#LamontRocks: IRI @ Open House

This Saturday, October 8, the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory campus opens its doors to the public. Started over 50 years ago by Lamont’s first director, Open House offers adults and children to learn more about the science studied every day at the campus.

Here’s what’s going on at the IRI tent throughout the day:

All day — Coloring!

Color in maps of ocean temperatures and learn about how climate scientists make El Niño forecasts. Versions available for both kids and adults.

10am-2pm — SoilDoc 

Ongoing demonstration of the Agriculture and Food Security Center‘s sub-Saharan Africa soil test kit, now updated to integrate climate forecasting.

11 & 11:30 — Climate and Weather Trivia 

Test your climate and weather prowess! Ages 12+

12 & 12:30 — Index Insurance Game 

This is a simple 20-minute table game in which you play a farmer in Ethiopia who has to decide whether to buy drought insurance and make other decisions about your livelihood. This game is similar to those we play with farmers around the world to teach the concepts of index insurance. Ages 8+

1 & 1:30 — El Niño Poker 

Learn about how El Niño and La Niña influence weather around the world, while trying your hand at this science-y twist on poker! Ages 15+

2 & 2:30 — Human Climate Forecast 

What’s a tercile? Using human height as a symbol for rainfall, we show how a seasonal rainfall forecast is made. Ages 10+

A detailed program of other group’s activities is available here.

Logistics 

Registration is requested but not required. Free buses run to and from Columbia’s Morningside Campus throughout the day. People arriving by car should park at the HNA Palisades Conference Center on Route 9W, just north of the LDEO campus. Free shuttles will run from HNA to LDEO. Food is available for purchase. More information on logistics on the Open House website.