Public Lectures

How do scientists explore possible climate futures, and how can that information help society make better decisions today? In this talk, David Lawrence, Senior Scientist and Chief Scientist of the Community Earth System Model (CESM) at NCAR, will introduce the powerful computer models used to simulate Earth's climate system and explain how simulations with these models help inform climate-related decisions made by public and private stakeholders. The presentation will highlight how Earth System models help us understand the risks of climate change and the effectiveness of mitigation strategies. This includes understanding how, where, and when forests and soils can or cannot be part of the climate solution. Join us for an accessible look at how climate modeling helps us better understand-and shape-Earth's future.

As a nation we continue to build, and rebuild, housing and infrastructure in hazardous places, and even headline-grabbing disasters don't necessarily lead to better decision-making. Despite an ever-growing library of tools aimed at promoting disaster resilience, insights and resources have not translated to better land-use decisions in many communities. In this presentation, Rumbach unpacks the seeming paradox between an increasing awareness of climate threats and the continuation of high-risk development practices. He explores theories and evidence on why communities don't make better decisions before, and after, disasters, and point to opportunities to improve outcomes through better research and policymaking.

Energy system modeling has been used widely to assess current climate policies and to quantify the additional efforts needed to achieve deep decarbonization. Yet most models still rely on simplified representations of real-world policies and the institutional contexts in which policy decisions are made. In this talk, Dr. Wei Peng, assistant professor in the School of Public and International Affairs and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment at Princeton University, will demonstrate ways to improve policy realism in models by incorporating political economy insights on policy instrument choice, policy acceptability, and policy ambition.

Measuring methane emissions from Arctic ecosystems requires accessing remote locations. This fieldwork, while challenging, provides essential ground-based data to compare with models of these important climate-sensitive, carbon-rich regions. Conducting this research naturally involves training the next generation of Arctic researchers. This talk will highlight what we are learning about these changing landscapes, as well as the impact of engaging students in complex, collaborative research projects.

Climate-sensitive populations, such as outdoor workers and farmworkers, often have little choice when it comes to heat exposure on the job. In this talk, we will explore the impact of working outdoors in high temperatures and discuss potential solutions to protect these workers from life-threatening heat stress. Heat-related illnesses and fatalities are preventable, and the idea that this is just an unavoidable reality is a misconception. By raising awareness and equipping workers and employers with the necessary information and resources, we can effectively reduce the incidence of heat-related illnesses and deaths.

In the western United States, the annual wildfire area increased by nearly 300% over the past 40 years, mostly due to a ~10-fold increase in forest-fire extent. Fire is not inherently bad – it’s been on the continents for as long as plants, and many ecosystems depend on it – but the ongoing rapid increase in wildfire activity is nonetheless concerning. Forest fires have grown increasingly large and severe despite our best efforts to prevent ignitions and suppress spread. In this talk, Dr. Park Williams will unravel the story of why western U.S. society has lost control of wildfire after nearly eliminating it from the landscape for the better part of a century. The conclusions can guide our understanding of fire’s role on the western U.S. landscape and how we can change our ways to live sustainably with it.

Computation has fundamentally changed the way we study nature. New data collection technology, such as GPS, high-definition cameras, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), genotyping, and crowdsourcing, are generating data about the natural world that are orders of magnitude richer than any previously collected. AI can turn these data into a high-resolution information source about living organisms and the planet’s biodiversity, enabling scientific inquiry, conservation, and policy decisions. The talk will introduce a new field of science, imageomics, and present a vision and examples of AI as a trustworthy partner both in science and biodiversity conservation, discussing opportunities and challenges.

The monoculture of knowledge and scientific tradition tends to ignore, devalue, silence, and exclude multiple knowledge cultures and practices. Encouraging plurality of ways of producing, validating, and sharing knowledge supports inclusive, contextual, and actionable knowledge solutions for deepening sustainability. In this talk, Dr. Rajesh Tandon shares stories from around the world of traditional knowledge solutions in action.

How can innovations in agricultural production and distribution reduce climate-altering food system emissions? Which approaches hold genuine promise and which are more hype? In this talk, Dr. Mario Herrero, professor in the Cornell CALS Department of Global Development and director of Food Systems & Global Change, explores the opportunities and challenges of mitigating climate impacts through sustainable agriculture strategies and the implications for equity and food security in a low-emissions world.