It’s Science Literacy Week – woohoo!!!!
For those unfamiliar, Science Literacy Week is an annual event that celebrates the messy, astounding, wonder-filled thing that is the scientific method and all the knowledge it gives us. It’s a time to learn about science, do some science, and – you guessed it – read science books to improve our understanding of what science is and how it works.
It’s a science writer’s favourite time of year.
The theme of Science Literacy Week 2021 is C is for Climate, which works out beautifully, because this year Science Literacy week overlaps with National Forest Week AND National Tree Day! All of which make this the PERFECT time to officially launch the Million Tree Project.
Here are three ways you can join me in celebrating Science Literacy Week while taking concrete action to fight the ongoing climate crisis.
Read The Boreal Forest
Especially if you are participating in the Red Cedar Awards this year, because The Boreal Forest is on your reading list! And it’s chock full of both gorgeous art and amazing facts about the world’s largest land biome and Canada’s biggest forest – including the way this forest traps and stores carbon dioxide, slowing the pace of climate change.
Participate in the Million Tree Project
The Million Tree Project is a brand new, Canada Wide Experiment brought to you by Science Rendezvous. Its goal is to spark a million conversations about trees and ALL of the things they do for people and the planet. Spoiler alert: slowing climate change is only one of them!
I am super stoked about the Million Tree Project because I am the author of the official Resource Guide for the initiative. The guide is available in print and online. It’s totally free, and it’s jam-packed with both forest science AND practical tips for tree planting. But don’t stop there: check out all the of the additional goodies on the Million Tree Project’s official website, including tree-themed lesson plans written by teachers and aligned with Canadian curricula.
If you’re really digging it (see what I did there?) you can even watch this recording of a virtual presentation I did during our soft launch in the spring. Watch out for sky-diving ducklings!
Explore Wáhta Teachings
Wáhta Teachings is also launching this week! This free, multimedia resource places Traditional Indigenous Knowledge and the science of the sugar maple side-by-side, and is also full of cross-curricular information and activities. Working on this collaborative project was an honour and a privilege – to learn more about it, check out this “how-to” video where I tell you all about it! And be sure to hop on over to the website to see if for yourself.
Want More?
Visit the websites for your local universities, libraries, and science centres to see what’s going on. Or check out the Science Literacy Week website for more ideas on ways to celebrate and get involved, this week, and all year round.