Orange & Blue

Issue date: 2/8/08 Section: News

Chelsey Woods and Stephanie Cutter read about global warming effects at the poster fair.

During the week of January 28 through February 2, the Carson-Newman Science Department joined in a nationwide effort to educate students on the importance of global warming and the increased climate change in our environment. "Focus on the Nation" is the national campaign to educate younger generations on the effects global warming is having on the world, what it means for the future and how it can be changed.

Across campus on Monday, January 28, professors discussed global warming and climate change in their classrooms as part of a teach-in taking place all across the country. Dr. Susan Karr, Biology Professor, says that about 25 C-N professors participated, usually discussing how the changes related to their subject matter. "For instance, nursing professors indicated an interest in talking about health related issues," says Karr.

On Wednesday, January 30, a live web cast viewing in the student lounge experienced technical difficulties because there were too many computers tuned in to the system for the program to handle. Students were still able to see some of short clips on global warming as well as a question and answer time with professors. "When we got to ask questions we had about the effects of global warming, it really helped me gain understanding of the issue," says Sophomore Megan Bull. The web cast is still posted on the web for viewing at http://www.earthdaytv.net/.

Thursday and Friday, Karr's Environmental Science classes put up a poster display fair in the Student Activity Building to inform students on all topics related to global warming. From background and basic information such as what the greenhouse effect is to possible outcomes and different world organization responses, the fair explained how the world's condition got to this point and where it might be headed. "Doing this project and then looking at other students work really made me realize how much this affects our generation," says Environmental Science student Jordan Moore, "We should be the ones making the changes and plans for the future."

Karr says students seemed very receptive to the information. "Lots of people gave me their own impressions - things they have read about or noticed in their own lifetimes regarding a change in TN's climate," says Karr, "This is a topic people are interested in, reading about, watching documentaries on, etc., and they want to know more. This was the purpose of the poster session and web cast - to get people talking and asking questions about what should be done."

On the Focus on the Nation website, one area of the campaign is still open to students through February 12. This is the "Choose your Future" movement, where students can vote on what they believe to be the top five solutions to global warming. To vote go to, http://www.focusthenation.org/chooseyourfuture.php.

Karr hopes students will get involved, stay informed, and make lifestyle changes that can reverse the effects of global warming. "Students, and all people, need to start acting in ways that reduce their own carbon emissions as well as put pressure on elected officials to act," says Karr, "The presidential campaign is a perfect example of a place to let your political views on this topic be known - tell the candidates what you want to see the US do. We need to respond on a personal, national and international level to effectively address climate change in a timely fashion."

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