Expert was Adviser to Pope Francis on His Environmental Platform
09/29/2015
Contacts: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944 or Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu and Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
* M E D I A A D V I S O R Y *
Wednesday, Oct. 7
4:30 p.m.
WHAT: Environmental leader Naomi Oreskes – who advised Pope Francis on the climate-change policy he shared with President Obama and Congress during his U.S. visit last week – will be the featured speaker at UMass Lowell’s annual Climate Change Teach-In, expected to draw more than 500 students, faculty and members of the community.
A science historian and geologist, Oreskes was among the experts who met with the pope in 2014 to discuss the environment. The session laid the groundwork for his climate-change encyclical “On Care for Our Common Home,” a letter delivered to all Roman Catholic bishops. The policy has been hailed as one of the most important papal documents of the last century.
Renowned for her work, Oreskes has provided expert testimony on the environment before the U.S. Senate and is the co-author of “Merchants of Doubt.” The book, which inspired a documentary of the same name, explores how the U.S. scientific community’s knowledge or denial of environmental concerns such as DDT, tobacco smoke, acid rain and climate change has shaped the public’s view of these issues over the past 40 years.
Before Oreskes’ program, UMass Lowell faculty, legislators and business professionals will take on roles as United Nations delegates to simulate negotiating a worldwide climate pact. The game, to be played at 2 p.m., was developed by UMass Lowell and other educational institutions as part of the World Climate Project Initiative, recently honored by the White House for its ability to raise awareness about the issue.
The Teach-In is presented by UMass Lowell’s Climate Change Initiative – which brings together faculty, students and local leaders to address ways to improve the environment – and faculty and staff behind the university’s Climate Action Plan. Both the initiative and the plan inspire the UMass Lowell community to take action to achieve carbon neutrality on campus and throughout the region.
WHERE: Cumnock Hall auditorium, North Campus, 31 University Ave., Lowell. For directions and parking information, contact UMass Lowell media relations.