Concurrent Sessions

Nature and Causes

The Great Global Climate Change Experiment
Stephen Vavrus, Center for Climatic Research, UW- Madison
This session will explore how humans are conducting a global experiment on the environment by radically altering the composition of the atmosphere.   We will consider how climate has changed in the past, how it is changing now, and what kind of climate we may expect in the future.

Wisconsin Has Greenhouse Gas Emissions?  Nooooooo!!!  [Cancelled]
Eric Mosher, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
In this session, you will learn about your greenhouse gas emissions and how you can reduce them.  What are greenhouse gases?  How do they work?  Why are they important? Do we have them in Wisconsin? We will get up close and personal with the gases that cause global climate change.

Monitoring Wisconsin's Weather and Climate
Edward Hopkins, Wisconsin State Climatology Office
Come find out about what weather records collected across Wisconsin over last century are saying about recent climate. Then, compare that with climates of Wisconsin farther back in time.

Carbon Here, Carbon There, Carbon is Not Very Rare
Vic Akeman, Stevens Point Area High School (SPASH)
Come cycle with me as we explore and understand how carbon atoms move through the natural world.  What happens when the cycle is working the way it ought to?  What about when it's not working so well?  

Humans, Forests, and Global CO₂: The Nature of Human Wood Use and its Climate Consequences
Nick Hylla, Wisconsin Forest Resource Education Alliance
Trees take CO2 out of the air during respiration and incorporate the carbon into cellulose - wood. How does wood use affect atmospheric CO2? Are forests carbon "sinks"? Can forest management help solve the global warming problem? Come find out! 

Just Like Dave Matthews Band Does... How to Live a Carbon Neutral Life
Josh Arnold, Franklin Energy/ Focus on Energy
The Dave Matthews Band recently announced that it would offset 100% of its carbon dioxide emissions dating back to 1991. This session will address the following questions: What is an offset? What does it mean to offset your carbon dioxide emissions? How can I determine and reduce the size of my carbon footprint? How can I offset my own emissions? 

Global Perspectives, Challenges, and Issues of Climate Change
David Houghton, UW- Madison
This session provides an overview of the nature and causes of climate change.  This includes a review of basic physics, human impacts on the atmosphere, and the observed temperature record.  Evidence that recent global warming is due to human activity is discussed.  Finally, the challenges and uncertainties of predicting future climate change are reviewed.

My Power: An Interactive Simulation to Design Wisconsin's Energy Future
Paul Meier, UW Energy Institute
Wisconsin's energy resources are dominated by fossil fuels.  You can change that in a virtual simulation of Wisconsin's electricity system.  Evaluate the implications of continued fossil fuel reliance and build the next generation of low-carbon power technologies.  See the "Wisconsin impact" of solar, wind, bio, nuclear and other energy resources.

Global Climate Change in Earth's Past:  When, Why, and What about Tomorrow?
Philip Ihinger, Department of Geology, UW- Eau Claire
Climate change is not new to planet Earth.  A variety of evidence-- whether trapped in ice caps, recorded in fossil remains, or preserved in Earth's rocks-- allows us to understand the magnitude of natural climate changes throughout Earth's history.  In this session, we examine the nature and causes of global climate change, and explore the role of human activity in altering the natural global climate system.

Dirty King Coal
Ryan Schryver, Clean Wisconsin
Dirty coal fired power plants are Wisconsin’s biggest polluters.  In fact, they are the biggest contributor to global warming pollution throughout the Midwest.  They poison our fish, pollute our air, and make your family sick.  We’ll look at what these plants are belching up, why they are allowed to do it, and how we can stop them. 

**teacher session**
Resources for Teaching about Global Warming
Phyllis Peri, Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education
Amy Heart, Midwest Renewable Energy Association
Learn about, examine, and find out how to access the many resources available to assist you in teaching about this important topic at the high school level. Activity guides, background materials, videotapes, DVDs, web sites, and more will be highlighted in this session just for teachers!  Also, learn about the Wisconsin Electrathon.  It provides a means of teaching young people how to evaluate alternatives and make sustainable lifestyle choices, and uses a problem-solving discipline to design and build an efficient vehicle, all in a hands-on and team oriented approach.

