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This study aims to identify a method to motivate students to participate in technical courses and apply the knowledge they attain in their design projects. This study proposed gamification using Kahoot for a construction course (one of the technical courses). A quantitative method is applied in the research, and a second‐year, first‐semester class is the case study. Kahoot, a free online platform, was used as a supportive tool to make the course more game‐like and fun. After each class, questions and quizzes were delivered to the students through Kahoot, and they played by answering them. The results show that students enjoyed and engaged in the course and were sufficiently motivated to apply the knowledge they acquired in their design projects. They also suggested gamification for their other courses. This study used a quantitative method for evaluating the experiences of 21 students in one course in one semester. Given the small sample size, the results of this study may not be generalizable to a broader population. For further research, studies may need both a longer timeframe and the application of more techniques and tools of gamification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the projected changes of the average monthly and annual air temperatures, precipitation amounts and De Martonne aridity index in Serbia in the 21st century are examined. For that purpose, the spatial distribution of air temperature and precipitation amount is statistically modelled using data of 64 climatologic stations and 421 precipitation stations for the period 1976–2005 using multiple linear regression. The De Martonne aridity index is calculated from the spatially distributed data. In order to obtain regional averages and variability, we divide Serbia into three subdomains: the western zone (the Dinarides), eastern mountainous (Carpathian‐Balkan) zone and the terrains with altitudes lower than 500 m a.s.l. (Lowland). As a second step, the members of the COordinated Regional Downscaling EXperiment (CORDEX) for Europe (EURO‐CORDEX) are evaluated in terms of near‐surface air temperature and precipitation for Serbia. By comparing respective values for the period 1976–2005 with future periods 2021–2050 and 2071–2100, we derive the climate change signal for near‐surface air temperature, precipitation and the De Martonne index for both scenarios RCP4.5 and RCP8.5. Hereby, the ensemble averages are calculated as weighted averages using the inverse standardized Euclidean distance by comparing observation and model results for near‐surface air temperature and precipitation as a weight. We find for the period 2071–2050 that most ensemble members predict a statistically significant increase in monthly and annual near‐surface air temperature in both scenarios in all three subdomains, and a statistically significant decrease in the yearly De Martonne index in the RCP8.5 scenario in the Carpathian‐Balkan and Dinarides. For the last decades of the 21st century, our findings indicate much higher temperatures and increased risks of drought for the RCP 8.5 scenario compared to both the observations from 1976 to 2005 and the RCP 4.5 scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) mass balance is examined with an Earth system/ice sheet model that interactively couples the GrIS to the broader Earth system. The simulation runs from 1850 to 2100, with historical and SSP5‐8.5 forcing. By the mid‐21st century, the cumulative GrIS contribution to global mean sea level rise (SLR) is 23 mm. During the second half of the 21st century, the surface mass balance becomes negative in all drainage basins, with an additional SLR contribution of 86 mm. The annual mean GrIS mass loss in the last two decades is 2.7‐mm sea level equivalent (SLE) year−1. The increased SLR contribution from the surface mass balance (3.1 mm SLE year−1) is partly offset by reduced ice discharge from thinning and retreat of outlet glaciers. The southern GrIS drainage basins contribute 73% of the mass loss in mid‐century but 55% by 2100, as surface runoff increases in the northern basins. Plain Language Summary: The Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) gains mass at the surface from snowfall, and it loses mass from melting and runoff and from glacier calving at the ocean front. When these processes are in balance, the ice sheet does not contribute to global sea level change. Recent observations have shown that the ice sheet is losing mass and raising global mean sea level. This study uses a global Earth system model that calculates ice flow of the GrIS, as well as processes in the atmosphere, ocean, land, and sea ice. For a modern reference, the model is forced with atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations for the period 1850–2014. Next, the model is forced for the rest of the 21st century following the SSP5‐8.5 scenario to study how the GrIS and the Earth system respond to a worst‐case scenario. By 2050, the GrIS loses mass that is equal to 23 mm of global mean sea level rise. During the second half of the 21st century, all regions of the GrIS lose mass because of increased surface melting and runoff, with the dry north playing a greater role. By 2100, the projected GrIS contribution to sea level rise is 109‐mm sea level equivalent. Key Points: CESM2.1‐CISM2.1 simulates a 5.4 K global mean temperature increase and strong NAMOC weakening by 2100 in SSP5‐8.5 