UF joins in national teach-in on global warming solutions

January 16, 2008

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — On Jan. 31, the University of Florida will participate in Focus The Nation, an unprecedented teach-in on global warming solutions.

“Today’s college students are truly the greatest generation,” said Lewis & Clark College professor of economics Eban Goodstein, author and project director for the national campaign. “No other generation has ever had to face this kind of civilizational challenge. And we as educators would be failing if we did not prepare them with the tools to meet this challenge.”

The local event, called Focus The Gator Nation Teach-in, will begin at 3 p.m. at Ustler Hall Women’s Studies Atrium with a presentation by UF professors Stephen Mulkey and Paul Sotkiewicz on the science of climate change. At 4 p.m., Gainesville Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan and Tallahassee Mayor John Marks will discuss the state and local leadership opportunities and challenges for addressing climate change. In addition, they will discuss the climate challenge between the two cities.

“Mayor Marks and I are working hard in Tallahassee and Gainesville to meet our goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012. Gainesville and Tallahassee have kicked off an energy efficiency competition to see whether the ‘Orange and Blue’ or the ‘Garnet and Gold’ are most green,” Hanrahan said.

“By synchronizing traffic signals, planting trees, saving land, growing transit ridership and curbing wasteful energy use, we not only help protect our global environment, we also create a more desirable place to live right here at home.”

After the Leadership for Climate Change Forum, the teach-in will continue with an energy debate at 6 p.m. UF faculty and industry experts on various energy sources, including coal, bio-fuels and nuclear, will debate the pros and cons of each option. Gator Dining is providing refreshments for the teach-in.

The teach-in will be preceded by the Climate Change Awareness Fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Reitz Student Union North Lawn, coordinated by Gators for a Sustainable Campus and the Environmental Science and Policy Society.

As part of UF’s commitment to bring awareness of global warming solutions to the local community, UF is holding a climate change competition in conjunction with the Alachua County Schools. Elementary, middle and high school students may submit drawings, essays, poems or art work or they can conduct a carbon footprint analysis of their school. Entries are due Jan. 24. Local businesses, including Satchel’s, Indigo, Gainesville Regional Utilities and Adventure Outpost, are donating prizes for the competition.

For more information on the event, please visit: http://focusthenationuf.googlepages.com.