Peoples U. Climate Change, Class 1: Earths changing climate: Causes, consequences, and challenges.

August 10, 2023
7:00pm - 8:00pm

Climate Change:Is there still hope?  Class 1-Earth’s changing climate: Causes, consequences, and challenges.

We won’t know what to do about climate change if we don’t understand what’s going on.  So, this presentation will summarize: 1) how Earth controls its temperature; 2) why Earth’s climate can be temperamental; 3) how we know Mother Earth is running a fever; 4) why human actions are making her ill; and 5) the path towards recovery and the obstacles in our way. In addition to summarizing fundamental information about climate change, I will introduce some trusted voices and reliable sources of information on this topic. 

Instructor:  Dr. William Peterjohn, Professor, Department of Biology, WVU.

Dr. William Peterjohn is a Professor of Biology at WVU.  During his 40+ year career as an ecosystem ecologist his research has focused on the interface between terrestrial nutrient cycles and human-caused changes in the environment.  He received a B.S. in Mathematics & Biology from Baldwin-Wallace College in 1979, a Masters of Environmental Science (M.En) from Miami University in 1982, and a Ph.D. from Duke University in 1990.  Prior to arriving at WVU, he worked for the EPA (one summer), the Smithsonian Institution, and the Ecosystem Center in Woods Hole, MA. During his career he has conducted research in agroecosystems, deserts, and the forests of West Virginia.