To address climate change in Indiana, Purdue Extension invited educators, Indiana agency representatives and the general public to attend a six-session webinar series. Sessions included: What does climate change mean for Indiana?, Back to Basics – The Science Behind Climate Change, What Do Historical Observations Tell Us About Indiana’s Climate, Climate Change Myth-Busters, Tips for Tough Conversations and The Climate is Changing – Now What?
This series drew 967 attendees, and 420 people have viewed the recorded sessions.
Nearly all webinar attendees (99%) reported learning something new, and two-thirds reported an interest in sharing the information. Some 380 participants increased knowledge, skills or attitudes about sustainable agriculture topics, practices and strategies. And 356 agriculture professionals said they intend to use the knowledge they learned.
Nearly all participants (86%) reported that as a result of the training they were more comfortable providing programs on climate and climate change issues. A majority (60%) intend to offer more climate education programs, and 40% will recommend changes to agricultural operations.
In the end-of-series survey, 87% of participants said they would recommend “Talking Confidently About Climate Change in Indiana and Beyond” to others. After the webinars, two-thirds felt more confident discussing climate change. One respondent found “Tips for Tough Conversations” most valuable, saying “I find it hard to know how to correctly approach someone who may have a different opinion, especially on a topic that is so polarizing. I appreciated the techniques and advice on how to talk to others about tough topics.”
Link to full statement on website: https://landgrantimpacts.tamu.edu/impacts/show/5167