Climate scientists to discuss communication challenges
March 4 event at Rice University will feature scientists from Rice, UK

FROM RICE NEWS STAFF REPORTS

Recent events have provoked renewed debate about climate change and brought issues of credibility to the fore. Both science and society would benefit from a more sophisticated and detailed discussion of mankind’s influence on climate change, of the complexity of Earth’s climate and of the methods scientists use to determine levels of certainty in their climate studies.

A March 4 panel at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy will discuss the current state of climate science communication, how scientists can improve their communications and how they can better meet the challenge of providing credible evidence for national and international policies that enjoy broad public support. The panelists will discuss how climate scientists conduct their work, and why and how the majority of climate scientists have come to a consensus that humans are affecting the planet’s climate.

“The Challenges of Communicating Climate Change” begins at 4 p.m. in Baker Hall’s Kelly International Conference Facility.

The panel includes Andre Droxler, professor of Earth science and head of the Center for the Study of the Environment and Society (CSES); David Vaughan, professor and principal scientist, British Antarctic Survey; Mark Maslin, professor and director of the University College London Environment Institute; and Tim Reeder, U.K. Environment Agency and a project scientist for the Thames Estuary 2100 project.

The British Consulate-General Houston, the Baker Institute for Public Policy and CSES are organizing the discussion.

The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required; register at bipprsvp@rice.edu.