MIT: Independent Activities Period: IAP

IAP 2017



Climate Action Hands On: Harnessing Science with Communities to Cut Carbon

Dave Damm-Luhr, Rajesh Kasturirangan, Britta Voss, Patrick Brown

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/18
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions

Looking to put your skills into action to tackle climate change? Regardless of your field, this course will engage participants in the practical side of collecting data, using technical solutions to climate challenges and working with diverse community groups to accelerate progress.

Through in-class lectures and discussion, as well as a data collection field trip and a “maker”-style activity session in 10-150 at MIT , participants will get background about effective science-based community action and practice putting that knowledge into action themselves. The course will focus on approaches to applying scientific data and new technologies to climate-related research needs, community risks, and policy actions, with a particular emphasis on urban methane emissions.

Problem solvers of all backgrounds and experience levels are welcome! Just bring a passion for changing the world for the better and an eagerness to roll up your sleeves.

Register for the course at: http://bit.ly/climatex-iap17

Sponsor(s): Fossil Free MIT
Contact: Curt Newton, cjnewton@mit.edu


Overview of citizen science

Jan/18 Wed 01:00PM-03:30PM 4-153

Introduction to citizen/community science networks in operation, including PublicLab; future of community science and why climate science could benefit from a community approach.

Dave Damm-Luhr, Rajesh Kasturirangan, Britta Voss


Hackathon on methane leak visualization

Jan/23 Mon 09:00AM-01:00PM 10-150

Mini-hackathon on database building, app development, data collection equipment design/construction, data visualization, GIS data processing, animation/infographic design, and emissions modeling. Details on the history of natural gas infrastructure nationally and in Boston area, protocols for reporting and fixing leaks, methane monitoring methods, opportunities for community involvement.

Dave Damm-Luhr, Rajesh Kasturirangan, Nathan Phillips, Britta Voss


Sniffing out urban methane leaks

Jan/31 Tue 10:00AM-02:00PM Location TBD

Hands-on activity collecting data on real-word methane leaks from natural gas infrastructure across Cambridge.

Dave Damm-Luhr, Rajesh Kasturirangan, Britta Voss, Nathan Phillips


Putting citizen-collected data to use

Feb/01 Wed 01:00PM-03:30PM 4-153

Debrief data collection on methane gas leaks and understand the value, uses and cautions of citizen-collected data. Discuss problems of field data collection and implications and explore the policy questions for which citizen science data can be used, including the history and record of results of environmental law in practice, science as evidence in legal battles, and leveraging media attention.

Dave Damm-Luhr, Rajesh Kasturirangan, Britta Voss, Nathan Phillips, Chris Nidel