April 5, 2024

Touchpoint 1
Gloom and doom warnings about climate change do not work

What is it?
250 researchers built an app based on feedback from 59,000 people in 63 countries. The goal is for the app to notify and inform citizens about climate change. The researchers found scare tactics and dire warnings do not work well. And they found that different messages work for different audiences.

Potential message for students:
Do you think dire warnings about climate change work and get people to take action? Do you think it would be better to inspire people to join an already successful effort? Do you think this same technology could be applied to secondary education and messaging from school leaders and teachers?

Touchpoint 2
VespAI: a deep learning-based system for the detection of invasive hornets

What is it?
Hornets prey on insects that are critical for pollination. Farmers will go out and inspect and look for hornets, but it’s not very effective. A new AI system can take photos over time and across large areas and detect hornets and their nests in the photos automatically.

Potential message to students:
Do you think this would be a successful business? Do you think farmers would buy it? Would you use fixed cameras or try to attach them to drones? What other areas of biology do you think would benefit from image recognition AI?

Touchpoint 3
Humans Find Total Eclipses Startling. What about a Komodo Dragon?

What is it?
On April 8th, there will be a solar eclipse. Humans treat it as an event to be seen and celebrated. But scientists are reminding us that animals react to eclipses too. Pets may think it’s time to sleep (or wake if nocturnal) and the drop in temperature will feel like a storm is coming.

Potential message to students:
Do you think it’s better to keep dogs inside during the eclipse or one day does not really matter? Do you think a rooster will crow after it passes? Do you think birds will do their morning vocalizations like it’s a new day?

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