Impacts and Effects

Wisconsin Waters, Climate Change and You
John Magnuson, Center for Limnology, UW- Madison
Learn about the local effects of climate change on Wisconsin's lakes and streams, ice cover, runoff and groundwater.  Also, find out how scientists deal with uncertainty. 

Unraveling the Ecological Consequences of Global Climate Change
Alan Haney, UW- Stevens Point
"Everything is connected to everything else."  As climates change so will agriculture and nature.  Some changes will be positive, some not.  Some will have little consequence to us, so will greatly affect us, our children and our children's children.  In this session, we'll examine some fundamental relationships and explore the consequences of climate change. 

Making the Connection: Public Health and the Environment
David Edwards, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Come take a look at how the health of the environment relates to our health, why science is important in environmental policy decision-making, and what we as individuals can do to protect the health of the environment. 

Economic Impacts of Climate Change
David Lewis, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, UW- Madison
This session will explore the basic economics of climate change, including the nature of market failure and the economic rationale for international environmental treaties aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 

For Better or Worse: How Carbon Dioxide and Ozone Changes Forest Ecosystems
Mark Kubiske, USDA Forest Service 
We will discuss the effects of increasing carbon dioxide and tropospheric ozone on the functioning and health of forest ecosystems.  The topics will range from effects on tree physiology such as nutrition and photosynthesis, to tree growth and competition among tree species, to the way plant-eating insects are affected by changes in tree physiology and growth. 

Impacts of Global Warming on Biodiversity
George Stone, Milwaukee Area Technical College
Today, global warming threatens one million species with extinction.  Rising atmospheric and oceanic temperatures are changing habitat parameters and stressing organisms worldwide.  Planet earth is experiencing its sixth "great extinction" period.  Come find out why immediate action is imperative. 

Global Warming? Why Should I Care?  [Cancelled]
Eric Mosher, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
In this session, you will learn how global climate change will affect your life.  Will I need an air conditioner? Will my pond dry up?  Will my garden burn up?  Will the forest run away? Come and find out why you should care about global warming. 

The 3 Rs: Not Just for Elementary School Anymore!
Meribeth Sullivan, Waukesha County Recycling & Solid Waste
Get out! Reducing waste and recycling are capable of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 15%? Surreal World! The “3 Rs”: NOT just for elementary school anymore! Expect to be amazed by surprising recycling facts, impacts, and actions to take and reuse in the real world!

Trees to the Rescue
Sarah Gilbert, Learning Experiences and Activities in Forestry (LEAF)
Something as easy as planting a tree can have a positive impact on climate change. Participate in an activity to learn how a tree planted in the right place can reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide (and save money!). 

Global Indicators of Climate Change
Susan Ermer and Jamie Hiler, Global Environmental Teachings (GET)
Mount Kilimanjaro, coral reefs in the Caribbean, Arctic icecaps.  All of these places are indicators scientists are using to measure potential effects of global climate change.  This session will take you on a trip around the world to learn more about these indicators.  

**teacher session**
Climate Change Conceptions and Misconceptions: Addressing the Issue
Jennie Lane and Sara Windjue, Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Program (KEEP)
Is global warming a scientific fact or a socially constructed phenomenon? One reporter provides scientific evidence foretelling major climatic changes and another provides equally convincing data that refutes the first’s arguments. This session will explore strategies to help analyze this issue and decide which scientific claims are valid.  

Solutions

Shooting for the Moon: the Apollo Alliance Plan for Energy Independence and Good Jobs
Satya Rhodes-Conway, Apollo Alliance
This session offers an overview of the Apollo Alliance, which brings labor, environmental, business and community groups together to find clean energy solutions that also create good jobs and healthy neighborhoods. 

