The Changing Geographic Distribution of Malaria with Global Climate Warming

Notes from our reviewers

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• Teaching Tips
  An extensive list of tips is provided on the activity sheet. It may be helpful to pair students that are skilled in working with spreadsheets and GIS with students that may need support in working with these tools.
• About the Science
  Data sets end in 2003 but still accomplish the objective learning goals for the activity. Instructor may challenge students to find more recent relevant data and update the spreadsheets provided. Thoroughly-written background information with plenty of good citations. Comments from expert scientist: Scientific strengths: - This resource asks students to work with and interpret real climate data. - It confronts some of the ambiguities associated with climate change impacts on human health. Suggestions: - The resource could be updated for an analysis of vulnerability to tropical diseases that are of current concern for spread into the United States, such as dengue fever or chikungunya. - This activity is fifteen years old, leaving off a substantial portion of climate change in the southeastern United States. (This is especially relevant since the warmth of the past fifteen years has actually caused a change in sign of the long-term trend in many temperature parameters.) Suggest using more recent climate data.
• About the Pedagogy
  Students read and internalize scientific literature in order to put together a class presentation using PowerPoint. Students gain experience analyzing real data sets using Excel. There is a guide for using Excel for this project that is very helpful. This activity involves two or more students working together on a project and presentation.
• Technical Details/Ease of Use
  Spreadsheet skills are necessary. Access to spreadsheet software and GIS by students is required to complete the activity. Updated data and research on this topic can be accessed with internet research.