UMass Lowell Faculty Panel on Climate Change

We can no longer deny the reality of the climate crisis but what can we do about it? Lowell City of Learning hosts six UMass Lowell professors to discuss the science behind extreme weather, the potential impacts on public health, and how the built environment can mitigate or worsen the effects of climate change. They will discuss why addressing the climate crisis must include policy, as well as changes to how we address climate change in our secondary education system, and the unique role of art to communicate the importance of acting on climate change. Each panelist will briefly discuss their part in addressing the climate crisis. They will then be open to answer your questions.

Speakers include:
Jeff Basara, Professor of Atmospheric Science, serves as the Environmental, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Department Chair. He researches complex, integrated processes across weather, climate, water, and ecosystems with specific attention directed toward precipitation extremes and associated impacts such as droughts, flash droughts, floods, and flash floods. He also studies the evolution of severe and extreme weather such as heat waves, cold air outbreaks, and cascading events
Marie Frank, Associate Professor of Architectural Studies, is the director of the Architectural Studies Program that draws together classes from across the university that address climate change and the built environment. Buildings are a two-edged sword for climate change: on the one hand their construction and materials increase the production of emissions, and on the other they offer opportunities for new innovations that will redirect how we build. Her course, “Architectural Utopias” encourages students to design a better world.
Vanessa Gray, Teaching Professor of Political Science, trained in Latin American studies. She teaches courses in peace and conflict studies and environmental politics. Her current research focuses on action-based alliances in the rewilding movement.
Ingrid Hess, Associate professor of Art and Design promotes using graphic design in all her classes as a tool to affect positive change in the world. Her research, which includes children’s books, exhibitions, and games, focuses on teaching young children how they can be an important partner in the fight against climate change.
Tom Shea, Professor of Biological Sciences at UMass Lowell, focuses his research on the role of nutrition in maintaining cognitive performance and how critical deficiencies play a role in the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. He teaches basic biology to all UMass students majoring in fields other than biology. In doing so, he highlights how climate change will, and is already, impairing aspects of our physiology and metabolism, as well as that of our crops, in ways that will challenge our survival should we fail to take corrective action.
Lori Weeden, Teaching Professor of Environmental Science, spends most of her time teaching introductory environmental science to students pursuing majors in other fields. This provides her with the chance to dispel misconceptions that surround environmental science, sustainability, and climate change.

Offered by UMass Lowell as part of the 2024 Lowell City of Learning Festival, which is a project under the fiscal sponsorship of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation.