Public Lectures

Each year, AGCI hosts several public talks featuring leading global change researchers and practitioners. Presented by participants in AGCI’s signature workshop series, these lectures cover the gamut of global change topics from biodiversity threats to urban heat resilience to the history and future of Earth’s climate trajectory. AGCI’s public lecture series honors Walter Orr Roberts (1915-1990), noted humanitarian, scientist, and founder of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).

Extreme Weather: Charting a Future with Climate and People

Presenters

Our society's vulnerability to extreme weather events will be determined by changes in both the climate -- for example, more frequent and more severe heat waves, heavier precipitation events -- and in society -- for example, how much larger the world population will be and where it will live, how income will be distributed, what fraction of the population will live in urban rather than rural areas.

This talk presented projections of change to climate and population and highlighted how these trends interact to result in potential societal vulnerabilities. Focusing on the example of coastal flood risks, the speakers illustrated how future sea level rise may change the statistics of storm surges along US coasts. They showed how the geographic distribution of US population may change in the coming decades, affecting the numbers of people exposed to risks of flooding. Other examples of the interaction between expected demographic changes and expected changes in climate extremes were discussed, especially in relation to extreme heat events and population concentration.

August 6, 2013
Aspen CO

After Rio+20: Science and Governance for our Future Earth

Presenters

At this lecture, Dr. Liverman shared perspectives from her time at the Rio+20 meeting as well as her work on planetary boundaries, environmental governance, and sustainable development

August 7, 2012
Aspen CO

Changing the script on climate change

Presenters

At the talk, Dr. O'Brien shared highlights from research that is leading to new ideas about how individuals, organizations, and whole societies can make decisions and change habits that lead to a more sustainable, thrive-able future.

May 22, 2012
Aspen CO
June 15, 2010

Our Eye on the Sun

Presenters

At this lecture, Dr. Tom Woods, a Principal Investigator for SDO offers an overview of the solar influence on Earth and present dazzling new movies of the Sun from SDO.

June 15, 2010
Given Institute Lecture Hall
October 1, 2009
October 1, 2009
September 22, 2009
Given Institute