Team Adirondack selected for NASA’s Earth to Sky Academy

ADIRONDACK REGION, N.Y. (NEWS10) – NASA selected a team of local researchers to participate in its Earth to Sky Academy this Fall. It’s a nationwide program that brings scientists and educators together teaching climate science communication techniques. 

NEWS10 talked to members of Team Adirondack about how they plan to tailor the training to the region.

Team Adirondack is one of six teams that will travel to NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center this November to participate in the Earth to Sky Academy.

Researchers said flooding, like what occurred in Long Lake last year, has become more common in the Adirondack Region. 

That’s why organizations – like the Wild Center, Paul Smith’s College Adirondack Watershed Institute, the Adirondack Explorer and the Adirondack Research Consortium – have been working on a climate resiliency plan. 

And that work helped launch Team Adirondack into NASA’s Earth to Sky Academy. Climate Strategy Advisor Sunita Halasz with the Adirondack Research Consortium explains.

“The way NASA has set up the Earth to Sky Program, it’s customizable to whatever your biggest problem is with climate change in your local area,” said Halasz, who is on the team.

In the Adirondack Region the major issue is flooding. Halasz said increased precipitation and more extreme weather events have put aging infrastructure to the test. And that can have economic impacts. 

That prompted area groups to collaborate. Natalee Wrege is an Environmental Educator at Paul Smith’s College Visitor Interpretive Center and she’s also on the six member team.

“The whole idea is to create this Adirondack climate and research resilience network,” said Wrege.

That work put Team Adirondack ahead of the curve when they applied for NASA’s program.

“When they said you need to have a customized project for your area and we were like “We do!,” said Halasz.

They will learn how to better education the public on the growing climate threats people are now facing. They’ll have access to the latest climate science to practice the new communication techniques they’ll be learning.

The team will be charged with implementing those tools when they get back with one goal.

“Get people talking about climate change in a way that is relatable to them and get them excited about the work being done as far as climate resiliency,” said Wrege. 

When they return, they will also roll out a program aimed at training educators, including K-12 teachers. But first they want to hear what the community’s concerns are.

“What impacts they are seeing on the ground now. Open up the communication to have discussion on how we as a resiliency network can provide information, education and then support later on,” said Wrege.

But first they need your help.The team will hold listening sessions to identify shovel ready projects and want to hear from you if you’ve been impacted, like the people of Long Lake were.

The information will help the team create a Rural Resilience Roadmap tgat will help the area prepare for more extreme weather events.

Halasz said there is grant funding available for these types of projects and even local foundations are looking to donate and get involved locally, supporting these types of community driven initiatives.

“There are funds and they should be funneled to the north country,” said Halasz.

Improve aging infrastructure and make communities more resilient and how they want the future to look.

The team is finalizing the locations and dates for those listening sessions and will share that information publicly, with stakeholders in the coming weeks.

Team Adirondack is one of two teams coming out of the state of New York.