How to Defuse the Overpopulation Bomb
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by: Be Smart|Published on: April 27, 2021
VideosScientist Reviewed
6789101112
Scientist Reviewed This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This animated video on overpopulation from Be Smart details how Earth's population has changed over time, why these changes have occurred, and what this might mean for our future.
- Increasing women's access to education is described as a key solution to curb population growth in parts of the developing world.
- The video ends with a short interview of Bill Gates where he describes the relationship between improving health and curbing population growth.
Subjects: Biology, History
Authors: Be Smart, PBS
Region: Global
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The video is optimistic when addressing the future health of our population and solutions for curbing population growth.
- Women empowerment is highlighted as a climate change solution that also slows population growth.
Prerequisites
- There is an ad at the start of the video.
- At 5 minutes, 50 seconds the first portion of the video ends and the interview with Bill Gates begins.
Differentiation & Implementation
- The interview with Bill Gates at the end of the video could be used in a health class to discuss life expectancy and the counterintuitive connection between improving health standards and decreasing fertility rates.
- The video briefly introduces ethical issues around access to education, wealth inequality, and health in the developing world, which could be expanded on by the teacher.
- Science classes could use this resource for lessons on ecological footprints, Earth overshoot day, population dynamics, biodiversity loss, or land-use changes.
- Other similar resources include the video Human Population Through Time, the article Health and Education, and the lesson plan Family Planning: Why It Matters.
Scientist Notes
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
