The primary goal of the conference was to bring broad public attention to the challenges of climate change and provide compelling reasons why effective action is immediately required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the adoption of alternative sources of energy and other approaches.
A number of distinguished climate scientists, policymakers, and commentators spoke on three panels during the day on Saturday, one on the current state of climate change research, another on how climate change can be mitigated, and a third on adapting to climate change.
Professor Susan Solomon (MIT) was the Fred Keeley Lecturer on Friday. She was the first scientist to identify the cause of the ozone hole over Antarctica, and her work formed the basis of an international agreement to protect the ozone layer by regulating damaging chemicals. Since then she has continued her ground-breaking research on climate change, including serving as a contributing author and co-chair for the influential Assessment Reports published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Professor Michael Mann (Pennsylvania State University) was be the keynote speaker on Saturday. He is the author of more than 160 peer-reviewed and edited publications, and he has published two influential books: Dire Predictions: Understanding Global Warming; and The Hockey Stick and the Climate Wars: Dispatches from the Front Lines. He is also a co-founder and regular contributor to the award-winning science website RealClimate.org.
Conference Videos and Photos
Keeley Lecture - Susan Solomon
Panel 1 - Current State of Climate Science Research
Panel 2 - Mitigating the Effects of Climate Change
Panel 3 - Adapting to the Future Effects of Climate Change
Keynote Lecture - Michael Mann
For more information, please contact Sarah Glommen, Executive Assistant to the Dean