Colorado State University to Host Annual Global Climate Conference for High School Students Featuring Meteorologist Mike Nelson Oct. 17

Note to Reporters: A photo of Mike Nelson is available with the news release at http://www.news.colostate.edu.

Mike Nelson, chief meteorologist for KMGH TV in Denver, will be the keynote speaker for Colorado State University’s fifth annual Colorado Global Climate Conference for high school students on Monday, Oct. 17.

The conference will start at 8:30 a.m. in the Lory Student Center on the Fort Collins campus.

The conference will focus on engaging Colorado high school students in exploring the basics of climate science, regional and global effects of changing climate and sustainable technologies. More than 350 students and teachers are expected to attend.

Throughout the day, high school students will work to create solutions for their own lives and school communities. Various breakout sessions will also take place in which high school students can learn everything from solar cooking demonstrations to wind power as an alternative source of energy and overall energy conservation methods.

The day will also include presentations from Scott Denning, CSU atmospheric science professor, and J.D. Prater from the Alliance for Climate Education.

“Young people today need to understand how the world’s environment is changing and the basics of climate science including how the Earth processes carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases,” Denning said. “This is their legacy, and policies being shaped today are already becoming part of their lives.”

Nelson has been forecasting weather in Colorado for 20 years and has worked as the chief meteorologist at KMGH since 2003. Throughout his career, he has won 14 Emmys for Outstanding Weather Anchor and an Emmy for Station Excellence. He also has been recognized by the Colorado Broadcasters Association as their “Citizen of the Year” for his volunteer work in Colorado schools. He is a recipient of the Edward R. Murrow Award and a two-time winner of the Colorado Broadcaster of the Year award. In October 2010, Nelson received the National Weather Association “Broadcaster of the Year,” which was awarded by more than 3,000 of his peers in meteorology. He enjoys sharing his knowledge of the weather with young and old, visiting nearly 100 schools, clubs, and service organizations each year.

For more information, visit the Colorado Global Climate Conference website at http://www.cmmap.org/scienceed/cgcc11/.

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