Timothy Muhich
Tim Muhich is a PhD student in the School for Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan, co-advised by Drs. Michaela Zint and Kai Zhu. He graduated from Michigan State University in 2012 with a BS in Biological Sciences, minoring in Chemistry, and a BS in Zoology with a concentration in Marine Biology before teaching high school chemistry and climate change classes for a decade. Tim’s research interests revolve around how to increase access to high-quality climate change educational experiences for high school students. Tim is currently working on projects related to phenology and climate education for biology students, as well as how to implement interdisciplinary climate education programs at the high school level. Outside of academic pursuits, Tim is an avid canoeist, sailor, and hobby potter.
Michigan State University, BS Zoology, 2012
Michigan State University, BS Biological Science, 2012
Michigan State University, Secondary Teacher Education Certificate, 2014
Despite its presence in The Next Generation Science Standards, and built up demand, there are many systemic obstacles that hold students back from gaining climate literacy within their secondary education. These can be summarized as how to get school administration to encourage the teaching of climate change, which depending on the location of the school may be seen by administration as divisive, by teachers who have had and want little training in the subject, in a way that accurately and completely addresses climate science and justice, when many science teachers try to shy away from discussing or taking any sides when it comes to the social aspects of climate change. I am working to address these problems through the creation and implementation of programs for high schools, which take on the constraints of climate education as it has typically been practiced in the United States, in a way designed to be empowering to students.