SRU to host monthly ‘Climate Conversations’ beginning Sept. 2

Share

polar bear on melting ice

Slippery Rock University’s Office of Sustainability will host monthly “Climate Conversations” for the SRU community and the public to address climate problems.

Aug. 28, 2020

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. — Climate change might seem like it's occurring at a glacial pace - which taken literally is quite fast with glaciers and sea ice melting at alarming rates - but related topics and events are evolving even faster. With that in mind, Slippery Rock University's Office of Sustainability will be hosting monthly "Climate Conversations" to help people stay up to date and in the know when it comes to improving the environment.

Schweiger

   SCHWEIGER

Paul Scanlon

   SCANLON

Each Climate Conversation will be an hour-long, town-style videoconference conducted online via Zoom. The first event is 5:30 p.m., Sept. 2, with subsequent conversations happening the first Wednesday of each month as long as there remains interest. Members of both the SRU community and the public are encouraged to attend. There will also be links available on the Office of Sustainability's webpage with directions to submit discussion ideas and view scheduled topics and biographies of panelists.

"We have a lot of talented experts on our panel and we want to share that knowledge with the community," said Paul Scanlon, SRU director of sustainability. "By having a virtual meeting, this breaks through the time and space constraints that we used to be held to and now that people are used to being on Zoom, we can expand our outreach."

In addition to Scanlon, panelists who have already agreed to participate in upcoming Climate Conversations include:

  • Larry Schweiger, former president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, PennFuture and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.
  • Becky Lubold, retired Jennings Environmental Education Center environmental educator and current manager of the Slippery Rock Farmers Market.
  • Julie Snow, SRU professor of geography, geology and environment, who is the chair of the Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education's Sustainable Development Task Force.
  • Shawn Davis, SRU assistant professor of parks, conservation and recreational therapy.
  • Christine Glenn, a 2004 SRU graduate with a master's degree in sustainable systems and a former part-time SRU adjunct professor, who will serve the panel discussion moderator.

"This is not intended to be a lecture series or presentation; we want to answer people's questions and get their feedback about climate change, the issues it's causing and potential solutions," Scanlon said. "Our panel also has the knowledge to address other issues related to climate change, everything from agriculture and sustainable lifestyles to what we should be doing to keep our buildings environmental-friendly."

A link to view recordings of the conversations will also be available on the Office of Sustainability's webpage. For more information, contact Scanlon at paul.scanlon@sru.edu or 724.822.5306.

MEDIA CONTACT: Justin Zackal | 724.738.4854 | justin.zackal@sru.edu

Search News