Clemson students, faculty to discuss climate change during National Teach-In

Published: February 2, 2010

CLEMSON — Clemson University will join hundreds of other colleges, universities and schools around the nation Thursday, Feb. 11, in the National Teach-In on Climate Change.

Faculty members are asked to incorporate discussions on climate change into one of their classes over the semester relating the issue to their own disciplines. Clemson also will hold a forum series, a green expo and a film series at the Hendrix Student Center to give students, faculty and staff more opportunities to have conversations on climate change.

“Exceptional universities are marked by their ability to open debate on sensitive topics. Clemson has shown a dedication, from the student level to the administrative level, to building awareness around the important challenge of climate change,” said Jamey Lowdermilk, a graduate student in applied economics and statistics who is organizing the National Teach-In. “The third annual National Teach-In on Climate Change will give volume to the debate on climate change, fostering dialogue around competing viewpoints and building a deeper understanding of the breadth of this topic. We hope those involved, faculty, staff, students and community members, will gain new insights from this exciting, student-initiated event.”

The forum series will be held from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in McKissick Theatre and will feature industry and university leaders discussing different issues surrounding sustainability:

• 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m., Corporate panel discussion on sustainability in the business world, featuring representatives from InterfaceFLOR, Xerox and the Nexsen Pruet Law Firm; moderated by marketing professor John Mittelstaedt.
• 1-1:45 p.m., Presentation on plug-in electric vehicles by Mike Rowand of Duke Energy.
• 2-3 p.m., Panel discussion on Clemson University’s sustainability initiatives featuring Ben Sill, chairman of the President’s Commission on Sustainability; Gerald Vander Mey, university master planner; Paul Borick, project manager for Clemson’s Lee Hall expansion and renovation; John Jacques of McMillan-Smith Architects; and Tony Putnam, director of utility services.
• 3:30-4:30 p.m., Panel discussion on Renewable and Clean Energy and Green Economy Opportunities in South Carolina, featuring Rep. Davey Hiott of the House Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Environmental Affairs Committee and Trish Jerman of the South Carolina Energy Office; moderated by Tony Putnam.

The green expo will run from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on the first floor of the Hendrix Student Center and will showcase university and local groups dedicated to sustainability, including Students for Environmental Awareness, Upstate Locavores, Engineers Without Borders, Upstate Forever, InterfaceFLOR and the South Carolina Energy Office.

The film series, which started in January, features documentaries focusing on different aspects of sustainability and climate change. Remaining films on the schedule include:

• Thursday, Feb. 4, 7 p.m.: "Dirt! The Movie"
• Monday, Feb. 8, 6 p.m.: "Food, Inc."
• Thursday, Feb. 25, 6 p.m.: "HOME"

All films will be shown in McKissick Theatre.

The forum series, green expo and film series are free and open to the public. For more information, visit http://www.clemson.edu/solidgreen/teachin-2010.

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