Understanding Climate Change

The Chicago Zoological Society is honored to partner with organizations committed to “inspiring conservation leadership” through climate change literacy programs.  Find out how the Chicago Zoological Society and Brookfield Zoo are committed to mitigating climate change by choosing a selection below:


community + climate + action:  http://connectcca.org/





The Chicago Zoological Society is proud to participate in the "connect: community + climate + action" initiative along with The Chicago Botanic Garden, University of Wisconsin Extension, Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission, U.S. Forest Service, and National Park Service, University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum’s Latino Earth Partnership for Schools Program, Alliance for the Great Lakes, Krueger Middle School & Lake Hills STEM Magnet Elementary School, Project Exploration, Faith in Place and Covenant United Church of Christ. Each organization is committed to supporting the initiative's goal “to increase knowledge, leadership, and engagement in climate action among diverse communities by building on local assets and community life”, through the development and implementation of projects that incorporate climate education into their onsite and/or community programming.
 
Our goal at CZS is to create a virtual optimistic solution based community that promotes, inspires and engages in conservation conversations and behaviors that lower greenhouse gases and help us cope with changes already underway. Join in on the conversation by following the link:Conservation Conversations.
For more on "connect: community + climate + action"  and useful tools visit http://connectcca.org/

CliZEN
Led by the Chicago Zoological Society, the Climate Literacy Zoo Education Network is a partnership of zoo educators, climate scientists, learning scientists, and conservation psychologists across the United States. This coalition is pioneering new approaches to educating people about climate change and fostering changes in attitudes.
The partnership has published a multidisciplinary literature review e-book; prototyped a technology based interactive resource focusing on polar bears and conducted a groundbreaking national survey of zoo and aquarium visitors.
For more information visit: http://clizen.org/
 
NNOCCI
Chicago Zoological Society participates with the National Network for Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation (NNOCCI), whose mission is to train enough voices in proven communication techniques, so that we can change the national discourse around climate change to be productive, creative and solutions focused.
 
NNOCCI is a partnership between informal science educators, climate scientists, cognitive & social scientists and evaluators whose mission is to create change through better communication techniques around climate change.
 
Chicago Zoological Society has been an active participant in past NNOCCI study circles, which allow interpreters at other informal science education centers to learn together and create a community of practice, skilled in climate change communications. NNOCCI interpreters apply these lessons in the context of their work environment through several cycles of development, practice, sharing and reflection.
 
To learn more about NNOCCI and future study circles go to: http://nnocci.org
 
Population Genetics
Since its inception in 1985, the Chicago Zoological Society’s Population Genetics program has played a pivotal role in promoting species health and survival. Under the leadership of Dr. Robert Lacy, a software program (PMx) has been used to facilitate virtually all cooperatively-managed zoo breeding programs around the world.

The Population Genetics program was created to address an often-ignored threat to the survival of endangered species: the loss of genetic diversity due to inbreeding. As populations dwindle or are separated by habitat devastation, the pool of available mates shrinks, and so does the pool ogenetic variations available to future generations. To find out more visit www.czs.org/Centers-of-Excellence/Center-for-Animal-Welfare/Population-Genetics.