Day of Climate invites proposals to shape the future of climate education and action
By Mariah Rawding
Over the past year, the world has experienced some of the most extreme climate events in recent memory, from devastating wildfires in the United States to record-breaking heatwaves across Asia to severe flooding in Europe. In response to this ongoing global challenge, MIT is equipping the next generation with tools to understand climate science and imagine solutions.
Day of Climate, part of the MIT pK-12 Initiative at Open Learning, is seeking proposals from the Institute community, including faculty, researchers, students, and staff, for this year’s Day of Climate. Proposals should focus on creating high-quality, accessible, and empowering educational materials for pK-12 learners and educators. The deadline to submit proposals is October 3 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Launched in 2024, the initiative is designed to equip pK-12 learners and their educators with concise, hands-on educational materials and tools to help learners to better understand climate change, its impacts, and potential solutions. Aimed to spark curiosity, deepen understanding, and empower young learners, the initiative explores both the impacts of climate change and paths to action.
In its first year, Day of Climate dispersed more than $100,000 in grants to 10 groups within the MIT community. Over the course of eight months, the grantees developed curricula, ran professional development sessions, and showcased their work at an in-person celebration at the MIT Museum. Since launching online, the materials, which are licensed under Creative Commons, have drawn more than 100,000 views from around the world. From playful curricula like Climate Change Charades and Urban Heat Islands, there are curricula and resources that span elementary to high school levels and support both learners and educators.
This initiative reflects MIT’s broader commitment to climate leadership. Following the Institute’s strategic priorities, Professor Evelyn Wang’s appointment as vice president for energy and climate, and the MIT Climate Project’s goal to become a leading source of technological, behavioral, and policy solutions in the coming decade, the Day of Climate initiative underscores the role of education in driving change.
“Day of Climate demonstrates the power of MIT to convene diverse voices, bring forward creative, educational ideas, and translate research into real-world educational resources and transformational action,” says Claudia Urrea, executive director of the MIT pK-12 Initiative and director of Day of Climate. “By empowering learners and educators, we are supporting the next generation to understand climate science and imagine impactful solutions.”
Led by the MIT pK-12 Initiative at Open Learning, Day of Climate is supported by an interdisciplinary leadership team, including: Christopher R. Knittel, MIT faculty lead, director of the Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research, director of Climate Action Through Education (CATE), associate dean of climate and energy at MIT Sloan, and George P. Shultz Professor of Energy Economics; and Cynthia Breazeal, dean for digital learning at MIT Open Learning, director of MIT RAISE, and professor of media arts and sciences.
Learn more about the call for proposals and the submission guidelines.
Day of Climate invites proposals to shape the future of climate education and action was originally published in MIT Open Learning on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.