literature articles and a worksheet to help them examine (1) the benefits and drawbacks of using hydrogen as a fuel in automobiles and trucks, (2) the current technological/engineering limitations of using hydrogen fuel, and (3) whether the pursuit of developing large-scale use of hydrogen-powered cars is the right direction for the country. Originally written for a second semester/second quarter general chemistry course, the case study is designed to illustrate the direct application of chemical thermodynamics and gas laws to the production and distribution of renewable fuels.  

The left panels show the absolute number of species whose populations have declined in each region; the right panels show the percentage of species that declined in each region. The top panels include all land vertebrates (amphibians, birds, reptiles, and mammals), whereas the bottom panels represent only bird species. Project or distribute the image to engage students. The downloadable Educator Materials PDF, which includes background information, graph interpretation and discussion questions, and the Student Handout, which includes the image and background information, have been remediated to comply with Section 508 of the National Rehabilitation Act for accessibility and can be used with screen readers.

short video Sir David Attenborough narrates the extraordinary history of the Montreal Protocol to raise awareness of the 28th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol in Kigali, Rwanda, and efforts to control powerful global warming chemicals hydrofluorocarbons - HFCs - under the Protocol. Reducing HFCs under the Montreal Protocol can avoid 0.5°C of global warming by the end of the century, while continuing to protect the ozone layer.

One Day on Earth is a global collaborative project that launched last fall for the purpose of documenting 24 hours of life around the world. On October 10, 2010 (10.10.10) people around the world filmed life in their parts of the world. Those recordings were then contributed to a massive film project that will eventually be edited down to showcase the diversity, conflicts, tragedies, and triumphs that take place in a 24 hour period across the globe. The film is not ready yet, but you can explore many of the contributed videos by visiting the One Day on Earth map.

Clearing California Skies California, 1943. The mysterious haze called smog was getting worse - burning eyes, searing throats, literally choking the life out of Californians. The video, Clearing California Skies tells the story of how concerned citizens, top scientists, and local and state government agencies fought back. It took the best science and engineering to control smog forming emissions from factories, shops, incinerators, and the automobile. Despite meteoric population gains, (more factories, more cars, more trucks) - air quality has improved dramatically over the past 50 years, and along the way California emerged as a world leader in the battle against air pollution.

Dr. Jason Moore's work is a really amazing look at the concept of the Anthropocene and the connection between ecological damages and capitalism/globalization throughout history. A really nice way to frame the big picture for a lot of the topics in APES. His main website is down (jasonwmoore.com), but this article should give an idea of the point being made.

The heat is on for the planet as a whole, but what has been happening where you live? Click on the map to find out, or enter a location in the search box at top right. The initial map shows average temperatures over the past 20 years; use the drop-down menu to see maps for earlier periods.

Looks young at start...claims it is k-12 appropriate.In this Watershed Sleuth Challenge, you will learn more about your watershed-what it is, why it's important, and what you can do to help protect it, as you earn badges at each level of this three-part course. In the first lesson, you will learn about the watershed basics: where the water comes from, where it goes, and what it does along the way. Completing this lesson on the facts of watersheds and water quality earns you the blue Watershed Sleuth badge.

Chevron presents "Energyville", an interactive energy game developed by The Economist Group. The game challenges players to power a virtual city through 2030 and keep the economic, environmental and security impacts low in the choices they make. There is a lot of information to explore in the game. It's great for students, teachers or anyone who's interested in learning more about the complexities of energy management and how energy affects our cities and our lives. If anyone ever tries this..please post updates!

Scientists have combined cookies, citizen science and robust research methods to track the diversity of ant species across the United States, and are now collaborating with international partners to get a global perspective on how ants are moving and surviving in the modern world. The School of Ants project was developed to help researchers get a handle on the diversity of ant species across the United States.

There are many statistical measures that show how productive the U.S. is. Its economy is the largest in the world and grew at a rate of 4.1 percent last quarter, its fastest pace since 2014. The unemployment rate is near the lowest mark in a half century. What can be harder to decipher is how Americans use their land to create wealth. The 48 contiguous states alone are a 1.9 billion-acre jigsaw puzzle of cities, farms, forests and pastures that Americans use to feed themselves, power their economy and extract value for business and pleasure.

Consider the classic white t-shirt. Annually, we sell and buy 2 billion t-shirts globally, making it one of the most common garments in the world. But how and where is the average t-shirt made, and what's its environmental impact? Angel Chang traces the life cycle of a t-shirt.

The island nation has mounted an aggressive response to illegal fishing in their waters. How they protect themselves may help the rest of the world save all of the oceans.

lastic. It's super useful but it's also a big problem for the environment. Enough plastic is thrown away every year to circle the earth four times! The main issue is that plastic doesn't biodegrade, meaning it sticks around for a very long time. This video gives a quick overview of the scope of the plastic problem and what some people are doing to try to solve it. .

Clue into Climate: A Digital Media-Based Curriculum Unit on Climate Change was created with input from San Francisco Bay Area teachers and advisors. The curriculum unit is comprised of four content strands, each of which includes 5-7 media resources related to the strand topic. Each strand also contains a strand guide and assessment, a background article and 4-5 lesson plans that provide information and activities to support the use of the media with students. Additionally, the curriculum unit provides a student workbook and a climate education resource guide.

The city of Darwin in Australia's Northern Territory lies in the heart of crocodile country. In the 1950s, saltwater crocodiles were shot, skinned, and turned into shoes and handbags. After hunting was banned in the 1970s, crocodile numbers climbed. Now there's a croc for every man, woman, and child in Darwin. Can the human citizens learn to live alongside their toothy neighbors? Good source of quick podcasts and a guide for using them.

Set against the restoration of war-torn Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique, The Guide tells the story of a young man from the local community who discovers a passion for science after meeting world-renowned biologist E.O. Wilson. Discussion guides and more as well.

The Hiking Leadership Training (HLT) is designed to train teachers and youth workers how to plan, organize, and lead fun and safe hikes with youth.  Novice and experienced hikers will gain new leadership and facilitation skills.  Some of the topics covered during the training include: fun games for the trail, leave no trace, the natural history of open spaces, risk management, meal planning, navigation, and more.

Seeing is believing. Real-world visual evidence has a unique ability to convey the reality and immediacy of global warming to a worldwide audience. The Extreme Ice Survey provides scientists with basic and vitally important information on the mechanics of glacial melting and educates the public with firsthand evidence of how rapidly the Earth's climate is changing. EIS is a voice for landscapes that would have no voice unless we gave them on