Focus the Nation: University of Arkansas to Participate in National Teach-in on Global Warming

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas will participate in Focus the Nation’s Teach-in on Global Warming. On Wednesday, Jan. 30, and Thursday, Jan. 31, more than 1,000 educational institutions will focus on global warming in an effort to educate young people about the pressing need for changes to sustain the planet and to outline actions people can take now to reduce the effects of global warming.

“Global warming due to greenhouse gas emissions is the über-ubiquitous issue of our times,” said Nick Brown, the university’s executive assistant for sustainability. “It influences and is influenced by business practices, technological choices, our philosophical relationship to the planet and personal habits. Our management of this single issue, more than any other, will define the quality of life for our descendants. Participation in Focus the Nation’s Teach-in is one of many steps that the university will take in the coming year to address this issue.”

To celebrate the event, some faculty members will highlight the importance of energy use, greenhouse gas emissions and global warming during their classroom meetings on Jan. 30 and 31. They will explain how their disciplines relate to natural resources and environmental conservation, and how students can have a positive effect on the environment. Throughout the week, faculty members will encourage students to write papers, make presentations and discuss environmental conservation and global warming.

Staff members and students are encouraged to attend or participate in as many events as possible. As part of the two-day event, the university community will discuss how it can reduce its carbon footprint by 2 percent this year.

To learn about the Focus the Nation project, visit http://www.focusthenation.org. For a list of University of Arkansas events, please see the schedule below or visit http://sustainability.uark.edu.

6:30 p.m. - Willard J. Walker Hall Auditorium - Report on Sustainability at the University of Arkansas

7 p.m. - Willard J. Walker Hall Auditorium - The 2% Solution Webcast. Produced with the support of the National Wildlife Federation, and hosted on Earth Day TV, the Webcast will be broadcast live from the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Americans understand that global warming is real, and they are ready for this serious discussion of how to solve it while maintaining social and economic vitality. The Webcast will address the question: how can each of us contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2 percent a year for the next 40 years?

All Day - Classroom lectures focus on an aspect of the environment, as part of Focus the Nation.  For a complete list of faculty and courses participating, visit http://sustainability.uark.edu .

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Arkansas Union Connections Lounge - The University hosts ongoing presentations on the environment given by faculty, graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Arkansas. Presentations will highlight a rich diversity of people and ideas focused on social, cultural, financial and political dimensions of the crisis, as well as environmental and ecological ones. For a complete list of presentation times and topics, visit http://sustainability.uark.edu .

4 to 5:30 p.m. - Willard J. Walker Hall Auditorium - How can the University of Arkansas, Washington County and the city of Fayetteville collaborate to implement ideas presented in The 2% Solution by students, workers and citizens?  Moderator: Nick Brown, executive assistant for sustainability, UA Facilities Management

4 to 4:20 p.m. - Keynote speaker: Rep. Kathy Webb (D-Little Rock), chair, Governor’s Commission on Global Warming

4:20 to 4:45 p.m. - Five-minute presentations by panelists — How can the University, Fayetteville and Washington County work together to achieve The 2% Solution?