Down To Earth: Cornell Conversations About

In this episode, we sit down with Bruce Monger, one of Cornell's most beloved professors to discuss what it is like to teach the biggest course taught on campus. The course is Introductory oceanography and is often hailed as a life-changing course. He has opened the eyes of many students about the challenges we face due to a changing climate. 

Ever wonder about the computer models used to predict future climate scenarios? In this episode, special guests, Colin Evans and Marc Alessi from Cornell's Emergent Climate Risk Lab explain climate model basics and give us some insights into the different scenarios often used to discuss what scientists think will happen in the future. They also bring up RCP 8.5 scenario, or the business-as-usual scenario often used to describe the worst possible outcomes and whether not it is something we should still be using when discussing climate change. Read more here: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00177-3

In the final installment of her ocean science series, Marta returns to Cornell to interview Professor Drew Harvell and one of her past students, Serina Moheed '20. Prof. Harvell recently published a book on marine disease titled Ocean Outbreak, and we discuss her research on marine epidemics and other related topics. Prof. Harvell and Serina worked together in last year's Cornell Ocean Research Apprenticeship for Lynch Scholars (CORALS), and Serina describes her experiences as a student marine researcher.

Cornell senior Kate Selley interviews Dr. Andrew Minchener, OBE, General Manager of the IEA Clean Coal Centre. He discussed the merits of improving the efficiency of coal as a way to bridge the renewables gap to a sustainable future. Listen on Wednesday as Down to Earth discusses the past, present, and future of coal in a changing climate.

For the fourth oceans episode, Marta sat down with three physical oceanographers at WHOI this summer to discuss ocean circulation. Dr. Mike Spall and Dr. Chris Piecuch explain large-scale circulation and its importance in climate, and grad student Mara Freilich discusses her research on vertical motion of seawater and its relevance for ecosystems.

For the third oceans episode, Marta sat down with Dr. Hauke Kite-Powell from WHOI, Melissa Baldino from Duke, Sally Dowd from Berkeley, and Maddie Schumm from UT Austin to discuss marine policy and marine resource management and the research that goes into it. Listen in to learn about ecosystem services, economic models for fisheries, ecosystem models for aquaculture, and animal behavior in a noisy ocean.

Marta discusses rising sea levels with experts from  Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Colorado College. Listen in as we dive deeper into the complexities of ocean science and sea-level rise. 

This week, Marta introduces a podcast series on ocean science topics. Last summer, she worked as a research intern at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), and she took advantage of her time there by interviewing experts in ocean science/climate change hot topics like coral bleaching, sea-level rise, and marine resource policy. The first oceans episode is on coral bleaching and ocean acidification, with guests Dr. Anne Cohen from WHOI and Ellen Park from Cornell University.

In this episode, Danielle chats with local playwright and Cornell Assistant Professor, Aoise Stratford. Aoise describes the motivation and works behind an upcoming public reading of the multimedia exhibit entitled Virtual Landscapes. She and recurring guest Professor Toby Ault have crafted a multimedia experience demonstrating climate change. The workshop will be held Thursday, October 24 at 4:30 pm at the Swchartz Performing Arts Center, Film Forum. This public reading aims to test the material and gather input from community members. 

In this episode, Profesor Toby Ault describes what the climate was like 354 million years ago, during the carboniferous period. Find out how this important time period led to the industrial revolution and is contributing to the current changes we are seeing in the climate today.