PTMSC hosts Facing the Climate Change Challenge: Locally and Globally

The Port Townsend Marine Science Center is hosting a lecture by Dr. Richard Gammon at the Natural History Exhibit in Fort Worden State Park on Thursday, June 12 at 7 p.m. entitled Facing the Climate Change Challenge: Locally and Globally.

“We’re very pleased to have Dr. Gammon in Port Townsend to talk about climate change,” said Anne Murphy, executive director for the PTMSC. “With our local governments addressing this issue in a newly formed advisory committee, climate change is a timely topic. We welcome our governmental leaders, politicians, community groups,  educators and, of course, everyone interested in climate change to join us for the lecture.”

Dr. Gammon, a University of Washington professor of chemistry and oceanography, will discuss the latest climate findings from 2007/2008, as well as a review of recent international climate reports. He will also present predictions of changes expected in this region, especially in agriculture and sea level, focusing on possible responses at the individual, state, federal and international levels.

In addition to the science, he will discuss possible human dimensions of climate change: mass migrations, desertification, food shortages and political instability.

Dr. Gammon has recently served as co-director of the UW Program on the Environment (2004-2006) and was a co-author of the first Scientific Assessment by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 1990). He served as Chief of the Carbon Dioxide Program, Geophysical Monitoring for Climate Change, directing the US program to measure CO2 in the global atmosphere (NOAA Environmental Research Laboratories, Boulder, 1982-84). His research has focused on atmospheric trace gases critical to climate change.

Admission for the lecture is $7 for adults and $5 for PTMSC members.

The Port Townsend Marine Science Center is devoted to understanding, preserving and teaching about our marine and shoreline environment as guardians for a sustainable future. Located on the beach at Fort Worden State Park, the PTMSC offers two public exhibits: the Marine Exhibit (ME) features large touch pools and aquaria, and the Natural History Exhibit (NHE) highlights the rich zone where land meets sea. Both exhibits are open Wednesday through Monday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for youth and free to PTMSC members. Currently there’s a featured exhibit on Plastics in the Marine Environment through the summer season. The PTMSC also offers a wide variety of educational programs and special events. For more information, call 360.385.5582, e-mail info@ptmsc.org or visit www.ptmsc.org.