Cal State L.A.'S New Interactive Global Warming Web Site Featured In Science Magazine's NetWatch This Month

"Global warming's future impact depends on factors such as human population growth and fossil fuel use," begins Science magazine's NetWatch feature highlighting Cal State L.A.'s new Global Warming Web site in its April 2005 issue. Science is one of the world's most prestigious scientific publications.

The interactive Web-based activity for high school and introductory college courses was designed by Cal State L.A.'s masters of interactive science Web sites and project directors Robert Desharnais, professor of Biological Sciences, and Gary Novak, professor of Geological Sciences.

Desharnais and Novak's Global Warming illustrates principles of global warming and climate change due to natural and human-caused factors. The site explores climate through an overview demonstration of the energy budget model and future climate change activities; animated and interactive tutorials; and online assessment quizzes. It also shows teachers how to register a class in order to access the database of individual student or classroom results (for free!).

Other CSULA individuals involved in the creation of the tutorial include faculty member David Mayo (Geological Sciences), postdoctoral associate Mel Limson (Biological Sciences), software engineer David Risner, and graphics designer Bobby Berberyan. The work is supported in part by grants from the U.S. National Science Foundation and the California State University.

Previous activities developed by the CSULA creative team include Earthquake, Virtual Dating (about geologic time--not a way to find "that special someone," explains the intro), and Virtual River, all accessible at www.ScienceCourseware.com.

Contact: Carol Selkin, Media Relations Director, (323) 343-3044