MSI Public Lecture Series

Nominated for "Best Documentary" the movie by former Vice President Al Gore, "An Inconvenient Truth: A Global Warning" will be the model for discussion with our special panel of scientists on recent global climate change.

WHAT IS GLOBAL WARMING?

Carbon dioxide and other gases warm the surface of the Earth naturally by trapping solar heat in the atmosphere. This is a good thing because it keeps our planet habitable. However, by burning fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil and clearing forests we have dramatically increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere and temperatures are rising.

The vast majority of scientists agree that global warming is real, it’s already happening at an unprecedented rate and that it is the result of human activities and not a natural occurrence. The evidence is overwhelming and undeniable.

We’re already seeing undesirable changes as a likely consequence. Glaciers are melting, plants and animals are being forced from their habitat, and the number of severe storms and droughts is increasing.

The format for this presentation will include excerpts from the movie with breaks for discussion with our scientists between clips.  Special showings of An Inconvenient Truth in its entirety will be shown before and after this presentation on Tuesdays, February 20 and 27.  To learn more about this movie and related climate change issues and what you can do go to:  www.climatecrisis.net

The panel for this presentation are all professors at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute.  For more information go to:  www.utmsi.utexas.edu