Let’s Talk Science: Tackling Climate Change Through STEM Education

Pictured is Dr. Jeremy McNeil (1944-2024) sharing climate education with youth at a local Let’s Talk Science Program © Courtesy of Let’s Talk Science

Let’s Talk Science: Tackling Climate Change Through STEM Education

Let’s Talk Science is dedicated to making climate and sustainability education free and accessible to youth across Canada. Our climate programming has something for every student, from our children’s books to our sustainable action projects for middle and high schoolers.

An entomologist by training and a teacher at heart, the late Dr. Jeremy McNeil cared deeply for our environment. Jeremy helped author two of Let’s Talk Science’s climate books aimed at students in their early years: What is an insect? and Living in a Warming World What is an Insect? explores the amazing world of insects while showing the characteristics and diversity of insects with information complemented by Jeremy’s insect photography. Living in a Warming World focuses on Canadian animals and how they adapt to different conditions. It also introduces the impacts of climate change.

“Our dad’s passion for science was matched by his commitment to inspiring the next generation of scientists,” said Jeremy’s sons, Chris and Jaimie McNeil. “He believed that science holds the key to improving the health of our planet and that making the topic accessible to young children was a crucial step to nurturing the curiosity that would lead to future discoveries.”

For the older students, Clothing4Climate (C4C) and Travel4Climate (T4C) encourage students to explore how their clothing and transportation impact and interact with their environment. C4C teaches students how clothing impacts our climate and water systems and asks them to brainstorm sustainable fashion solutions, such as planning clothing swaps or upcycling old jeans and sneakers. T4C prompts students to examine how our current transportation systems impact the climate and create innovative, future-focused transportation proposals.

“I was really surprised by how much I learned and how it inspired me to make changes,” said Kristy Orser, a Girl Guide Leader from Musquodoboit Harbour, Nova Scotia. “Clothing4Climate has made me realize how little we know about the production process of the things we use every day. I work with girls aged five to 18, and I appreciated the resources that Let’s Talk Science provided to help me teach these concepts to girls of all ages.”

At Let’s Talk Science, we believe making climate and sustainability education accessible to students across Canada is the first step to creating environmentally conscious citizens and addressing climate change. To aid this mission and to honour Dr. Jeremy McNeil’s legacy, we are launching The McNeil Fund, which will help finance Let’s Talk Science’s free and accessible climate and sustainability programming and make STEM available to youth across Canada. Join us in this journey towards a more innovative and greener future.

To learn more about our programs and resources, visit letstalkscience.ca

ABOUT LET’S TALK SCIENCE

Let’s Talk Science, a leading partner in Canadian education, is a national charitable organization committed to inspiring and empowering children and youth of all ages in Canada to develop the skills they need to participate and thrive. To accomplish this, Let’s Talk Science offers a comprehensive suite of STEM-based programs to support youth, educators, and volunteers across Canada.