Register now for the 2017 USFWS Climate Academy

[Melanie Colón]

http://wildlife.org/register-now-for-the-2017-climate-academy/

 

Registration is now open for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Climate Academy, a collaborative effort between state and federal agencies as well as The Wildlife Society and other non-profit organizations.

Climate Academy is an online course designed to teach natural resources professionals the fundamentals of assessing, addressing, and communicating about climate change. The course brings in experts from a variety of natural resources fields to share their work within the larger context of climate change. Participants become familiar with tools and resources for adaptive management in a changing climate while networking with other professionals. At the end of the course, participants leave with a better understanding of the scientific basis for and biological impacts of climate change, as well as the tools to communicate climate science to co-workers, stakeholders, and the public.

The course consists of 10 bi-weekly webinars, from Jan. 11 – May 16, 2017. Assigned readings and discussions take place between webinars. At the conclusion of the course, participants submit a final project describing how climate change impacts natural resources management within their field.

“Climate Academy is a fantastic opportunity for natural resources professionals,” says Caroline Murphy, Government Affairs Associate at TWS and one of several collaborators working together on this curriculum. “Through this course, those from a variety of natural resources fields have the ability to investigate climate change and its impact on their work. By collaborating with other professionals in the research and application of climate science, participants leave the course better prepared to adapt their own natural resource management strategies to our planet’s changing climate.”

Natural resources managers and conservation professionals are encouraged to register for Climate Academy. The $200 tuition charge is waived for professionals working for FWS, National Parks Service, or Bureau of Land Management.

One semester hour of college credit can be earned for participation in the course, and up to 40 Continuing Education Units can be earned for TWS’ Certified Wildlife BiologistⓇ renewal and Professional Development Certification.

Registration is open until October 28, 2016. Applications are submitted through the National Conservation Training Center website (Course Code ALC 3193). Registration questions can be directed to Jill Del Vecchio (jill_delvecchio@fws.gov) and course content questions can be directed to Ashley Fortune (ashley_fortune@fws.gov).