University of Portland Focus the Nation Events
Fall 2007
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Too Hot Not To Handle
In this Focus the Nation event, a one hour HBO documentary illustrates the effects of global warming, solutions that are already taking place, and ways to "think outside of the barrel." The film features contributions from leading scientists, Portland's own Tom Potter, and other luminaries. The movie will be followed by a half hour discussion, with faculty and ecology club members facilitating.
Time: Monday, September 24 (07:00 PM » 08:30 PM)
Place: BC auditorium
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Public Health Responses to Global Climate Change
In this Focus the Nation talk Dr Jan C. Semenza will present the link between global climate change and human health, the public health response up to this point, and future response scenarios. His talk will be followed by a discussion. Dr. Semenza conducted his doctoral research in molecular cell biology in Cambridge, UK and received a Masters in Public Health from Berkeley, CA. He is currently at the European Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Stockholm, Sweden, working on public health responses to climate change with a focus on infectious diseases.
Time: Thursday, October 4th, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Place: BC auditorium
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Global Warming Initiatives in Oregon
In this Focus the Nation event, Sallie Schullinger-Krause of the Oregon Environmental Council will present “Climate Change Initiatives in Oregon.” Her talk will center on the innovations and challenges in Oregon regarding climate change policy and action. She will also discuss the link between state and federal climate change policy. Sallie joined OEC in April 2006 and leads the OEC’s program to reduce statewide global warming emissions from cars and trucks. She has nine years of organizing experience working in the non-profit environmental community on climate and energy issues. Her talk will be followed by a discussion.
Time: Wednesday, October 24, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Place: Mago Hunt Recital Hall
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Slip-Sliding away: The Effects of Climate Change on Glaciers
Global climate change has caused widespread accelerated glacier retreat, which has negative effects on the fresh water available for humans and the freshwater found in ecosystems. In turn, changing glaciers cause global sea levels to rise, alter the landscape, and affect climate at the local and global scale. In order to understand how glaciers fit into our world and how we fit into the glaciers’ world it is important to understand how glaciers work and what causes them to change. (click read more for more and for time and place)
By being informed about natural systems such as glaciers we can understand why some changes in nature happen so fast while others take longer. We will also be able to see that all these systems are interconnected and what our influence on these systems can be.
Join Dr Hester Jiskoot in understanding more about this highly important topic as she explains glacier dynamics, glacier-climate interactions, water issues, and the impact glaciers have on our environment.
Time: 7:00 - 8:30, Oct 30th,
Place: Mago Hunt Recital Hall
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The Future for Renewable Energy
In this Focus the Nation event open to everyone, a panel of energy experts in Oregon will discuss the viability of renewable energy in the U.S. and Oregon and how to promote it. Panelists include: Thor Hinckley of Portland General Electric, Sallie Schullinger-Krause of the Oregon Environmental Council, Elaine Prause of Energy Trust, and Robert Delmar of the Oregon Department of Energy. Key questions to be addressed include: what kind of energy should we encourage? How? The event will be hosted and facilitated by UP MBA students.
Time: Thursday, November 8, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Place: BC auditorium
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An Inconvenient Truth
In this Focus the Nation event open to everyone, Al Gore's Academy award winning "An Inconvenient Truth" will be shown and discussed. For a good synopsis of the movie, click here.
Place: BC auditorium
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Sustainability in Architecture and the Natural Step: The Sera Case
In this Focus the Nation event Lisa Petterson of cutting edge Sera will discuss how implementing sustainability practices has changed her firm and its approach to architecture. The talk will include details on the carbon dioxide impact of buildings, a description of the Natural Step process, and lessons learned in implementing sustainability practices. A discussion will follow the talk.
Time: Thursday, November 29th, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Place: BC 163
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