Susan Solomon, PhD, a Respected Climate Expert and Atmospheric Chemist, Speaks on August 20
Denver—August 6, 2009—The Denver Museum of Nature & Science brings top scientific expertise to the local climate change dialogue by hosting Susan Solomon, PhD, a respected climate expert and atmospheric chemist, at 7 p.m. on August 20, 2009. Her unique position and breadth of knowledge help unravel the mass amount of information and underscore the relevance of this topic.
Solomon will emphasize the personal dimensions of what she describes as “one of the greatest challenges humanity has ever faced.”
“Climate today is changing because of human activities, and it’s affecting our water supplies and ecosystems,” said Solomon. “The choices we make today will determine how much we’ll change our planet—not only for the next hundred years but for more than a thousand.”
Solomon was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world for her efforts to study the Earth’s climate and help fix it. Her expeditions to Antarctica in the late 1980s confirmed the link between chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and the growing ozone hole, and the conclusions helped lead to a global ban on CFCs. In 2007, as a co-chair of the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), she played a critical role in producing the report that helped the world understand the severity of global warming and earned Al Gore and all IPCC members the Nobel Peace Prize. Solomon is often interviewed as a climate change expert by CNN, NPR, and others, and is a senior scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Earth System Research Laboratory in Boulder. She also serves on Governor Bill Ritter’s Climate Change Advisory Panel.
EVENT DETAILS
Climate Change Lecture and Audience Q&A
- Presented by Susan Solomon, PhD, co-chair of the IPCC and senior scientist at NOAA
- 7 p.m. on August 20 in Phipps IMAX Theater
- $12 for members, $15 for nonmembers (2-for-tickets are available)
- Call 303.322.7009 for reservations
- This event is geared toward anyone who wants to learn more about climate change. Solomon discusses what scientists know about the issue, why it matters, and what the future could bring for the world and for the people of Colorado.
FUTURE CLIMATE-RELATED EVENTS
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science aims to inspire a community of critical thinkers who understand the lessons of the past and act as responsible stewards of the future. In support of this vision, the Museum offers a variety of adult programs that connect credible experts and scientists to popular science topics. The following programs and events relate to the topic of climate change.
Get to Know Your Energy Sources
- Field trip led by geologist Bob Raynolds, PhD, a research associate in the Museum’s Earth Sciences Department
- 8:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m. on September 9
- $75 for members, $105 for nonmembers
- Call 303.322.7009 for reservations
- The average Colorado household uses 600 to 900 kilowatt-hours of electricity each month. This field trip takes participants along the Front Range to explore local sources for this energy. Stops include Cherokee Station in Denver, where low-sulfur coal is turned into energy; the new Vestas plant in Windsor, which manufactures 65-foot blades for wind turbines; Ponnequin Wind Farm in northern Colorado, the state’s first commercial wind factory; and New Belgium Brewery in Fort Collins, a pioneer in sustainability that is 90 percent wind-powered.
Kenji Williams Presents Bella Gaia (Beautiful Earth)
- Live musical performance with stunning visuals
- 8 p.m. on September 17, 18 and 19
- $20 for members, $25 for nonmembers
- Call 303.322.7009 for reservations
- Award-winning director and musician Kenji Williams presents Bella Gaia, a spectacular audio and visual journey around the world. The production is inspired by emotional response of astronauts after seeing the Earth from space. Experience a stunning simulation of the views from space—from fires in the Amazon to time-lapse images of the arctic ice melt—enhanced by Williams’ live classical violin performance.
Colorado and Climate Change
- Course and field trip led by geologist Bob Raynolds, PhD, a research associate in the Museum’s Earth Sciences Department
- 6:30–8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, September 29 through October 8; all day on Saturday, October 10
- $150 for members, $180 for nonmembers
- Call 303.322.7009 for reservations
- This course evaluates global climate change and its impact on Colorado. Participants examine water resources, biodiversity, and the challenges associated with ongoing changes in the landscape.
Media Contacts
Heather Hope, PR Manager: 303-370-8372, Heather.Hope@dmns.org
Laura Holtman, PR Manager: 303-370-6407, Laura.Holtman@dmns.org
About the Denver Museum of Nature & Science
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is the Rocky Mountain Region's leading resource for informal science education. A variety of engaging exhibits, discussions and activities help Museum visitors celebrate and understand the natural wonders of Colorado, Earth and the universe. The Museum is located at 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO, 80205. To learn more about the Museum, check www.dmns.org or call 303-322-7009.
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The climate change lecture with Susan Solomon is presented in concert with International Year of Planet Earth, a global initiative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). See www.yearofplanetearth.org for more information. For more information about the lecture series, see www.geosociety.org/IYPE.
Many of the Museum’s educational programs and exhibits are made possible in part by generous funding from the citizens of the seven-county metro area through the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District.
