Narragansett Bay Classroom Course for Teachers
Brings Global Change Issues into the Classroom

Narragansett, RI. -- March 9, 2000 -- The Narragansett Bay Classroom at the URI Graduate School of Oceanography is offering a new course designed specifically for educators that will answer all kinds of questions about global warming, ozone loss, sea-level rise, and the health effects of environmental degradation.

Global Change Education includes nine classroom sessions and two field sessions. The classroom sessions will run for 8 consecutive Wednesdays beginning April 26, from 3:30 to 6 p.m. and on one Saturday, June 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Coastal Institute Conference and Visitor Center on the URI Bay Campus in Narragansett. The 4-hour long field sessions will be held on two consecutive Saturdays at coastal field sites beginning on May 13 at 8:30 a.m.

The course will cover a variety of topics, including world population, biodiversity, national legislation, and mitigation. Teachers will be introduced to the science issues relating to human impact on environmental systems as well as social, political, and economic systems that affect the environment. Instructors are Gail Scowcroft, Associate Director of Marine and Environmental Education in the URI Office of Marine Programs, and a team of URI Outreach Scientists.

Cost for this course is $495 per person. A for-credit option to earn graduate credits to satisfy Rhode Island teacher certification requirements is also available. For further information about the for-credit option, course content, or registration procedures, call URI's Office of Marine Programs at 401-874-6211.

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Visit the GSO website at http://www.gso.uri.edu/

Contact: Lisa Cugini, 874-6642, lcugini@gso.uri.edu