Author Archive

What is Bill’s Climate Lab?

Bill Nye’s Climate Lab is the brainchild of Chabot Space & Science Center, nested in the Oakland hills of California. It’s an interactive, educational initiative that brings us down to Earth to explore the impact that our changing climate is having on the planet. We launched the web site BillsClimateLab.org in March, which stands alone as an interactive educational game about climate change solutions.  But BillsClimateLab.org also serves as a companion web site to the physical exhibition, Bill Nye’s Climate Lab (opening November 20, 2010) that our team is extremely busy working on.

If you’re a Gen-Yer like me, you probably remember Bill Nye as “the Science Guy” who taught you everything you know about science. For the purposes of this initiative, we’re thrilled to be collaborating with Bill Nye as “the Climate Guy.”

In the physical exhibition, visitors journey from space to Earth on an urgent mission to thwart climate change by discovering exciting clean energy opportunities and solutions. With Bill Nye as commander of the Clean Energy Space Station, visitors will explore the science of climate change, meet scientists, consider new ideas and express their opinions. New scouts, excited to continue working toward sustainable energy use on Earth, are invited to extend their experience, through online games and activities atwww.BillsClimateLab.org.

The aim of the project is to both educate the public about the science behind climate change and inspire kids and families to reduce energy consumption and discover solutions to our warming planet. Of course the Web site has the ability to reach young people across counties and borders. But the online experience is certainly enriched by visiting the physical exhibition and vice versa.

What is your job with the Climate Lab?

I am the Associate Producer of Web and Digital Media for Bill Nye’s Climate Lab. I divide my time between working closely to make sure the digital and interactive media in the physical and online exhibitions align. I also work on social media campaigns to help spread the word about Bill’s Climate Lab to as many youth and educators as possible.

Have you met Bill Nye? Was he wearing a bowtie?

I have met Bill! (I had the honor of pinning Bill’s blue lab coat for the perfect fit in some photo opps.) At the end of June Bill flew up specifically to shoot some video footage for the exhibition. He wasn’t wearing his signature red bow tie when we met, but he does have quite an impressive collection of red bow ties that he brought to the studio with him. The video shoot went really well, and, as Bill likes to say, included some hilarious moments of science comedy. He did an Oscar-worthy performance in a battle with paper airplanes and he was very funny in a remote control helicopter chase. Bill is a pro and amazing at adlibbing. He really made our jobs easy, fun and memorable.

What’s coming up for Bill’s Climate Lab that we should check out?

Our benefit, Global Cool is coming up on November 13. Bill Nye is the honored guest for the evening, which will include the exhibition unveiling, entertainment, views of the cosmos, and more. We’ll also be auctioning off great prizes — one of the items up for grabs is Bill’s bicycle as featured in the exhibition. At 9pm Global Cool(er) is the after party for all the do-gooders.

The physical exhibition is opening in less than 3 months! So if you happen to be in the Bay Area on or after November 20th you should definitely come up to Chabot Space & Science Center and see the exhibition in its physical form. Without giving too much away, there is a life-size submersible replica, hot air balloon, and a simulated bicycle ride with Bill Nye, himself.

Also, we are hosting a campaign that invites individuals and groups to respond to questions related to climate change, for a chance to be featured in the Bill Nye’s Climate Lab exhibition. More details will follow on our social media pages. And of course, to get the timeliest news related to Bill Nye’s Climate Lab, you can follow us onFacebook.com/billsclimatelab and Twitter @billsclimatelab.

What is something you do in your own life to fight climate change?

I simplify. There’s so little we need in this world to be happy and functional. And climate change, we are learning, seems to be the result of excess. So I do what I can. I bike as much as possible. I shop locally. I carry reusable bags with me. I turn out the lights when I’m not in a room. I take that extra moment to think about which bin to throw my trash into. Here’s a good one: In the past few years I’ve also started taking freezing cold showers which must shorten my time in the shower by 90%, saving energy and water! I guess when it comes down to it there is no single silver bullet or panacea to the problem of climate change. And while I’m not suggesting everyone give up their leisurely morning shower, I do think that there are small things we can each do that, when tallied collectively, add up to a whole lot when it comes to preserving our planet.

Thanks Kathryn! I think I’m going to go watch some Bill Nye The Science Guy now.

To learn more about Bill Nye’s Climate Lab, check out this post from fellow Inconvenient Youth member, and fantastic blogger, Shilpi Misra. You can also learn more about Inconvenient Youth.

- Grant

Our Choice: A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis is Al Gore’s latest book and a follow-up to An Inconvenient Truth. While An Inconvenient Truth introduced climate change and its causes to millions, Our Choice goes further, exploring the solutions to the climate crisis and what we can do to solve it.

As he has before, Mr. Gore will be training volunteers to present to the public on this issue through his climate change leadership program, The Climate Project. As an initiative of The Climate Project, Inconvenient Youth will train five teens who will become Climate Project Presenters and members of the Inconvenient Youth Advisory Board. Applications are being accepted now and the deadline to apply is May 28, 2010.

So, if you are between 13 and 18 years old and want to take your climate activism to the next level, apply here by this Friday. If you’re not, but know someone who should apply, send them this link!

Between May 29 and June 3, a selection committee will choose the five students who will be trained in June. Selected students will be notified on June 6 and the training will be held on June 27-28, 2010 in Nashville, TN.

Learn more about Inconvenient Youth

- Grant England - Inconvenient Youth Coordinator