Bucknell will explore climate change from various academic perspectives during its sixth annual Sustainability Symposium, which has been expanded to five days for the first time and will run from Monday, March 19 through Friday, March 23. All events are free and open to the public.
During the fall semester, the Center for Sustainability and the Environment led a group of faculty and staff members who brainstormed ideas and agreed that the 2018 symposium should highlight the need for people of all disciplines and perspectives to engage each other in discussions and participate together in solutions related to the myriad challenges of climate change. The title and focus of the sixth annual event became “Climate Changes: All Hands on Deck.”
Most of Earth’s past climate changes are attributed to small fluctuations in its orbit that affected the amount of solar energy our planet receives. The present global warming trend is significant because, according to a “Synthesis Report” published in 2014 by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), there is a greater-than 95 percent probability that it is a result of recent human activity.
Graciela Chichilnisky, lead architect of the carbon market of the Kyoto Protocol and a professor of economics and mathematical statistics at Columbia University, will give the keynote presentation on Thursday, March 22, at 7 p.m. in Leanne Freas Trout Auditorium. Bucknell President John Bravman will introduce Chichilnisky, who also contributed to reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the organization that shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore, “for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change.”
Five Bucknell alumni will participate in a panel discussion of “Career Paths in Sustainability” on Friday, March 23, from 4-5:30 p.m. in 213 Walls Lounge, Elaine Langone Center. They include Rob Nicholas ’94, Jess Scott ’08, Katelyn Tsukada ’12, Guy Williams ’76, and Nga Nguyen ’08 (via videoconference). Williams, who is president and CEO of Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice, received the 2016 Bucknell Alumni Association Award for “Service to Humanity.”
The 2018 Sustainability Symposium is presented by the University’s Center for Sustainability and the Environment, Office of the President, Career Development Center, Bucknell Institute for Public Policy, Humanities Center, Outdoor Education and Leadership Program, Office of Campus Sustainability, Writing Center, and several academic departments.
The complete schedule of events:
MONDAY, MARCH 19
FACULTY/STAFF SNAP TALKS
“Climate Change 101: The Changing Planet”
3 -4:30 p.m. in the Elaine Langone Center Forum
What do we mean when we talk about climate change? How is the scientific community understanding climate change? How is the planet changing? Faculty will present different disciplinary perspectives on the scale and effects of climate change. (Sponsored by the BCSE)
TUESDAY, MARCH 20
BIPP PIZZA & POLICY PANEL
“Global Planning for an Uncertain Future: The Climate Change Edition”
Professors Amy Wolaver, Eric Martin, and Tom Kinnaman will discuss climate change policy during a special BIPP “Pizza & Policy” panel discussion in the first-floor event lounge in Academic West. (Sponsored by the Bucknell Institute of Public Policy)
FACULTY/STAFF SNAP TALKS
“Climate Change 101: The Human Dimension”
2:30-4 p.m. in the Elaine Langone Center Forum
What do we mean when we talk about climate change … and people? Faculty will present different disciplinary perspectives on climate change as a challenge of human connection, adaptation and response. (Sponsored by the BCSE)
OEL FILM SHOWING
Love thy Nature: A Vital Journey into the Natural World
6:30-9 p.m. on the Science Quadrangle
(Co-sponsored by the Outdoor Education and Leadership Program and the BCSE)
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21
COMMUNITY DISCUSSION
“Climate Reality Project: Understanding Impacts and Taking Action”
9-10:30 a.m. Bertrand Library, Traditional Reading Room
Climate Reality Project leader Sandy Field will present on the “Climate Reality Project,” founded by Al Gore, and discuss how our local community is active in climate change initiatives. (Sponsored by the BCSE)
INTERDISCIPLINARY DISCUSSION
“Sylvan Dell Nature Park & Farm: An Innovative Approach to Recreation, Conservation, and Education”
12 noon-12:50 p.m. Bertrand Library, Traditional Reading Room
Landscape architect Brian Auman will give a presentation about a local, creative response to address ecological sustainability. (Sponsored by the BCSE)
THURSDAY, MARCH 22
STUDENT SHOWCASE
Posters, Presentations & More
11 a.m.-1 p.m. First floor event lounge in Academic West
Posters from students will be set up in the event lounge.
Members of the Renewable Energy Scholars academic student group will give a presentation about the Living Greenhouse Project from noon to 12:50 p.m. in ACWS 112. (Sponsored by the BCSE)
HUMANITIES CENTER DISCUSSION
“Climate Change: A Diabolical Problem”
Professors Matt Slater (Philosophy) and Duane Griffin (Geography) will discuss how/why they consider climate change to be a “diabolical problem.” (Sponsored by the Humanities Center)
GRACIELA CHICHILNISKY
“The Mathematics of Uncertainty”
7 p.m. in Leanne Freas Trout Auditorium
Graciela Chichilnisky, professor of economics at Columbia University, is an Argentine-American mathematical economist. (Sponsored by the President’s Office, the Department of Mathematics, the Department of Economics, and the BCSE)
FRIDAY, MARCH 23
COMMUNITY DISCUSSION
All Hands on Deck
10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.,Bertrand Library, Traditional Reading Room
Presentations by Jessica Newlin (BCSE and Civil & Environmental Engineering) and Debbie Namugayi, campus sustainability coordinator, including summary and discussion of the week’s events. (Co-sponsored by BCSE and the Office of Campus Sustainability)
BOOK DISCUSSION
Thoreau’s Walden and Climate Change
12 noon-1 p.m. Bertrand Library, Traditional Reading Room
Duane Griffin (Geography) leads the final spring-semester community discussion of Walden by focusing on how this classic literary text of American Romanticism and early environmentalism can contribute to current climate change discussions. (Co-sponsored by the BCSE and the Writing Center)
ALUMNI PANEL
Career Paths in Sustainability
4-5:30 p.m. Elaine Langone Center 213 Walls Lounge
Five alumni from the 197