Outreach: Santa Fe
Tecolote, 2008-09
The title for this year’s colloquium series is “The Earth and Us.” The impetus for this topic comes from the fact that the potential danger of global climate change is a major preoccupation of our time. The world conversation about climate has become highly polarized, political, and emotional. The issues involve a bewildering array of expert domains, and it can be quite perplexing for lay observers to establish a footing and develop sound views regarding the fundamental questions. What is the actual state of the earth as a human habitat? What responses are in order by governments, interest groups, or individuals?
Rather than present the issues in a debate format, Tecolote will focus on papers that help us consider some of the important underlying points of view or philosophies of the conflicting analyses. The tutorials will sample some of the basic elements of climate science. The principal objective of the colloquia is to foster serious discussion of important topics that will allow participants to think through the issues and come to their own conclusions. The readings are intended to sharpen and bring to life the questions, and not to promote a particular agenda.