Colorado State University Joins Nationwide Teach-In About Global Warming Solutions, Jan. 30-31
Colorado State University will participate in Focus the Nation, an unprecedented teach-in on global warming solutions, on Jan. 30-31. The university will host a two-day teach-in with presentations by roughly 50 faculty members, students, community members and local elected officials. Most of the presentations will be held in the Lory Student Center on CSU’s campus and are free and open to the public.
Focus the Nation is an educational initiative on global warming solutions for America occurring simultaneously at more than 1,100 universities and colleges in all 50 states. As the largest teach-in in U.S. history, Focus the Nation is preparing students to become informed citizens and leaders in what may be one of the greatest challenges of the future.
"There’s no better place than a land-grant university like CSU to offer good information about real-world issues, and the speakers who will take part in this event have much to teach us about the causes, likely effects, and possible solutions to global climate change," said Sue Ellen Campbell, Colorado State English professor and co-director of the CSU’s Focus the Nation event.
"Additionally, Focus will deepen the multi-disciplinary climate change teaching initiative we have already initiated here on campus with the new Changing Climates @ CSU program," said co-director John Calderazzo, Colorado State English professor. Changing Climates is a lecture series on climate change started by Calderazzo and Campbell in the fall.
In addition to the two-day event, Colorado State has invited local politicians to participate in a panel discussion on Feb. 1. State Reps. John Kefalas and Randy Fisher and state Sens. Steve Johnson and Bob Bacon will discuss how the government can get involved in providing solutions to growing climate change problems. The panel discussion is from 3-5 p.m., Feb. 1 in Eddy Hall Room 212.
Colorado State is internationally known for research into the development of clean energy solutions including alternative fuels, clean engines, photovoltaic devices and other solar energy production capabilities, intelligent electric power grid, wind engineering, water resources, and satellite-based atmospheric monitoring and tracking systems. The university’s interdisciplinary approach leads directly to innovative research, new startup companies, and economic development with a global impact.
As part of that effort, President Larry Edward Penley established a Committee on Sustainability and the Environment to advance sustainability activities on campus. That includes investigating new academic curriculum and enhanced campus-wide conservation and energy efficiency, among other things.
The complete schedule follows.
Wednesday, January 30
Lory Student Center, LSC, Rooms 228 and 230
9 a.m.
LSC 228: "Show Me the Money: Economics and Climate Change," presented by James Pritchett, associate professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics; and Tom Dean, associate professor in the Management and Global Social and Sustainable Enterprise Program
LSC 230: "Learning to Survive and Thrive (Learning about Sustainability)," presented by Bill Timpson, professor from the School of Education; and Brian Dunbar, professor in the Construction Management and Institute for the Built Environment
10 a.m.
LSC 228: "Bigfoot Walks! (What Size is Your Carbon Footprint?)," presented by Shane Bondi, English graduate student; and Mark Easter, research associate in the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory
LSC 230: "Hot Poems, Cool Paintings, and the Treasures of Antiquity," presented by
Ellie Moseman, assistant art professor; and John Calderazzo, English professor
11 a.m.
LSC 228: "National Security, Peak Oil, and Climate Change," presented by Bill Doe, senior research scientist from the CSU’s Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands; and Kyle Saunders, associate professor of political science
LSC 230: "What Should We Do? The Ethics of Climate Change," presented by philosophy professor Holmes Rolston; and Phil Cafaro, associate professor of philosophy
Noon
LSC 228: "Tiny Molecules that Change the World: The Science of Climate Change," presented by Scott Denning, associate professor in Atmospheric Science and education/outreach/diversity director of the Center for Multiscale Modeling of Atmospheric Processes
1 p.m.
LSC 228: "Why Should I Care? How Climate Change Will Affect Humans," presented by Lori Peek, assistant professor in sociology
2 p.m.
LSC 228: "Who’s in Charge? Making Policy and Working with People," presented by Michele Betsill, associate professor of political science; and Nancy Banman, assistant professor in social work
LSC 230: "Green Beer and Other Businesses," Nic Theisen, New Belgium Brewery; and Kathy Collier from Climate Wise Program, City of Fort Collins
3 p.m.
