Building Youth Capacity for Climate-Health Science: Lessons From Implementing The DataJam in Jordan

Addressing impacts on human health from climate change will require engaged communities capable of co-creating actionable science. This is particularly the case in Jordan, one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change with a hot, dry climate and rapidly growing population. A key demographic for building capacity to address climate-health challenges is youth. To engage Jordanian youth in developing knowledge and skills related to climate-health science, the Global Center on Climate Change and Water Energy Food Health Systems (GC3WEFH) implemented The DataJam, an annual project-based data science learning program and competition developed in the United States. The GC3WEFH enrolled 87 students from 21 schools in The DataJam Jordan. Fifty-four students in teams of three completed 18 projects over a 2-year period while 33 students started The DataJam but did not complete a project. The aim of the intervention was to build data science capacity to address issues at the intersection of climate and health. To explore the outcomes of this intervention, we used the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research to identify the primary determinants. This analysis revealed that the complexity of The DataJam and the work infrastructure of the implementation impacted communication across the intervention, which shaped the topics students researched and their use of data science. Importantly, the DataJam increased both the confidence and interest of students in engaging in climate change related challenges facing their communities. Therefore, The DataJam is a positive example of engaging youth through the international translation of a STEM learning program.