Rising to the Challenge: Building the Youth Climate Movement
Billy Parish, Climate Campaign and Campus Climate Challenge
Global Climate Change is the defining challenge of our generation, but there are solutions available that also show a path to a safer, more prosperous and more just society.  Young people across the country are leading the way.  Learn about opportunities to get involved in the most exciting social movement of our generation. 

Politics of a Check-Book Democracy: The Environmental and Human Consequences
Nino Amato, Common Cause Wisconsin
America today is slowly being transformed from a Jeffersonian Democracy to a Check-Book Democracy. Citizens can pull the levers in the voting booth, but someone with money is pulling the public policy strings behind closed doors. From the Kyoto treaty to national wind power plans, our government often acts as an obstacle to positive change. Come learn about the nature of climate change politics and how our Democracy can be revived in order to address this problem. 

Making it Cool: The Unofficial Top 10 Things You Can Do to Stop Global Warming
Gigi Abbadie, Greenhouse Network
How can activities like going to the movies and shopping actually help stop global warming?  Doing your part can be easy, and even fun.  This interactive session discusses 10 cool solutions that students of all ages can put into action immediately. 

Green Building Practices: Pathways to a Healthy Home, Workplace and Planet
Tom Brown, Architect
Sustainable Design balances the needs of a healthy planet with the needs for a healthy living environment.  It allows families to live more comfortably while at the same time they reduce the amount of global warming pollution their home or work place produces.  Strategies for achieving this balance are discussed and illustrated in the construction of an award-winning DNR Visitor Center in central Wisconsin and a Stevens Point residence. 

Global Climate Change and the American Consumer: How You Can Make A Difference
Steve Sandstrom, Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute, Northland College
Although the U.S. population comprises only 4.5% of the world population we consume 25% of the Earth’s natural resources.  Our use of fossil fuels for transportation, heating and cooling our homes, in the production of food and most of the other products we purchase are directly responsible for increases in "greenhouse gases" entering our atmosphere. Learn about how you can become a more responsible consumer and how you can make a difference by changing your consumption behaviors. 

Generation HOPE: Undoing Climate Change
Jennifer Feyerherm, Sierra Club
One thing defines a generation, whether a baby boom, a new technology, or even pop culture.  What will define yours?  How about HOPE - Help For Planet Earth.  Learn about solutions to cool the earth, from the personal to the political, and help renew our HOPE. 

Introduction to Renewable Energy
Clay Sterling, Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA)
We must end our reliance upon coal and fossil fuels if we expect to reverse climate change.  Come learn the basics of renewable energy systems from a local pro.  This workshop is a brief overview of what renewable energy is, how it works and what you can do with it. 

The Answer to Energy, Efficiency and Everything
Chris Talbot, Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA)
We may not all be financially able to install a renewable energy system, but what we do in our homes, apartments, and rooms makes a big difference when it comes to…everything.  Learn what steps you can take to reduce your energy usage and reduce your contribution to global warming pollution.  You CAN be involved in renewable energy implementation without owning a home or having loads of cash. 

Earth Friendly Fundraisers (CFLs)
Carrie Bea Ziolkowski, Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Program (KEEP)
Many fundraisers sell expensive items that most people do not really need.  The Bright Idea Fundraiser is different.  Not only do the students earn money but their customers will also save money on their energy bills as well because CFLs use less energy than conventional light bulbs.  This translates into saving money AND a reduction in the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. 

**teacher session**
Keep the Sunny Side Up: SolarWise for Schools
Chip Bircher, Wisconsin Public Service Community Foundation
Christine Fossen-Rades, DePere High School
The SolarWise® for Schools program provides free solar-electric systems to public and private high schools served by Wisconsin Public Service. Each SolarWise school also receives a renewable energy curriculum package and an invitation to participate in the annual Solar Olympics. Come and hear how teachers and students are using this program to make renewable energy come alive in their classrooms.