Students from across the globe lead climate change webcast during COP18/CMP8 Doha

To this effect, Qatar Foundation International (QFI) and Global Nomads Group (GNG) launched a year-long collaborative science-based program, Connecting Cultures, Exploring Science: The Road to Doha 2012 this September. This program engages students in Qatar, U.S., and Brazil around the climate change debate through exploring critical environmental issues via project-based learning that includes standards-based curriculum, hands-on collaboration, and virtual exchanges. Young people from these countries will explore the science and policy behind climate change and learn about each other's cultures in the process.

As part of this initiative, QFI's Youth Ambassadors for Science and the Environment from Brazil, the U.S. and Qatar, in collaboration with GNG, held the first ever student-led webcast program focusing on the climate change debate at the Qatar Leadership Academy. In this student-led webcast, a student facilitator guided the discussion among the guest expert panel, which included Andrew Wilson, Vice President of Foundation Relations at Conservation International, Talar Sahsuvaroglu, Environmental Specialist, Stefan Gsanger, Secretary General of World Wind Energy Association, and QFI Youth Ambassador, Nasser bin Marzook. The webcast was opened up for questions and comments from the audience, including those submitted through a live-chat function that allows audience members from around the world to participate. Questions poured in from cities across the United States, Brazil and Qatar.

"GNG is proud to engage youth to foster dialogue and understanding through this first ever student-led webcast being broadcast live from Doha, Qatar during the UN Climate Change Conference COP 18," said GNG's Executive Director, Chris Plutte. "The students have been working diligently and proudly showcased their work to the international audience."

Participants learned about important global climate change topics, from the potential of wind energy to the changing lifestyles of the native population in Canada. At the conclusion of the webcast, Maryam Al-Nesf, QFI Youth Ambassador and co-host of the webcast, asked the live and online audience, "Now that we know about climate change, what can we do to become more responsible global citizens".