Rosenfield Symposium to Focus on ‘Global Climate Change and Our Energy Future’

Newswise — Discussion of global climate change seems to be everywhere these days. Fans of the popular Weather Channel learn about global climate change from meteorologists and research scientists, usually in 10- or 15-second sound bites. And, recently, former Vice President Al Gore received an Academy Award for his documentary "An Inconvenient Truth," which looks at his crusade to halt global warming.

At Grinnell College, specialists, researchers, and academics will take the discussion further as they examine "Global Climate Change and Our Energy Future: Will We Need to Rely on Nuclear Power?" at a three-day symposium Tuesday, April 3, through Thursday, April 5.

All lectures will be in the Joe Rosenfield '25 Center, Room 101, and are free and open to the general public.

"How to slow climate change and at the same time provide adequate energy for global needs is definitely one of the most important issues we face today," said Wayne Moyer, director of the Rosenfield Program in Public Affairs, International Relations, and Human Rights. "What should our future energy policy look like? How much can Iowa contribute to energy needs by supplying wind power, ethanol, and biodiesel? Our speakers will address these issues."

The symposium will include prominent speakers discussing nuclear power each evening.

The symposium will address issues of interest both locally and globally. Tom Winds of Wind Utility Consulting will discuss "How Much Wind Energy Can Iowa Really Use?" Herbert Giorgio, certified health physicist and radiation safety officer at the Duane Arnold Energy Center, Palo, Iowa, will speak on "Nuclear Power: Emission-Free Electrical Generation," at 8 p.m., Tuesday, April 3. Robert Glass, who works with complex adaptive infrastructures and behavioral systems at Sandia National Laboratories, will discuss "Yucca Mountain and the Storage of High Level Nuclear Waste" at 8 p.m., Wednesday, April 4.

Former astronaut and former U.S. Senator from New Mexico Harrison Schmitt will address "Lunar Helium-3 Fusion Power and Our Energy and Space Future," on Thursday, April 5. The former Apollo 17 lunar module pilot will also speak at 8 p.m. o n Thursday.

The symposium is jointly sponsored by the Environmental Studies Concentration, the Center for Prairie Studies, and the Rosenfield Program in Public Affairs, International Relations, and Human Rights.

"Global Climate Change and Our Energy Future:Will We Need to Rely on Nuclear Power?" April 3 to 5, 2007

Tuesday, April 3

"Carbon Mitigation and Nuclear Power," Charles Duke, Williston Professor of Physics, Grinnell College, 4:15 p.m., Joe Rosenfield '25 Center, Room 101.

"Nuclear Power: Emission Free Electrical Generation," Herbert Giorgio, Certified Health Physicist and Radiation Safety Officer, Duane Arnold Energy Center, Palo, Iowa, 8 p.m., Joe Rosenfield '25 Center, Room 101.

Wednesday, April 4

"Building Green: Moving Beyond Efficiency," by Martha Norbeck, Architect and Sustainability Specialist, 4:15 p.m., Joe Rosenfield '25 Center, Room 101.

"Yucca Mountain and the Storage of High Level Nuclear Waste," Robert Glass, Complex Adaptive Infrastructures and Behavioral Systems, Sandia National Laboratories, 8 p.m., Joe Rosenfield '25 Center, Room 101.

Thursday, April 5

"How Much Wind Energy Can Iowa Really Use?" by Tom Wind, Wind Utility Consulting, Jefferson, Iowa, 11 a.m., Joe Rosenfield '25 Center, Room 101.

"Biomass Energy: Options for Iowa," by Edward Woolsey, President, Chariton Valley Switchgrass L.L.C., Centerville, Iowa, at 4:15 p.m., Joe Rosenfield '25 Center, Room 101.

"Lunar Helium-3 Fusion Power and Our Energy and Space Future," by Harrison Schmitt, Apollo 17 Lunar Module Pilot and former U.S. Senator from New Mexico, 8 p.m., Joe Rosenfield '25 Center, Room 101.