LSC 228: "Engines for Change: Envirofit," presented by Paul Hudnut from the Management and Global Social and Sustainable Enterprise Program; and Ron Bills, CEO of Envirofit
LSC 230: "Changing the Climate of Belief," presented by Mandy Kotzmann, biologist and writer; and Tom Wood, philosophy graduate student
4 p.m.
LSC 228: "Forests and Grasslands: Beetles, Fire, Drought, Growth Spurts?" presented by Dan Binkley, professor in the Department of Forest, Rangeland, and Watershed Stewardship; and Julia Klein, assistant professor in the Department of Forest, Rangeland, and Watershed Stewardship
LSC 230: "Dumpster Diving and other Gleanings," presented by Laura Pritchett, writer and editor; Tim Vaughan, geologist; and other contributors to the forthcoming "Gleanings" book
6-7 p.m.
LSC 228: "National Webcast: The 2% Solution," presented by Stanford University climate scientist Stephen Schneider; sustainability expert Hunter Lovins; green jobs pioneer Van Jones; and student climate leaders
Thursday, January 31
Lory Student Center, LSC, Rooms 228 and 230
9:30 a.m.
LSC 228: "Right Here, Right Now: Local Programs and Policies," presented by Lucinda Smith and John Armstrong from the Fort Collins Natural Resources Department; and Lyn Kathlene from Colorado Institute of Public Policy
LSC 230: "Green, Clean Living: Where We Live and Work," presented by
Brian Dunbar from the Institute for the Built Environment and Construction Management; and Shelley Kawamura, construction management graduate student
11 a.m.
LSC 228: "Tiny Molecules that Change the World: The Science of Climate Change," presented by Scott Denning, associate professor in Atmospheric Science and education/outreach/diversity director of the Center for Multiscale Modeling of Atmospheric Processes
LSC 230: "Independence Day: Alternative Energies," presented by Anthony Rappe, chemistry professor; Dan Bihn from Bihn Systems and Fort Collins Electric Board; and Mike Bowman from 25x’25 and Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance
12:30 p.m.
LSC 228: "Doubting Thomases, Friends, Parents: Talking with the Unconvinced,"
Scott Denning, associate professor in Atmospheric Science and Center for Multiscale Modeling of Atmospheric Processes; Marilee Long professor in the Department of Journalism and Technical Communication; and John Gross from the National Park Service
2 p.m.
LSC 228: "The Quetzal (or Polar Bear, or Pika) in the Coal Mine: What a Changing Climate Is Doing to Plants and Animals and Their Ecology," presented by Alan Knapp, biology professor
LSC 230: "Campuses on Carbon Diets," presented by Carol Dollard from CSU facilities management
3 p.m.
LSC 228: "The Political and the Personal: What We Can Do," presented by Michele Betsill, associate professor of political science; and Rodger Ames from the Center for Multiscale Modeling of Atmospheric Processes
LSC 230: "Student Activism: Do Something!" presented by CSU students working on the university’s Focus the Nation team
7-9 p.m.
Yates Hall 104
"What Government Can Do, Part I," presented by Tom Plant, director of the Governor’s Office of Energy Management and Conservation; Lakshman Guruswamy, from the International Environmental Law and Center for Energy and Environmental Security at the University of Colorado; and Betsey Markey, candidate for Congress, 4th Congressional District
Throughout both days there will be displays in the Art Lounge and Sunken Lounge in the Lory Student Center and at the Morgan Library on campus.
Friday, Feb. 1
Eddy Hall Room 212
3-5 p.m.
"What Government Can Do, Part II," presented by state Reps. John Kefalas and Randy Fisher; and state Sens. Steve Johnson and Bob Bacon
For more information, www.focusthenation.org or contact John Calderazzo at (970) 491-6896.
For more information about the university’s Changing Climates @ CSU program, visit http://changingclimates.colostate.edu.
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