The Science Moms' Guide to Climate Conversations with Kids

Today’s guests are Dr. Melissa Burt and Dr. Emily Fischer, who are part of a group called the Science Moms. The Science Moms are a consortium of climate scientists who are also mothers and who are, in their words, working to give our children the planet they deserve. They aim to demystify climate science and motivate everyday moms to demand climate change plans and solutions.

Dr. Burt is an assistant professor in the Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University with a focus on arctic clouds, radiation and sea ice, and the assistant dean for diversity and inclusion in the school's Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering. Dr. Fischer is an associate professor also in the Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University. She also serves as an affiliate faculty member for the CSU School of Global Environmental Sustainability.

A few months ago, we took to social media to see who could talk more about kids and climate change. The Science Moms were recommended by a huge number of folks that we know and trust. So here we are. Enjoy the show!

In this episode, we cover: 

• [2:36] Background of Dr. Melissa Burt and Dr. Emily Fischer
• [7:26] An overview of the Science Moms 
• [9:01] Concerns parents have when talking to kids about climate change
• [10:47] How to engage kids of different ages on climate 
• [16:39] How to feel confident in discussing climate change without being an expert
• [20:09] Political implications of discussing climate change
• [27:31] Myth vs. fact about climate change
• [29:41] Examples of collective action for parents and kids
• [33:41] Resources for learning more about Science Moms

Episode recorded on Feb 5, 2024 (Published on Feb 12, 2024)

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*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant