Surgical innovator Dr. John M. Graether of Marshalltown, Iowa, has provided $2.2 million to establish the Graether Family Fund for Climate Science Advancement, which will help advance climate science education at Iowa State University. The fund will provide support for the Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences to grow interdisciplinary climate science programming that would include such areas of studies as statistics, mathematics, computer science, sociology, communication, design, and others. Through expanded programming, students will gain a solid foundation in how the climate system works, knowledge about impacts to society and sustainability and mitigation options from climate change, and competency in data analysis and science communication. Students could also specialize in areas of climate science such as advanced climate science, science communication, and sustainability design and planning.
“This gift is extraordinary in many ways,” said Beate Schmittmann, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. “The visionary nature of this endowment paves the way for a new, interdisciplinary educational program that pairs innovative research in the college with exactly what today’s students are looking for – an opportunity to change the world for the better.”
You can read more about the Graether Family Fund at the ISU Foundation website.