Experts Matter. Find Yours.
Connect for media, speaking, professional opportunities & more.
From Asthma and Tick Bites to Dengue Fever, Nurses Tackle Health Impacts of Climate Change
According to statistics compiled by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), carbon dioxide levels are at their highest in more than 650,000 years. In addition, 18 of the 19 warmest years ever have occurred since 2001, according to NASA. The World Health Organization reports that between 2030 and 2050 climate change is expected to cause 250,000 additional deaths per year from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea and heat stress. “Many people don’t realize how much climate change can affect their health,” says Ruth McDermott-Levy, PhD, MPH, MSN, RN, director of the Center for Global and Public Health at Villanova’s M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing. “We see increases in ground level ozone from the changes in our climate here in the United States and in Europe. And we see the impact of climate change on our patients every day.” Earlier this year, Dr. McDermott-Levy spent several months in Finland collecting nurses’ observations on the impact of climate change. “In Finland extreme cold causes deaths, but increasing heat waves have become a health risk, too. This is especially a risk for the chronically ill and the elderly. And nurses will need to consider heat-related issues when they discharge elderly patients from the hospital to their homes.” In addition to health issues related to climate change, the increasing extreme weather events that bring on flooding and wildfires also disrupt the health care delivery supply chain, making much needed medications, medical supplies, and access to health care providers a greater challenge in delivering care.
United Nations Report Warns of Potential Extinction of One Million Plant and Animal Species
The United Nations has issued an assessment sounding the alarm that one million plant and animal species are at risk of extinction due to human-related changes to the Earth’s natural landscapes. This poses a dire threat to ecosystems upon which people all over the world are dependent for survival, according to a New York Times report. The human degradation of the environment has further been exacerbated by global warming, it added. “Biodiversity is caught between the stark, local effects of human action, like deforestation, and the diffuse but steadily worsening global effects like climate change. This report says the combination is more devastating than the sum of its parts,” stated Adam Langley, PhD, an associate professor in Villanova University’s Department of Biology. Consumerism is a driving factor in the rapidly deteriorating situation, Dr. Langley said. “It’s becoming clear that no amount of information can overwhelm the will of the consumer, whether it's the greed of the wealthy or desperation of the poor. Producers and consumers act out of personal interests, not out of their fondness for wildlife.” Government action must lead the way in alleviating the severity of the direction in which biodiversity loss is headed, according to Dr. Langley. “To make the drastic changes we need, the solutions must come from the top. Governments must recognize the enormous subsidy we receive from intact ecosystems in the form of food, fiber, clean water and air. In our world, valuing biodiversity means putting a price on it—and paying the price when we degrade it.” He added, “When I see reports like this, I’m struck that, in the history of Earth, we are the first species that is able for foresee an extinction event. We can predict it in painful detail. Avoiding that demise would be truly unique, but we’ve yet to see if human nature has that capacity.”
Preaching to choirs, playing it safe and not saying much at the State of the Union
One Tuesday evening – pretty much everything seemed to go to plan. President Trump stuck to script, Republicans stood and clapped on cue, Democrats scoffed and scowled when required and we all listened closely for a total of one hour and twenty minutes – the second longest SOTU ever given. President Trump called for unity, touted the economy, acknowledged the white-wave of females on Congress and how there are now more women employed in America. He played to his base on topics like immigration and abortion and then oddly let everyone know that the only thing holding America back were expensive wars and pointless investigations. He also thanked veterans for defeating the Nazis. Left out was any mention of climate change or Russia. Of course, afterwards the Democrats responded, politicians flocked to reporters and pundits weighed in. President Trump played it safe and kept to the prompter, and according to CBS Evening News an overwhelming 76 percent of Americans liked what they heard. But the day after … there are still a few questions to be asked: Did President Trump deliver the speech e needed to deliver? Outside of the beltway, how was this received by voters? Does this point out a pathway for either Democrats or Republicans for 2020? And by not saying much, did Trump say everything he needed to? If you are covering, let an expert from the University of Mary Washington help. Dr. Stephen Farnsworth is professor of political science and international affairs at the University of Mary Washington. A published author and a media ‘go-to’ on U.S. politics, he is available to speak with media regarding this issue. Simply click on his icon to arrange an interview.
Record freezing temperatures and global warming – let our experts explain
This week has seen temperatures drop to record lows. Across the mid-west, a polar vortex coupled with biting winds saw temperatures plunge below minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit. As the word has been focusing on climate change, its causes and effects – this week stands as a stellar example of the impacts of global warming. Despite the tweets and trolls of prominent politicians somehow aligning a deep freeze as a counter argument for climate change the evidence is becoming more clear - with global warming, comes warnings far more worrisome. Dr. Pamela Grothe, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Mary Washington, was recently quoted in the Guardian about how global warming is forecasting a grim future at the rate we are going. “Warmer temperatures and associated lower oxygen levels in the ocean are sufficient to explain the observed extinctions we see in the fossil record”, she says. “We are already seeing warming ocean temperatures and lower oxygen in many regions, currently affecting marine ecosystems. If we continue in the trajectory, we are on with current emission rates, this study highlights the potential that we may see similar rates of extinction in marine species as in the end of the Permian.” And is this just the beginning? What other extremes can we expect to see in our weather? Can that trajectory Dr. Grothe reference be turned around or slowed down? And what species are the most vulnerable and what ripple effect will that have on our oceans? There are a lot of questions to be asked – and that’s where the experts from the University of Mary Washington can help. Dr. Pamela Grothe is an assistant professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences as the University of Mary Washington. She recently completed a Ph.D. in the Paleoclimatology Lab at the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences department at Georgia Institute of Technology. Her current research involves a study of the central Pacific climate and El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) variability over the past 6000 years through the analysis of coral fossil records. She’s an #expert in climate change and is available to speak with media – simply click on her icon to arrange an interview.
