Contact: Sevda Eris, seris@kqed.org, 415.553.2835

Partnership with Stanford University’s Precourt Institute for Energy and University of California’s Museum of Paleontology Creates Four New iBooks Textbooks

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KQED expands its iBooks Textbooks collection with Clue into Climate, a new, free, four-part climate change series, at a time when complex climate-related issues are at the forefront of environmental and energy policies not only in the U.S. but globally.

Clue into Climate explores climate change through a blend of high-quality videos, interactive graphics and real-world examples of the effects of climate change. Primarily developed for middle- and high-school students, but also relevant for lifelong learners, the series explores the causes of climate change, its impacts on freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems, and innovative strategies for curbing and adapting to change.

“From California’s severe drought to the United Nation’s recent warning that the world must phase out fossil fuels completely by 2100, climate issues are in the news more than ever,” says Robin Mencher, director of education and media learning for KQED. “KQED’s climate iBooks Textbooks couldn’t have been published at a better time for educators and students. They offer a real-life, media-rich experience of what climate change looks like on the ground and what can be done to stem its effects.”

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The four books in the series, available on iPad, are:
•Clue into Climate: Causes of Change (29 pages) – Investigate what climate change is, explore its causes and learn how scientists make projections about future changes. This book also features animations and videos on greenhouse gases and the carbon cycle.
•Clue into Climate: Changing Water (33 pages) – Discover how climate change influences rainfall and can cause the loss of glaciers. This book also looks at preparations for these changes and features animations and videos about the water cycle and the cryosphere.
•Clue into Climate: Changing Ecosystems (32 pages) – Explore the impact global warming will have on plant and animal species and how an increased level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is impacting our forests and oceans. This book’s highlights include interactive animations and videos about Arctic animals, ocean acidification and redwood trees.
•Clue into Climate: Facing Our Future (39 pages) – Find out how communities can prepare for and adapt to climate-related issues such as sea level rise, increased wildfires and impacts to agriculture. Through audio reports, interactive graphics and videos this book also examines California’s Carbon Market and alternative energy sources like biofuels and solar power.

“Even though recent polls show that a majority of Americans now believe climate change is happening, climate change remains a controversial and divisive issue when it comes to policymaking,” says Lisa White, director of education at the University of California Museum of Paleontology. “These new books offer a way for KQED’s partners to bring relevant research to life and promote greater access to information about climate and global environmental change in an easy-to-understand package for not only students but also the public."

Each book in the series features a career spotlight video highlighting people working on climate change issues. The books also include opportunities for students across the country to engage in discussion via Twitter through a social media activity called “Do Now,” and to create and share their own media projects on climate change topics. The books in the series, together with an accompanying iTunes U course, offer thought-provoking and visually engaging learning experiences both in and out of the classroom. The books also align with the Next Generation Science Standards and Climate Literacy: The Essential Principles of Climate Science, a list of the most important climate principles developed by climate scientists, educators and U.S. agencies.

"Responding to climate change involves many thousands of conversations around the world,” says Michael Mastrandrea, co-director of science for Working Group II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. "The KQED books put the science in clear, vibrant terms, inviting dialogue on risks in a changing climate and the opportunities for response.”

The Clue into Climate series is available for free download through the iBooks Store. Media, including infographics and videos, from the series will be available on KQED’s QUEST website on Friday, December 12.

iBooks Textbooks from KQED are produced by the award-winning KQED Science team, the largest science and environment reporting unit in California. The Clue into Climate series was developed by Andrea Aust, KQED science education manager and produced by Lauren Farrar, KQED science interactive media producer, with contributions from David Pierce, KQED information designer, Craig Miller, KQED science editor and Molly Samuel, KQED science reporter. Additional contributors to the iBooks Textbook series from Stanford University and the Carnegie Institution at Stanford include: Christopher Field, Robert Jackson, Katharine Mach, Michael Mastrandrea and Mark Shwartz. In addition, Lisa White and Jessica Bean at the University of California Museum of Paleontology and Minda Berbeco at the National Center for Science Education contributed to the series.

Support for the Clue into Climate iBooks Textbook series is provided by KQED’s Campaign 21. Support for KQED Science is provided by the National Science Foundation, HopeLab, The David B. Gold Foundation, S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, The Dirk and Charlene Kabcenell Foundation, The Vadasz Family Foundation, and the George G. and Jeanette A. Stuart Charitable Trust. Clue into Climate is a project of KQED Science.

About KQED
KQED serves the people of Northern California with a public-supported alternative to commercial media. Home to one of the most listened-to public radio stations in the nation, one of the highest-rated public television services, an award-winning education program, and as a leader and innovator in interactive technology, KQED takes people of all ages on journeys of exploration — exposing them to new people, places and ideas.

About The Precourt Institute for Energy at Stanford University
The Precourt Institute for Energy serves as the hub of energy research and education at Stanford University. Established in 2009, the Precourt Institute seeks to transform energy by supporting cutting-edge research and facilitating collaboration. Precourt also helps to develop energy-literate leaders and communities through educational programs and the dissemination of research results.

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About the University of California Museum of Paleontology
The University of California Museum of Paleontology investigates and promotes the understanding of the history of life and the diversity of the Earth's biota through research and education. It houses the largest paleontological collection (more the 5 million specimens) of any university museum in the world and its holdings are linked to UCMP’s educational websites, databases, specimen photographs, and digital archival materials and support the needs of both the research and teaching communities.

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KQED Publishes New Climate Change iBooks Textbook Series, 'Clue into Climate'