Indiana State University Newsroom

The Indiana State University community will gain insight into the issues of human-driven climate change as it hosts a nationally-known climate scientist in conjunction with its Earth Day 2012 celebration.

Donald Wuebbles, a professor in the department of atmospheric sciences at the University of Illinois, will give his presentation Tuesday, April 10, at 4 p.m. in room 012 of ISU's science building. Refreshments will begin at 3:30 p.m.

Wuebbles presentation is titled "Potential Effects of Climate Change on the United States: The National Climate Assessment," in which he will discuss the activities of the National Climate Assessment (NCA), the role humans have in climate change and issues facing the United States.

The NCA is a report to the U.S. President and Congress that considers the potential impacts of global climate change on the United States, including those on agriculture, energy production and use, land and water resources, human health and welfare and the natural environment.

Steven Lima, an ISU biology professor coordinating the presentation, views the issues surrounding climate change as imperative.

"Global climate change represents one of the most urgent challenges faced by humans during the 21st century," said Lima. "The climate-related decisions that we make in the next decade will affect many aspects of our society and the natural environment for centuries to come."

Wuebbles was a convening lead author on the first and second international assessments of climate change, sponsored by the United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Wuebbles, along with many co-authors, shares in the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for his work with the IPCC.

"Few climate scientists have been more prominently involved with global climate change than Dr. Wuebbles," said Lima, "thus I am very happy that he will be visiting ISU to provide an update about climate change and its likely impacts on the USA."

Indiana State University celebrates Earth Day on Wednesday, April 11, to promote the conservation of natural resources, the development of green initiatives and increased recycling efforts, among other causes.

The event will begin at 10 a.m. with statements from President Dan Bradley, Mayor Duke Bennett, ISU professor of geology and geography James Speer and Paul Reed, director of the ISU Recycling Center. About 40 ISU and Terre Haute organizations will feature interactive booths that will be on display until 1 p.m. Students will also plant perennials outside the new Welcome Center as an afternoon service project.

Additional activities include writing, design and musical competitions, live entertainment, local and organic food, disc golf, a rock-climbing wall, corn hole and door prizes. The event is free and open to the public.

Contact: Steven Lima, professor of biology, department of biology, Indiana State University, 812-237-3677 or Steven.Lima@indstate.edu

Writer: Mallory Metheny, media relations assistant, Office of Communications and Marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-3773