Local speaker to cover climate change in Wisconsin

By Phyllis Sides
Journal Times

Thursday, September 6, 2007 3:11 PM CDT

RACINE — Stories about global warming and other climatic changes are often topics on the evening news. And usually the people telling those stories are strangers. But Tuesday the community will have the opportunity to learn about climate change from a familiar face at a program presented by the American Association of University Women-Racine.

Racine native Kirstin Dow, associate professor of geography at the University of South Carolina and a senior research fellow of the Stockholm Environment Institute, will speak on “The Implications of Global Warming.”

Dow said she will talk about the evidence for climate change. “I’m going to look at and talk about mitigation strategies,” Dow said. “I’ll also talk about adaptation and discuss some events that are happening in Wisconsin.”

Some of the Wisconsin climate changes such as early bud bursts and early arrivals and departures of some bird species that Dow will talk about can be traced through documentation that’s been compiled at the Aldo Leopold farm in Baraboo since the 1930s.

Dow’s presentation also will focus on some of the climatic changes that are expected to occur in this century and the necessity for action by individuals, organizations and governments.

Dow’s research has been published in numerous professional journals. Her current research focuses on assessing the potential uses of climate information for vulnerability reduction, adaptation and improved environmental management.

What: “The Implications of Global Warming” by Kirstin Dow, associate professor of geography at the University of South Carolina.

When: Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

Where: Greek Orthodox Church Kimissis Theotokou, 1335 S. Green Bay Road.

Program cost: Free and open to the public.

FYI: This program is a presentation of the American Association of University Women-Racine. For more information about the event, call Marlene Salley at (262) 948-3884. More information about AAUW-Racine is available at http://www.aauwracine.org/

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