UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The effects of human-caused climate change both locally and throughout the world will be discussed by University experts during the next episode of WPSU Penn State’s “Conversations LIVE.” The live broadcast, which encourages community input and interaction between viewers and guests, will air at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 26, on WPSU-TV, WPSU-FM and online at wpsu.org/live.
Climate change experts and Penn State professors Richard Alley and Michael Mann, associate professor of history and religious studies Jonathan Brockopp, and WPSU senior producer Patty Satalia will discuss the science and implications of climate change, the role religion plays in it, and what people and communities can do to combat its negative effects.
Viewers can join the discussion and ask the questions by calling 800-543-8242, emailing connect@wpsu.org or tweeting @WPSU.
“There is no magic bullet,” said Mann, who is a distinguished professor of atmospheric science and director of the Penn State Earth System Science Center. “We need policy solutions, but we need an engaged citizenry who will support personal and collective actions to reduce our carbon emissions and transition toward a clean energy economy.”
Mann, Brockopp and Alley, who is the Evan Pugh Professor of Geosciences and an associate of the Earth and Environmental Systems Institute at Penn State, will also discuss climate change’s local impacts, including more dangerous summer heat, worsened droughts that threaten crops, warmer winter temperatures and the threat to various animal and fish populations.
“None of us are immune to the increasingly dangerous impacts that climate change is having on us as a civilization,” said Mann. “In today’s global society, nobody is indeed an island. We’re all in this together.”
“Conversations LIVE” spring 2017 schedule (topics subject to change; all broadcasts at 8 p.m.):
Thursday, Jan. 26 — “Climate Change”
Thursday, Feb. 23 — “Resilience”
Thursday, March 30 — “Immigration”
Thursday, April 6 — “Get Your Garden On”
Thursday, April 27 — “Privacy and Technology”
Thursday, May 25 — “Get Your Garden On”
“Conversations LIVE” airs each month during the academic year, and show topics are subject to change. Visit the “Conversation’s LIVE” website for broadcast information and to watch archived episodes.