You can read all you want about rising sea levels, wildfires, floods and other horrors caused by climate change, but how much do you actually know? Test your knowledge by taking the Climate Exam. With pen and paper, you’ll tackle questions put together by Klimaatexamen.nl. Afterwards, there will be a discussion over drinks in the hall of Atlas.  

“It’s an informative and positive way to draw attention to the climate change we’re facing,” says Erwin Kerkhof of the Sustainability Office. “The content and timing – between May 15 and 30, depending on the participating organization – aligns perfectly with our Green Week. It raises awareness in a fun and original setting.”

Future

Professor of socio-technical innovation and climate change Heleen de Coninck is a member of the exam committee that devises the questions and ensures a balanced coverage of topics. “I do this because I think it’s extremely important for as many people as possible to have a basic understanding of climate change. How it works, what the consequences are, and also what can be done about it,” she writes in an email. The organizers call it The Exam for the Future.

Coninck is not giving away what questions will be asked. However, she points out that a wide range of study material is available on klimaatexamen.nl, along with a practice exam.

Twenty informative videos are available to watch, divided into three themes. The theme “Causes and consequences” features an extensive infographic from the IPCC – the climate report De Coninck contributed to as a researcher. The theme “Solutions and adaptation” focuses on what you can do to prepare for the effects of climate change. And the final theme is “Your sustainable role”.

Green Week

As mentioned, the climate exam aligns well with the Green Week, during which TU/e offers all kinds of activities related to sustainability. What’s new this year is the inclusion of “Connect with my culture”. Kerkhof: “In a university community, social sustainability is also important.” Other activities on the program include the clothing exchange, biodiversity tour, and student team lectures.

De Coninck and Kerkhof hope that as many people as possible will participate; you don’t even need to have a connection to TU/e. You can sign up via Klimaatexamen or via TU/e’s Green Week website, where you can also sign up for other activities.
The exam is available in English as well. The organizers ask that you bring your own pen.

De Coninck en Kerkhof hopen dat zoveel mogelijk mensen meedoen, je hoeft er niet eens een band met de TU/e voor te hebben. Aanmelden kan via Klimaatexamen of via de website van TU/e’s Green Week, waar je je ook voor de andere activiteiten kunt opgeven.
Het examen kan ook Engelstalig worden gemaakt. De organisatie vraagt of je zelf een pen wilt meenemen.