Presentation about climate change to kick off faculty fall lecture series

Distinguished professor of atmospheric science to speak on Sept. 8

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — Penn State Lehigh Valley will host diverse speakers on three occasions this fall as part of its annual Faculty Invitational Lecture Series. Topics include climate change, the history of C.F. Martin of Martin Guitar, and more. All events are free and open to the public.

The first lecture, presented by Penn State Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Science Michael E. Mann, will be “A Return to the Madhouse: Climate Change Denial in the Age of Trump” from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 8, in room 135 at Penn State Lehigh Valley, located at 2809 Saucon Valley Road in Center Valley, Pennsylvania.

Michael Mann

Michael Mann

Credit: Michael Mann

To complement the lecture, a gathering will take place the night before from 5-6 p.m. on Sept. 7, at Torre at The Promenade Shops, to allow people to talk with Mann. Mann will also be available the morning before his lecture to meet with the campus community from 10-11 a.m. in the third faculty lounge at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

Mann will explore his view that denialism over climate change has found a place in the highest level of U.S. government with the election of President Donald J. Trump. Mann, who co-authored "The Madhouse Effect: How Climate Change Denial is Threatening our Planet, Destroying our Politics, and Driving us Crazy" with Washington Post editorial cartoonist Tom Toles, will update the story in the book about the ongoing campaign to deny the reality and threat of climate change, using humor, satire and where appropriate, ridicule, built around Toles’ famously insightful, edgy and provocative climate-themed cartoons.

Mann will review the scientific evidence of climate change, the reasons people should care and what he sees as efforts by special interests and partisan political figures to confuse the public, attack the science and scientists and deny that a problem exists.

An award-winning scientist and author, Mann has joint appointments in the Department of Geosciences and the Earth and Environmental Systems Institute (EESI). He is also director of the Penn State Earth System Science Center (ESSC). Mann earned his doctorate in geology and geophysics, and his master's degree in physics, both from Yale University. His earned bachelor's degrees in physics and in applied math from the University of California at Berkeley. Mann’s complete bio is available on his website.

Other featured lectures in the series include:

Dick Boak

Dick Boak will share the rich history of C.F. Martin & Co. on Oct. 10.

Credit: Dick Boak

— Dick Boak, company historian, C.F. Martin & Co. (Martin Guitars)
12:15 to 1:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 10 in room 302
Boak will share the rich history of C.F. Martin & Co., one of the Lehigh Valley’s oldest employers. C.F. Martin is a manufacturer of fine guitars, which are highly regarded as among the finest instruments in the world. A plethora of the world’s most notable musicians choose Martin for its high level of quality and workmanship. In 1973, Boak discovered C. F. Martin & Co. and was soon hired as a design draftsman. Since then and for the past 32 years, he has held many diverse and creative positions there, leading to the formation of Martin’s Artist Relations Department and the conception of more than 140 signature guitar collaborations with the top musical talents of our time. His acclaimed book “Martin Guitar Masterpieces” relays the stories of those collaborations. For 17 years, he lived in his converted “Church Of Art,” an active studio for art, woodworking and live music.

Information for the lecture in November coming soon.

Contact

Dennille Schuler

Public Relations Specialist
Penn State Lehigh Valley

Work Phone
610-285-5018