Apply to the School of Engineering

Climate Change and Data Visualization

Student activism in recent years has moved the climate crisis to the forefront of public discussion. In this course, students will gain an overview of climate change topics including historical and contemporary research, the current state of the Earth system, proposed mitigation strategies like carbon dioxide removal, and critical perspectives on the social and technological changes required for decarbonization. The class will begin with an introduction to coding and data visualization in Python and graphic design techniques. Building on these skills, student teams will develop and present infographics for a communication medium of their choice, such as social media, newspapers, or public poster campaigns.

This class is open to 9th, 10th and 11th graders.

Instructors: Matthew Grattan, STEM Teaching Fellow, and Cooper Union student teaching assistants

Prerequisites: none

Teaching method: Online, Real time, Synchronous. The instructor and teaching assistants will lead students through daily scheduled lectures, discussions, and practice sessions.

Materials: A CU@Home kit will be provided to students living in the United States only.

Technology Requirements:

Class: Computer with camera and microphone to participate in online video class (Zoom) and project work at the same time.

Project work: Computer with WiFi to use web-based software and file management system (Microsoft Office and Teams). Camera to collect images and video of your project and upload to presentation and portfolio.

Credits: 0.00

Course Code: stem212

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

  • From its beginnings, Cooper Union was a unique institution, dedicated to founder Peter Cooper's proposition that education is the key not only to personal prosperity but to civic virtue and harmony.

  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.