Lecture Series Schedule on Governors Island, Summer 2007
Begins at 12:30 pm in Pershing Hall

6/16 Leonard Rodberg, Queens College
Climate Change, Peak Oil, and our Energy Future?
The burning of fossil fuels -- oil, natural gas, and coal -- is the principal source of greenhouse gases. As the consumption of these fuels grows, leading to rising atmospheric temperatures, the worldwide production of these fuels is starting to level off and is predicting to begin a slow decline (some refer to this as "peak oil"). We will discuss our current use of energy sources and the conservation and renewable alternatives that are available to us.

6/23 Peter Marcotullio, Hunter College/United Nations
The Urban Environmental Transition: Understanding Changing Environmental Conditions in Cities
This presentation will examine historical changes in urban environmental risks with the goal of providing an understanding of how we have arrived at our current situation

6/30 William Solecki, Hunter College
Environmental Change and Urban Sustainability - The Case of New York City
Urban sustainability is one of the most significant scientific and public policy challenges facing society. This talk will present how the challenge of urban sustainability is being addressed in New York City in the face of ongoing environmental change.

7/7 Stan Gedzelman, City College of New York
Prime Movers in Saving the Planet
Now that the idea of Global Warming is finally becoming part of the "Conventional Wisdom" it is good to look at the prime movers, the remarkable individuals who started us thinking that the planet is in need of saving. We find that they were not initially motivated by fears of destruction but of love of the beauty of nature. This highly illustrated lecture will focus on their vision by briefly outlining their lives and influence as it displays the magnificence of the natural world as seen by this meteorologist.

7/14 Deborah Popper, College of Staten Island
A Full Plate: Food Sustainability, Food Security
Sustainability requires a healthy food system from farm to plate. What does that mean? What will it take?

7/21 Nicholas Coch, Queens College
The Unique Vulnerability of the N.Y. / N.J. Metropolitan Region to Hurricane Damage - A New Perspective Based on Recent Research
Few New Yorkers realize that the unique geographic, oceanographic, geologic, demographic and topographic factors in our region greatly amplify the damage resulting from a land falling hurricane. Major hurricanes hit the North about every 90-100 years. Although they are more infrequent than in the South, their consequences , category for category, are far more severe The last major hurricane to hit the North was in 1938: we can expect another major hurricane landfall in the coming decade(s).

7/28 Tria Case, The Center for Sustainable Energy at BCC
New York City's Renewable Energy Future
Concerns over energy security, climate change, economic development, and environmental justice make the time right for a new city energy strategy. Solar energy is New York City's largest untapped available energy resource. This presentation will share results of research conducted by The Center for Sustainable Energy on the progress made toward New York¹s solar energy future, discuss the barriers to large-scale solar energy development, and map out strategies for moving forward.

8/4 Michael Bobker, CUNY Institute for Urban Systems
The Open Window: Getting to Energy Efficiency in Existing Buildings
What is the opportunity for energy efficiency in existing buildings and how do we get there? Talk will examine overall potential and common themes found by those who seek to implement.

8/11 Cecilia McHugh, Queens College
Glacial to Interglacial Depositional History of Western Long Island Sound, New York
Hard to believe but Long Island Sound was covered by a thick layer of ice 20,000 years ago. After the ice melted, fresh water lakes formed. With increased river discharge, the lakes burst allowing for marine and river waters to mix forming the Long Island Sound ³estuary². Unfortunately the estuary is being increasingly polluted by man¹s activities since ~1850¹s.

8/18 Frank Buonaiuto and Haydee Salmum, Hunter College
New York Meets Nor'easters: Are Our Coasts Prepared?
Mid latitude cyclones, locally referred to as Nor'easters threaten the New York Metropolitan Region several times each year. These coastal storms often result in tropical storm force winds, large waves, coastal erosion, flooding and heavy precipitation. This presentation will focus on the climatology of these storms within our region and discuss potential impacts along our coasts.