w.r.t. preindustrialThe Greenland Ice Sheet contributes 23 mm to global mean sea level rise by 2050 and 109 mm by 2100The role of the northern basins becomes more important as surface runoff strongly increases during the second half of the 21st century [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The modern era of scientific global‐mean sea level rise (SLR) projections began in the early 1980s. In subsequent decades, understanding of driving processes has improved, and new methodologies have been developed. Nonetheless, despite more than 70 studies, future SLR remains deeply uncertain. To facilitate understanding of the historical development of SLR projections and contextualize current projections, we have compiled a comprehensive database of 21st century global SLR projections. Although central estimates of 21st century global‐mean SLR have been relatively consistent, the range of projected SLR has varied greatly over time. Among studies providing multiple estimates, the range of upper projections shrank from 1.3–1.8 m during the 1980s to 0.6–0.9 m in 2007, before expanding again to 0.5–2.5 m since 2013. Upper projections of SLR from individual studies are generally higher than upper projections from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, potentially due to differing percentile bounds or a predisposition of consensus‐based approaches toward relatively conservative outcomes. Plain Language Summary: In spite of more than 35 years of research, and over 70 individual studies, the upper bound of future global‐mean sea level rise (SLR) remains deeply uncertain. In an effort to improve understanding of the history of the science behind projected SLR, we present and analyze the first comprehensive database of 21st century global‐mean SLR projections. Results show a reduction in the range of SLR projections from the first studies through the mid‐2000s that has since reversed. In addition, results from this work indicate a tendency for Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports to err on the side of least drama—a conservative bias that could potentially impede risk management. Key Points: We present the first comprehensive database of 21st century global sea level rise projectionsUpper estimates of sea level rise in 2100 are often higher than upper bounds found in Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reportsA comparison of recent global sea level rise projections reveals far greater agreement among studies in 2050 compared to 2100 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tasman Glacier is the largest glacier in New Zealand. Although 20th century warming caused down-wastage, it remained at its Little Ice Age terminus until the late 20th century. Since then, rapid calving retreat ( U) has occurred, allowing a large (5.96 × 10 m) proglacial lake to form (maximum depth ∼240 m). From sequential satellite image analysis and echo sounding of Tasman Lake, we document ( U) from 2000 to 2008. U varies temporally, with mean U of 54 m/a from 2000 to 2006 and a mean U of 144 m/a from 2007 to 2008. Consistent with global data sets, calving rate appears closely associated with lake depth at the calving terminus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the historic relationship between the practical arts (technology) and the mental (liberal) arts, suggesting that Converging Technologies is a new higher education paradigm that integrates the arts, humanities, and sciences with modern technology. It explains that the paradigm really includes all fields in higher education from philosophy to art to music to modern languages and beyond. To implement a transformation of this magnitude, it is necessary to understand the psychology of change in academia. Union College in Schenectady, New York, implemented a Converging Technologies Educational Paradigm in five steps: (1) create a compelling vision, (2) communicate the vision, (3) empower the faculty, (4) create short-term successes, and (5) institutionalize the results. This case study of Union College demonstrates it is possible to build a pillar of educational excellence based on Converging Technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantifying climate-induced changes in vegetation patterns is essential to understanding land–climate interactions and ecosystem changes. In the present study, we estimated various distributional changes of vegetation under different climate-change scenarios in the 21st century. Both hypothetical scenarios and Hedley RCM scenarios show that the transitional vegetation types, such as shrubland and grassland, have higher sensitivity to climatic change compared to vegetation under extreme climatic conditions, such as the evergreen broadleaf forest or desert, barren lands. Mainly, the sensitive areas in China lie in the Tibetan Plateau, Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, northeastern plain of China and eco-zones between different vegetations. As the temperature increases, mixed forests and deciduous broadleaf forests will shift towards northern China. Grassland, shrubland and wooded grassland will extend to southeastern China. The RCM-project climate changes generally have caused positive vegetation changes; vegetation cover will probably improve 19% relative to baseline, and the forest will expand to 8% relative to baseline, while the desert and bare ground will reduce by about 13%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]