Understand everything about the climate …ou almost

Last updated on 20 December 2022

The Institut national des sciences de l’univers (INSU) of the CNRS published a few months ago a nice little book that takes stock of knowledge about the climate and its challenges. A book that has appealed to the contribution of many scientists. I just read it. I advise you.

The book ‘Understanding everything about the …ou climate almost’ is accompanied by a didactic and beautifully illustrated online site. High-quality educational resources to address the issue of climate and its challenges with your students.

Faced with information and theses of all kinds that are pouring on the web and social networks, faced with climatosceptics and other sellers of "alternative truths" who try to minimize or transform reality, ce editorial work of the CNRS is in the public interest.

A book to scientifically dissect some preconceived ideas about climate

The book "Understanding everything (or almost everything) about climate" is a beautiful book. Clear, accessible from college with precise short texts without jargon or obscure concepts. A special effort has been made to make scientific data and information understandable to all.

The book answers 20 questions in the form of a comic strip to deconstruct preconceived ideas about climate. Is there a scientific consensus on global warming? Are floods linked to climate change? "Are megafires linked to climate change?" Questions that often come up on social networks, but that everyone is otherwise entitled to ask themselves.
To reach a wide audience and make these complex scientific topics affordable, the book draws on drawings and infographics.

The book offers, in fact, diagrams in the form of very educational comics, understandable by all. Each page could almost be enlarged and printed in large format for the class.
20 questions to understand what the climate is, its main trends (warming, cooling …), understand the causes of the greenhouse effect … but also the consequences on rainfall patterns, environments, glaciers.

In short, a book to consult to prepare your sessions on the climate and allow your students to address this topic.
The graphic design of the book and the illustrations by Claire Marc undoubtedly contributed to the success of the book, which had already sold several thousand copies. A well-deserved success.

A companion website to complete and make scientific information accessible to all

In the same spirit, the companion website of INSU-CNRS makes it possible to complete the book with a large part of the boards made for the work.

There are also links to the site of BonPote who published the articles, written by several hands with the most advanced scientists in the field, on each question. It is these detailed and detailed articles that serve as the basis for the creation of the boards found in the book.

Pedagogical tools and communication to the general public beneficial

At a time when disinformation is flooding social networks and some news channels continuously with self-proclaimed experts, the INSU-CNRS approach is to be welcomed.

The research organisation shall give pride of place to scientific information. Just like what a site does as well, such as The Conversation.

With this type of consumer publications, the CNRS also legitimises its role as the bearer of verified information based on scientific reasoning. In short, a credible and reliable source of information. There aren't that many of them.

High-quality educational tools to address the essential issue of climate in the classroom with your students. You will certainly find something to answer their questions, but also material to arouse them!

Fidel Navamuel – Tice Tools

Understand almost everything about the climate of Bon Pote, Anne Brès and Claire Marc appeared at CNRS Editions at the price of 18 EUR. 

See you also on the INSU CNRS website to find the boards of the book and links to the background articles.

Note that the CNRS has also made visuals of Kakemonos on climate to allow you to make a complete exhibition.