​Research-based tools are readily available to document current and projected climate variability impacts, but students sometimes have difficulty interpreting the data or understanding its urgency. The “G-WOW” Changing Climate, Changing Culture initiative from University of Wisconsin Extension, Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, National Park Service, and U.S. Forest Service changed the way educators talk about climate variability by creating a model that integrates culturally-relevant evidence of climate variability with climate science. The project is building educational partnerships with tribes and native people. More than 1,100 people have participated in G-WOW, including 196 students participating in follow-up G-WOW Coastal Climate Camp field experiences.

NIFA originally published this impact in the NIFA 2016 Annual Report. Want to read about more impacts like this? Check out Fresh from the Field, a weekly bulletin showcasing transformative impacts made by grantees funded by NIFA.