Global warming is regarded by many as the most serious problem facing humanity today - more deadly and terrible in its effects than any known disease, human conflict or single natural disaster. Many national governments have signed and ratified the Kyoto Protocol aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but there is ongoing worldwide political and public debate regarding what action should be taken to reduce or reverse future warming or adapt to its expected consequences. It is now widely recognised that there is no single solution and all possible actions must be taken to avoid disaster for future generations. This PAWS evening will introduce some of the women scientists and engineers working to meet this challenge at the UCL Environment Institute, the focal point for leading edge environmental research and related activities at University College London (UCL). It will also look at the challenges involved in communicating the issues surrounding climate change to the general public. The evening is aimed at writers, dramatists and broadcasters as well as scientists and engineers. The goal is to bring together science and television so that everyone benefits in a cross-cultural exchange. The presentations will be followed by a question and answer session and a networking reception and buffet. The event is supported by the UCL Environment Institute and the UK Resource Centre for Women in SET. Chair Dr Andrew Millington Director, PAWS (Public Awareness of Science and Engineering), Omni Communications Welcome and Introduction (to include a 10 minute film of women engineers and scientists across TV output) Professor Mark Maslin Head of Department and Director of the Environment Institute, Department of Geography, UCL Mark Maslin is a leading climatologist with particular expertise in past global and regional climatic change. He has been awarded grants of over £3 million. His areas of scientific expertise include global warming, causes of past and future global climate change, ocean circulation, ice ages, gas hydrates, Amazonia, East Africa palaeoclimates and human evolution and climatic consequences of volcanic eruptions. Mark has published over 75 papers in journals such as Science, Nature, Geology, GRL, QSR, JHE and Paleoceanography He has also written 5 popular books, over 20 popular articles for publications such as New Scientist and the Guardian, appeared on radio and tv and has been consulted regularly by the BBC. He was a consultant and filmed for the BBC's highly acclaimed Supervolcano (broadcast 14th March 2005) and also consulted on the follow up series Superstorm. His latest book is the highly successful "Global Warming: A Very Short Introduction" published by OUP. This is a pocket sized book which provides a summary of the historical background, scientific debate, future impacts and the politics of global warming. Speakers Dr Tiziana Rossetto Lecturer in Earthquake Engineering and Geohazards in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering at UCL Anne Johnson Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Head of the Division of Population Health at University College London. Co-Director of the UCL Institute for Global Health. Fiona Scott Television Director and Producer Fiona Scott has been a programme maker for ten years, having worked on hit programmes for the BBC such as Supervolcano and Krakatoa: The Last Days. She has produced and directed a number of science documentaries for BBC2, C4 and The Discovery Channel. Yvonne Rydin Professor of Planning, Environment and Public Policy and Co-Director of the Environment Institute's Cities and Climate Change theme. |
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