Videos of Lectures

March 5th, 2010

Biodiversity and Human Health

Speaker: Dr. Richard S. Ostfeld
1 hr. 15 min.

This lecture explores the role that biodiversity plays in protecting human health. Using Lyme disease and West Nile virus as models, Ostfeld describes how diverse animal populations minimize our exposure to emerging infectious diseases. Current threats to biodiversity include habitat loss, climate change, and the movement of invasive species.

February 5th, 2010

Storms of My Grandchildren

Speaker: Dr. James E. Hansen
49 min.

Dr. James E. Hansen, director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, is one of the nation's leading climate scientists and author of Storms of My Grandchildren: The Truth about the Coming Climate Catastrophe and Our Last Chance to Save Humanity. Topics covered during this lecture include: how politicians have failed to connect policy with climate change science, cap-and-trade shortcomings, why coal must be phased out, and the importance of limiting atmospheric carbon dioxide to 350 parts per million.

Friday, January 8th, 2010

Environmental Impacts on the Antarctic Ecosystem

Speaker: Dr. William H. Schlesinger
1 hr. 9 min.

Drawing on several of his journeys, Schlesinger’s lecture explores how climate change and pollution threaten this remote region, which supports penguins, seals, and fragile marine-based ecosystems. Despite being the coldest continent on the planet, distant human activities are contributing to melting ice caps and a growing ozone hole.