NOAA Program Manager to teach Global Climate Change at the U.S. Naval Academy
Diane Stanitski.
This fall, Dr. Diane Stanitski will teach two sections of the upper level course,
Global Climate Change, to midshipmen in the Oceanography Department at the United States Naval Academy. During the semester, Stanitski will incorporate current NOAA science into her presentations, and share her experiences working in the NOAA Climate Observation Division of the Climate Program Office with the students. Lectures and labs will incorporate study of national policies such as the development of a National Climate Service, and utilize an array of climate data records.
The Navy recently reviewed the curriculum of the U.S. Naval Academy's Oceanography Department and recommended the addition of a course on climate, thereby ensuring that the future Officers will be better prepared to develop and refine climate change adaptation activities in the future. With the Navy establishing Task Force Climate Change in May 2009, and a recent announcement that the Department of Defense is proactively taking steps to adapt to climate change and develop an approach to climate change challenges, the timing is excellent to bring NOAA climate science to the Academy.
Stanitski is a climatologist with a passion for teaching. She believes that there may be advantages to both the Academy and NOAA by offering this course. This is an opportunity to help our country's future leaders understand and prepare for climate change. Several NOAA scientists will serve as guest speakers in the class, and midshipmen will participate in a field trip to the NOAA offices in Silver Spring. Stanitski will take the opportunity to discuss careers at NOAA and in the NOAA-related sciences with the students. Many NOAA Corps officers have transitioned from the Navy and midshipmen may consider working for NOAA at some point in their future.
