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Climate Teach-In

2023 Climate Teach-In

The 2023 Climate Teach-In will be held April 19, 2023 1:30-5:30pm on Bend campus, Wille Hall in Coats Campus Center.

Register here on Eventbrite

Climate action is the theme of Central Oregon Community College’s 2nd annual Climate Teach-In — part of a worldwide event — on April 19 featuring a lineup of climate-focused talks and breakout sessions from 1:30-5:30 p.m. in Wille Hall on the Bend campus. This free event will include speakers from the college and the community, including the city of Bend, the Environmental Center and Oregon State University-Cascades, who will share 10-minute talks on how citizens can engage in active climate work in their own lives, with moderated discussions to follow. Info booths will provide resources for engagement. The presentations will also be viewable via livestream 2-3pm.

Event schedule:

  • 1:30-2 Check in and engage with community organizations at tables
  • 2-3:00 Welcome and opening speakers session (available to livestream, need to register in Eventbrite)
  • 3-4:00 Breakout sessions (3 options)
  • 4-4:30 Engage with community organizations at tables
  • 4-:30-5 Closing speakers session
  • 5-5:30 Engage with community organizations at tables

Opening Speakers:

  • Dr Laurie Chesley, President of COCC
  • Hal Wershow, COCC Assistant Professor II Geology
  • Laura Tabor, Climate Action Director of The Nature Conservancy in Oregon
  • Christy Walker, Director of COCC Office of Diversity and Inclusion
  • Neil Baunsgard, The Environmental Center
  • Matt Shinderman, OSU-Cascades Senior Instructor I, Natural Resources & Sustainability

Closing Speakers:

  • Phil Chang, Deschutes County Commissioner
  • Owen Murphy, COCC Associate Professor Health and Human Performance

Community organizations:

 Worldwide climate action teach in header

Download Worldwide Climate Action Teach-in Poster

Breakout Sessions descriptions:

  • Waste Reduction: The “Great Garbage Game” and Compost activity. Almost 70% of what goes into municipal solid waste in the US could be recycled or composted. Come learn how to make your everyday more sustainable.
  • City of Bend Climate Action Plan community input led by Cassie Lacy and Energy Plan Working Group discussion led by Jen Patterson.
  • Faculty panel and discussion of the Tragedy of the Commons. Led by Thomas Barry, COCC Professor of Sociology.

2022 Climate Teach-In

Thanks to all who participated in the Central Oregon Community College World-Wide Climate Teach-In on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. The full recording is here.

Links to short videos of each panelist :

Jackie Wilson, The Environmental Center: Climate education and Green Schools

Hal Wershow, Geology: Changing climate, adapting humans

Jennifer Kovitz, Marketing: Climate grief mindfulness meditation

Matt Higgins, Biology: Microorganisms and climate change

Matthew Novak, Psychology: Conservation Psychology

Megan Michell, Nursing: Climate Solutions for Health

Owen Murphy, Public Health: The Importance of Community

Sarah Baron Public Health: Climate change and how it directly impacts public health

Sarah Fuller, Biology: Climate Resilience and Pollinator Habitats

Steve Edwards, Biology: Introduction to Climate Issues - Engaging Climate Skepticism

Tom Barry, Sociology: The Climate Change Counter Revolution

Venus Nguyen, Art: Provoking Change Visually

At the global climate meetings In Glasgow last November, the youth delegation rightly called for action "Now. Not Next Month. Not next Year." Educators have the obligation now to help students understand the extraordinary moment in which we are living. Today's students have about a twenty-year window- working as artists, scientists, engineers, writers, business people, advocates, musicians, teachers-- to stabilize the climate and change the future. Replacing students' widespread climate despair with the recognition of their agency as citizens, volunteers and in their professional work is the purpose of this Teach-In.

COCC Faculty and staff will engage the audience in dynamic 5-minute presentations focused on climate change from the perspectives of geology, psychology, physics, microbiology, public health, art, sociology and more, followed by an interactive student-moderated discussion. Light refreshments provided.

Wille Hall from 3 - 5:30pm. Event is free to all, registration required due to room capacity and zoom livestream details.        To participate, contact COCC Sustainability Coordinator. See Eventbrite To Register.

In coordination with the World-Wide Global Teach-In being organized by Bard University.