2020
Global Health Challenges: Climate Change
Embedded Files
The Brother Lucian Blersch Endowment and the School of Natural Sciences at St. Edward's University presents
Friday, September 25, 2020
9.00 am
Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd (University of Georgia):
“Zombies, Sports, and Cola: Implications for Communicating Climate Science”
Recording of this Talk
10.00 am
Dr. Kristie Ebi (University of Washington):
“Health Risks of a Changing Climate”
Recording of this Talk
11.00 am
Dr. Juliano Calil (Virtual Planet Technologies):
“Using Virtual Reality in Climate Adaptation”
Recording of this Talk
James Marshall Shepherd, MS, phd is the Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor of geography and Atmospheric Sciences and the Director of the Atmospheric Sciences Program at the University of Georgia. He attended Florida State University where he earned his bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. degrees in physical meteorology. After working at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center for twelve years he joined the University of Georgia. In addition to his teaching and research he is active on many advisory boards and in helping the public understand climate change and this has been recognized with the Presidential Early career Award, the Captain Planet Award and the AAAS Award for Public Engagement with Science.
Kristie EBI, MS, MPH, PHD is an epidemiologist whose focus is on the impact of global climate change on human health. She is Professor of Global Health and Founder of the CENTER FOR HEALTH AND THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT (CHANGE) at the University of Washington. Dr. Ebi earned her BS in biochemistry from Michigan State University, an MS in toxicology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and then earned an MPH and a PhD in epidemiology from the University of Michigan. She has supported multiple countries in assessing their vulnerability and implementing adaptation measures, in collaboration with WHO, UNDP, USAID, and others. She also is co-chair of the International Committee On New Integrated Climate change assessment Scenarios (ICONICS), facilitating development of new climate change scenarios.
Juliano Calil, MESM, PHD is Co-Founder and Chief Scientist at Virtual Planet Technologies, LLC Santa Cruz, California and a Senior Fellow at the Center for the Blue Economy. Dr. Calil received his BBA from Fundação Armando Álvares Penteado, São Paulo, Brazil. He earned his Master of Environmental Science and Management (MESM) at the University of California Santa Barbara and his PhD in Ocean Sciences and Coastal Adaptation, University of California Santa Cruz. In his work, Juliano integrates data from multiple disciplines including climate science, conservation, and socioeconomics to identify vulnerable areas and suitable adaptation strategies. He is currently designing and implementing innovative education and outreach tools to visualize coastal impacts and solutions using Virtual Reality. He has published studies in California, Florida, Latin America and the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and The Mid-Atlantic region.
Climate change is ongoing and accelerating. It has enormous implications for human health, and it is being manifested in rising sea levels and increased numbers of extreme weather events. Extreme weather events and new record high temperatures are being reported around the globe. Resulting changes in water availability and the disconnect between temperature and photoperiod cues are challenging the agricultural systems that support our growing human population. Such outcomes are associated with increased armed conflicts and displaced refugee populations. The ranges of vectors that spread infectious diseases are increasing which leads to climate plagues, especially among affected populations.
Human activity is a driving force behind this climate change, with emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases playing a large part. Decreasing emissions and enhancing “sinks” that accumulate and store these gases, such as oceans, forests, and soil, are ways to mitigate climate change. This requires a concerted move to a more sustainable way of living with alternative energy sources and better use of resources. While such mitigation measures are extremely important, adaptation, by which people reduce their vulnerability to the effects of climate change, is also important.
Although climate change is an existential threat, there is not a universal recognition of its importance. What is the best way to communicate about this topic to impress upon the public the crisis that is imminent? How will climate change affect human health? How can leaders make decisions in order to avoid negative outcomes that have not yet occurred?
The “one-health” approach recognizes the complex interrelations between humans, animals and the environment when addressing the global climate change challenge. Sea levels are rising, growing seasons and migration patterns are changing and extreme weather events are increasing. It is clear that climate change is negatively impacting the environment, animals and humans. Our future depends on effective, concerted efforts to address the challenges.
St. Edward’s University is committed to sustainability:
https://www.stedwards.edu/sustainability
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