North Central Climate Science Center Hosts Ribbon Cutting For New CSU Research Facility

Climate change has become one of the most important and contentiously debated global issues facing society today, and the North Central Climate Science Center (NC CSC) is hosting a ribbon-cutting event and reception to mark the construction and launch of its new facility at Colorado State University’s Natural and Environmental Sciences Building from 2-4 p.m. Oct. 2. As a hub of climate science research and innovation, CSU was selected as the base for one of eight U.S. Department of the Interior Climate Science Centers established across the nation.

Department of the Interior Deputy Secretary David Hayes will speak at the event about the importance of conservation of natural and cultural resources in the West and climate science research. NC CSC is dedicated to providing scientific information and resources to help natural resource managers understand, anticipate and adapt to impacts of climate change on critical natural, cultural, wildlife and agricultural resources.

“The center is a collaborative initiative to research and address some of the most important ecological issues related to climate change that are facing our region: the pine beetle infestation; habitat and behavior change of endangered species, such as the grey wolf or sage grouse; and energy, land and water sustainability,” said Dennis Ojima, NC CSC university director and professor and researcher at CSU’s Warner College of Natural Resources. “NC CSC is one part of a national effort to develop resource management strategies that are climate responsive and sustainable.”

The event is coinciding with a two-day workshop of the CSU-led North Central University Consortium, which includes, the University of Colorado, Colorado School of Mines, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Wyoming, Montana State University, University of Montana, Kansas State University and Iowa State University. Federal partners in the consortium include the U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, National Center for Atmospheric Research and others.

Other presenters at the event include U.S. Geological Survey Associate Director Matt Larsen, CSU President Tony Frank, Warner College of Natural Resources Dean Joyce Berry, NC CSC Director Jeffrey Morisette and NC CSC University Director Dennis Ojima. Presentations and the ribbon cutting will be followed by a reception and tour of the NC CSC facility site and floor plans.

NC CSC’s new facility location is the latest addition to a growing and well-established legacy of ecological research leadership at CSU, including the Warner College of Natural Resources, Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Center for Collaborative Conservation, School of Global and Environmental Sustainability, and other programs and initiatives in areas of water, soils, energy, and ecosystem sciences.

“Through collaboration with our university consortium, hosted by CSU, and their its network of world-renowned ecological scientists, and our federal, state and tribal partners across the region, NC CSC will be able to provide pioneering progress and support to natural resource managers dealing with the critical challenge of climate change,” said Morisette, a USGS scientist, who joined CSU as NC CSC director in 2012.

For more information about NC CSC, visit www.doi.gov/csc/northcentral/index.cfm or revampclimate.colostate.edu.

When: From 2-4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2
Where: Entrance plaza and foyer of the Natural and Environmental Sciences Building on the Colorado State University campus

Agenda:

2 p.m.
– NC CSC Director Jeffrey Morisette and NC CSC University Director Dennis Ojima as moderators and hosts
– CSU President Tony Frank, welcome and opening remarks
– Warner College of Natural Resources Dean Joyce Berry, welcome and remarks
– USGS Associate Director Matt Larsen, “Climate and Land Use Issues Facing the West and the Nation”
– Deputy Secretary Department of the Interior David Hayes, “Department Commitment to Conservation of Natural and Cultural Resources in the West”

2:45 p.m.
– Ribbon cutting ceremony
– Reception at NESB foyer and tour of NC CSC facility location and floor plan

Photo/Interview Opportunities
– DOI Deputy Secretary David Hayes speaking on climate research
– Ribbon cutting ceremony for North Central Climate Science Center
– Reception and mingling with CSU leadership, climate scientists and government representatives
– Preview of North Central Climate Science Center facility blueprints and space

-30-