URI Metcalf Institute Presents Public Lecture Series with a Unique Spin on Science

Narragansett, R.I. -- June 13, 2000 -- The University of Rhode Island Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental Reporting will hold its second annual workshop for journalists on June 25-30. As part of the workshop, several public lectures and a panel discussion have been scheduled, featuring an array of prominent speakers. The theme for this year's lectures is Scientists and Journalists: Getting the Point Across.

The five presentations will be held in the Coastal Institute Auditorium at the URI Graduate School of Oceanography's Narragansett Bay Campus. All events are free and open to the public.

Monday, June 26, 3:30 p.m.

Ocean Fertilization: A Cure for Global Warming?

Dr. Sallie Chisholm, McAfee Professor of Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Microscopic plants (phytoplankton) in the ocean account for a significant portion of photosynthesis on earth and play a critical role in the global carbon cycle. Phytoplankton growth, which controls carbon transport from the atmosphere to the ocean, is limited by nutrients. By adding nutrients to the oceans, the carbon transport rate can be increased. Could this forestall global warming?

Tuesday, June 27, 3:30 p.m.

The Change in the Weather

Bill Stevens, reporter, The New York Times, and author of The Change in the Weather: People, Weather, and the Science of Climate

Global warming is not just a concern for the future, it appears to affect climate and weather now. To what degree is human activity responsible for present-day warming? What do scientists believe will happen to climate in the next century if emissions are not reduced?

Wednesday, June 28, 3:30 p.m.

Using the Columbia River to Explain the American West

Blaine Harden, foreign and metro correspondent, The New York Times, and author of A River Lost: The Life and Death of the Columbia

The Columbia River, the most powerful river in the West, is the most thoroughly dammed, transformed into a series of puddles separated by concrete plugs. Harden will explain how the history of this river is the story of the West, where progress was a synonym for dominance.

Thursday, June 29, 3:30 p.m.

Collective Good, Private Rights: Managing Marine and Environmental Resources

Moderated by Cory Dean, science editor, The New York Times, and author of Against the Tide: The Battle for America's Beaches

Panelists include Scott Allen, writer, The Boston Globe; Dr. John McCarthy, professor, Harvard University; Dr. Rutherford Platt, professor, University of Massachusetts, Amherst; Andy Revkin, science news reporter, The New York Times

Exploitation of the coastal region for economic benefit is escalating while the resources that make this area valuable are in danger of being damaged or lost forever. What can be done to stop further loss, preserve what we have, and restore what has been lost? Two veteran reporters and two scientists discuss whether a coastal area can be both ecologically healthy and economically rewarding and how marine resources might be managed to achieve this balance.

Friday, June 30, 11:30 a.m.

Environmental Science in the 21st Century: Tremendous Opportunities for American Research

Dr. Margaret Leinen, Assistant Director for Geosciences, National Science Foundation

What does the future hold for environmental sciences in the U.S.? The National Science Foundation, the primary source of basic environmental science and engineering research funding, is promoting a multidisciplinary approach to its research programs. How will this affect research and technology development?

The public lecture series is sponsored by the Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental Reporting with support from the Charles and Bobby Fish Endowment for Oceanography. For information, call the URI Office of Marine Programs at 401-874-6211, or visit the Metcalf Institute website at www.gso.uri.edu/metcalf.

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Lisa Cugini, 874-6642, lcugini@gso.uri.edu,
Jackleen De la Harpe, 874-6211, jack@gso.uri.edu