8/25 Deborah Balk, Baruch College
The Rising Tide: Urban Population & Climate Change
Human settlement has long been drawn to resource-rich coastal areas. But coastal regions also experience seaward hazards, including sea level rise and extreme weather events that are expected to increase as a result of climate change. Coastal zones exhibit higher population densities, in both urban and rural areas than any other major ecologically defined zone. In this study, we show that about one person in ten globally lives in the most vulnerable low elevation portions of coastal zones. This presentation will review findings in a global context, and for the five boroughs of New York City, and discusses implications for policy at both scales.

9/1 Judith Kimerling, Queens College and CUNY Law School
Oil, Law, and Sustainability in the Amazon Rainforest
Professor Kimerling will discuss the tragic legacy of decades of irresponsible oil development in the Amazon Rainforest; emerging international law to promote sustainable development; and her experience working with indigenous Amazonian peoples in Ecuador who are organizing to defend their rights, remedy environmental, social and cultural injures caused by oil extraction, and promote sustainable, community-based development alternatives.

Location:
The CUNY Lecture Series is located in Pershing Hall and is a two-minute walk from the ferry terminal on Governors Island. Make a left at the first intersection and follow the signs to Pershing Hall (building 125). For more information about either the lecture series or exhibition, contact Dr. Stephen Pekar at QCccasa@gmail.com.


CUNY Climate Change Science Exhibition

Environmental Health in CUNY: Current Challenges and Future Opportunities Tracking Mercury Contamination in the Sediments of Western Long Island - Alexandra Bowman, Queens College

Alternate Energy Options and Careers: On the Road, at Home, at Work - Center for Sustainable Energy, Bronx Community College

Developing a Surface-Air Mercury Model (SAMM) - Elisabeth Contreras, CUNY Graduate Center

Green Roof Feasibility Study for Queens College - George Hendrey, Queens College

Glacial to Interglacial Depositional History of Western Long Island Sound, New York - Cecilia McHugh, Queens College

CUNY Institute for Sustainable Cities: Overview and Prospects - Lesley Patrick, Hunter College

Can You Determine What the Salinity Was Like in the Hudson River Thousands of Years Ago? (A hands-on exhibit with microscopes) - Stephen Pekar, Queens College

Climate Change in Lifetime: Why We Should Be Worried - Stephen Pekar, Queens College

A Greenhouse World in Our Lifetime? Why We Should Be Worried - Stephen Pekar, Queens College

Sea Level Rise in Our Lifetime? Why We Should Be Worried - Stephen Pekar, Queens College

Abrupt Climate Change Due to Gradual CO2Changes: The Greenhouse to Icehouse Transition - Stephen Pekar, Queens College

NYC Under Water? Swimming in the Arctic Ocean? An Example of a Runaway Greenhouse World - Stephen Pekar, Queens College

The Great Antarctic Debate: Stable Versus Dynamic Ice Sheet and What It Means for Us - Stephen Pekar, Queens College

A 7000-Year Historyof Paleosalinity Changes in the Hudson River Estuary and What It Means for New York City Today - Maddalena Romano, Queens College

Environmental Impacts of NYC Buildings: How "Going Green" Can Reduce NYC¹s Carbon Footprint - Maddalena Romano, Queens College

A World-Class University Aquatic and Environmental Research and Education Center at Brooklyn College - Martin Schreibman, Brooklyn College

Sustainable Cities ­ One Resident at a Time - William Solecki, CUNY Institute for Sustainable Cities, Hunter College

Living Off the Grid: Comparing Energy Practices and Choices in the U.S. and India - Micha Tomkiewicz, Brooklyn College

Bivalves in Brooklyn! Shellfish Restoration Studies in New York City - Chester Zarnoch and Martin Schreibman, Brooklyn College

Location:
The CUNY climate change science Exhibition is located in Building 110 on Governors Island (walk up the hill from the ferry terminal on Governors Island and it is the first building on the right). It will be open on Saturday and Sunday between 10:30 and 4:00, between June 2nd and September 2nd.