In a year marked by extreme weather events — including Ohio’s historic drought and the chilling cold of a polar vortex that brought temperatures feeling as low as -20 degrees across much of the state — Ohio State’s Improving Weather and Climate Understanding in Ohio program is expanding its reach with a new online course.
What started as a statewide effort to bring weather and climate education to Ohio is now broadening accessibility to even more educators, environmental professionals, and students.
After taking the state by storm with in-person workshops, the program is launching a self-paced online course starting Feb. 18, 2025. The course, Weather, Climate, and Climate Change for Ohio’s Environmental and Natural Resources Professionals and Volunteers, will run from Feb. 18 through March 28. It offers four modules packed with engaging content, programming, and activities adapted directly from the in-person workshops.
“Offering an online option is great for those who have been interested in our in-person workshops but couldn’t attend because of travel, work, or other obstacles,” said Geddy Davis, project lead and program coordinator for weather and climate services with Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center (BPCRC) at The Ohio State University. “We know there’s demand for this content, and by offering an online option, we’re hoping to further meet this demand.”
The online course is made possible through Ohio State Energy Partners funding, with support from BPCRC, the Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist (OCVN) program, and Ohio State University Extension. OSU Extension is the statewide outreach arm of Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.
This fall, the program hosted workshops in partnership with OSU Extension in Summit and Franklin counties, Edge of Appalachia – Cincinnati Museum Center, and the Green Teachers Conference in Athens County. These workshops reached 74 professionals and volunteers across Ohio, including K-12 educators, Extension educators, Master Gardener Volunteers, MetroParks volunteers, Soil and Water Conservation staff, and OCVN participants.
“We offered these workshops to meet the growing need for weather and climate education,” said Anne Baird, director of the OCVN program. “By offering an online option, we can expand our reach even further.”
The program’s workshops have sparked new conversations and efforts in local communities. Maggie Rivera, OSU Extension educator for agriculture and natural resources in Summit County, noted that the workshops have inspired Master Gardener Volunteers to integrate climate conversations into their usual plant-focused meetings.
“The workshop met the moment for many of the region’s Master Gardeners who attended,” Rivera said. “I heard plans to include climate in meetings that typically are just about plants and plant issues. There were also talks of book clubs and discussion groups being formed. This workshop provided data, resources, and connections to speakers and has given life to new efforts and continued learning!”
While the move to an online format expands access to the program, one final in-person workshop will be held at the University of Toledo Lake Erie Center. Updates can be found on the program’s webpage.
“The feedback from our past workshops has been invaluable,” Davis said. “It’s clear that there’s a strong desire to understand climate systems and the impacts of climate change. This online course is another step toward meeting that demand, making it easier to access this vital information.”
