The Southwestern Pennsylvania Program for Deliberative Democracy

Climate Change and the Campus (Wednesday April 23rd, 2008)

 

The issue of Climate Change is probably one of the most important and at the same time contentious issues facing us today. Its complexity is partly due to the fact that it involves both science and public policy and each area can be challenging. In this deliberative poll participants will be provided with background materials that provide an overview of the science of climate change (its nature and causes) and policy questions relating to national, local and campus level responses to climate change.

During this deliberative poll participants will be able to discuss this issue with members of campus communities throughout the Pittsburgh region. In early May the results of this deliberation will be made available to campuses around the country.

Note: The Background Document is available here for downloading as is a Library Reading List. Hardcopies of these materials are available at all University Libraries.

Note selected by random sample? You can still join the discussion as part of a 'convenience sample' by registering online.

Sign-in: 5 – 5:30 (Adamson Wing BH 136A)


Welcome Remarks (5:30 – 5:45)

Councilman William Peduto

 

5:55– 7:00 Small Group Discussions


7:10- 8pm Plenary Session

Resource Panel

Moderator: Shahzeen Attari
Joint PhD Student in Civil and Environmental
Engineering & Engineering and Public Policy

Cliff Davidson
Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering
and Engineering & Public Policy

Elmar Kriegler
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research

Deborah Lange
Executive Director, Steinbrenner Institute for Environmental Education and Research

Peter Madsen
Distinguished Service Professor of Ethics and Social Responsibility

Vanessa Schweizer
PhD Student in Department of Engineering & Public Policy


8:10 – 8:30 Small Group Discussions/Fill post-survey

Session ends when the post-surveys are returned to room facilitators

 

Past Campus Conversations

The Issue of Marriage in America

November, 2007

This discussion compared and contrasted the proposed Pennsylvania Marriage Protection Amendment with Vermont’s Civil Union Laws and the Massachusetts Supreme Court Decision: Goodridge v. Department of Public Health.

Public Art Policy at Carnegie Mellon

April 2007

The Arts play a vital role in campus life. They can also be the source of controversy and debate. This campus conversation looked at recent issues arising from Public Art on the campus and ascertained current attitudes toward campus policy regarding Public Art.

Faculty Course Evaluations

September 2006

FCE's have been part of campus life for decades. This deliberative poll discussed various formats for developing and assessing course evaluations and the role they play in evaluating courses and teaching.

Student Bill of Rights

April 2006

The topic for the Spring 2006 Event was Academic Rights and Responsibilities (with an emphasis on the "Student Bill of Rights") and a proposed amendment to Carnegie Mellon's Students' Rights Policy.

Campus Diversity and File-sharing

November 2005

Our first event involved randomly-sampled students and interested individuals who came together on November 19th, 2005 to talk about campus diversity and moral values in private and public life (with an emphasis on file-sharing copyrighted material).


© Copyright 2005 Southwestern Pennsylvania Program for Deliberative Democracy