The devastating wildfires that erupted in Southern California in early January 2025 were historic in scale and impact, and interrupted the education of more than 725,000 students. There was a disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations, including students with disabilities, Latino and multilingual learners, and the socio-economically…

Communities in Kenya's rural areas, especially pastoralists in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), are amongst those most affected by climate change. ASAL areas are characterised by economic marginalisation with high poverty levels, significant gender disparities and vulnerability to climate disasters caused by extreme weather events. Communities in…

The United States possesses the most capable research enterprise, the largest economy, and the most sophisticated societal infrastructure in the world, yet it remains notably vulnerable to catastrophic damage and loss of life from natural hazards. Among weather hazards, hurricanes account for over half of the total damage inflicted. Despite their…

Increased levels of carbon dioxide have contributed to the problematic phenomenon known as the greenhouse effect. Evidence has indicated that the rise in carbon dioxide levels could be accurately correlated with a rise in the Earth's mean temperature, a shrinking of the polar icecaps, and a resulting rise in the Earth's mean sea level. The…

Described are recent developments in technology which make it possible to predict hazardous events, develop disaster plans, and develop hazard-resistant facilities. Stressed are the needs for action on the local level and cooperation on the international level. (CW)

One area explored in the second (in-depth) phase of the Learning in Science Project was "children's science," defined as views of the world and the meanings for words that children have and bring with them to science lessons. The investigation reported focuses on primary, intermediate, and secondary students' (N=41) ideas about selected…

Discusses some of the similarities and differences between the attitudes of Japanese and American citizens toward science. Reports on major discrepancies between the two populations' views about such things as evolution, the development of new plants and animals, and the effect of rocket launchings on the weather. (TW)