Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Press release here:
The Asheville Chapter of the American Meteorological Society and the Colburn Earth Science Museum announced today that Rick Borchelt, a nationally recognized science communications expert, will be the first speaker in a series of free public talks they are co-sponsoring to provide the public with clear, timely and accurate information about climate change. The series is called “Climate Change in 2009: Global Changes, Local Impacts.”
On March 17 at 7:00 p.m. at the Diana Wortham Theatre, Borchelt will present “Can You Hear Me If I Talk A Little Louder: Hope, Hype, and Communicating Climate Change.”
“Communicating accurate climate change information is one of the most challenging issues that we face in the scientific world,” said Borchelt. “Ask anyone if they have an opinion on climate change and chances are good that they feel pretty strongly about the issue. However, the reality is that most of us do not have a basic understanding of how climate change science works, or of how we have arrived at this place where the topic of climate change is so divisive. It is an emotionally and politically charged issue – making communication about it a real challenge.”
Borchelt, communications director for the Genetics and Public Policy Center at The Johns Hopkins University has had a varied career in science communications and science public policy, including stints as media relations director for the National Academy of Sciences; press secretary for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space and Technology under the chairmanship of the late Rep. George E. Brown, Jr.; special assistant for public affairs in the Executive Office of The President during the Clinton Administration; director of communications for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science; and director of communications and public affairs at The Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research at MIT.
This is the second year that the Asheville Chapter of the AMS has partnered with the Colburn Earth Science Museum to host the climate change series. Immediately after each of the presentations, the Colburn will host a Meet the Presenter reception in the Museum, also located in Pack Place.
