Class Research Resources and Assignments

Week 6
Video of Lectures


Monitoring & Modeling: The Ongoing Evidence
 

Dr. George E. Clark, Environmental Resources Librarian & Curator of the Environmental Science and Public Policy Archives

Dr. George Clark will discuss the major sources and techniques you will find useful in gathering further evidence about climate change science and policy-related issues. Topics to be covered will include how to access current news sources, journal articles, government publications, and the published materials of non-governmental organizations.

 
George Clark
Introductory Library Guide for Environmental Studies E-130
see also:
Harvard University Library
Environmental Library Resources at Harvard
 

Background material:

Harvard University Gazette
2002
"Environmental Info Center has new librarian, plans for future," Harvard University Gazette, February 14, 2002.

Non-specialist, general audience literature - example, Harvard Magazine

 Shaw, Jonathan
 
2002 
"The Great Global Experiment," Harvard Magazine.(November-December 2002).

 BBC - Oxford University - Met Climate Office - UK
 
2006 
Take Part in the largest climate prediction experiment ever. - Invitation to join web-based, global effort to monitor climate.

 

Other Sources to Consider...

1) RealClimate.Org -- "Climate Science from Climate Scientists"

2) Forging Ahead in the Private Sector

In America the public acceptance of the science of climate change may yet take considerable time to evolve, particularly in light of the persistance of received belief systems and the impact of powerful vested interests who have benefited over the last six years from sowing public confusion and thwarting any effective political action.

Moreover, in a system where political leaders are selected through a costly process of timid, poll-driven, herd followership, it may take years to see any substantial change emerge from American governmental institutions. In the United States, political figures have proven themselves to be reluctant to get very far "out in front" of their constituients in the perpetual two-year election cycle. In this kind of electoral system, when the people lead, the leaders will follow, but for this reason, it is not realistic to expect visonary political leadership to emerge on these issues at this point in America. Half-hearted, half-measures are about that is on the horizon for the foreseeable future.

Meanwhile, in the private sector, however, very significant changes are already underway. Here there appear to be signs that a stategy of "too little, too late" is simply not going to be good for business. In fact, there is pressure growing to demand that governments assume its responsibilities to the public, the business community, the global community and future generations of humanity.


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