Populations at risk – how the whole planet is feeling and affected by climate change
The pounding heat of this summer seems like an anomaly, but according to experts, extreme heat waves may be a new reality. The global temperature is rising and the impact of that is being felt on every continent on earth. From Pakistan, to Japan to Mexico to Paris – the rolling waves of summer heat saw temperatures soar. While for some it’s a matter of comfort, the world’s poor and vulnerable populations are going to face serious risk and consequences. For instance, high heat and erratic rainfall can exacerbate drought, and prolonged drought can lead to severe food insecurity and in some cases, famine. Desperation can lead to conflict and worse. The global threat of climate change is very real and will touch every corner of the planet. There are a lot of questions to be answered and that’s where the experts from Catholic Relief Services can help. Lori Pearson leads Catholic Relief Services’ response to the massive impact climate change is having on global agriculture and especially on the lives of smallholder farmers in Africa, Asia and Latin America. She also crafts policy and advocacy recommendations to climate change challenges and global hunger. Lori is available to speak with media regarding this topic – simply click on her icon to arrange an interview. Source:
Reconstructing the past to forecast how climate change may alter our future
The scientific world all agrees – climate change is real, it’s here and it is something we need to know more about. As the climate on Earth changes – everything from temperatures, weather patterns, wind rain and snow will all in some way or another be altered. Even minor and fractional adjustments in some aspects of climate may result in drastic differences to temperatures, precipitation, ocean levels and ecology. In order for us to understand the impacts of climate change and to try and predict how populations will have to adapt scientists at the University of Mary Washington are currently working on a long-term project to re -construct past climate by looking at the geochemistry of oyster shells. This research could prove vital as the Chesapeake Bay region is expected to experience more extremes in precipitation with human-caused warming, so more heavy rain events and more prolonged drought events. These changes in rainfall will cause drastic swings in salinity in the Bay from changes in the freshwater river input. It’s important research and the experts at the University of Mary Washington are available to help explain how oyster shells may hold the answer to the region’s future climate challenges. Dr. Pamela Grothe is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences as the University of Mary Washington and is an expert on climate change. Dr. Grothe is available to speak with media regarding this subject – simply click on her icon to arrange an interview. Source:
Biodiversity on the brink? Is there any stopping the damage to the Pervuian Amazon?
There’s nothing new or breaking about the importance of the Amazon rain forest. For decades, politicians, celebrities and most recently – even the Pope called on the world to act against the deforestation and further protection of the region. The impacts of this devastation are being felt around the world. The massive forests absorb greenhouse gases, and as deforestation occurs at a staggering rate – so too does the increase in climate change and global warming. But agriculture, mining and development seem to be ignorant to those requests and consequences. While a lot of attention naturally goes to Brazil, Peru’s is in just as much trouble. According to the United Nations, the country is one of 17 "megadiverse" countries on the planet containing 70 percent of the world's biodiversity. There’s still a l lot to know about the affects of deforestation and how losing over a million hectares of rain forest has taken a toll on fish, the ecosystem and the vast flora and fauna that remain undiscovered. That’s where our experts can help. Anthony Mazeroll, PhD, Professor of Biology at Soka University of America, is also Executive Director and Board Chair for the Amazon Research Center for Ornamental Fishes, which is devoted to sustainable breeding and conservation of the rainforest ecology. Dr. Mazeroll is available to speak with media regarding this and many other issues affecting the Amazon - simply click on Anthony’s icon to arrange an interview. Source:
These days, it doesn’t take much to turn a civil conversation into a full-blown catastrophe. Just mention the words “climate change” and feathers can start to ruffle. But it doesn’t have to be that way, says Dan Peppe, Ph.D., climate change expert and associate professor of geosciences at Baylor University. His research focuses on understanding how plant and animal communities have responded to changes in climate throughout Earth’s history. “Climate change is a fundamentally important issue to our society and is vital for us to have open and honest discussions about it and its potential impacts,” Peppe said. He said the best place to start such a dialogue is with scientific observation. Have a discussion about increases in temperature, he said. Understand what scientists are saying about those temperature changes and their effects. The trick to keeping this cordial? Keep politics out. “All of this conversation is a scientific one based on observation, and as such, shouldn't be a political one,” he said. “Once that baseline is established, we can then begin a conversation of the many possible ways to address those risks.” Peppe said there is often more than one solution to issues of climate change, but people need to listen to each other. “Hopefully there can be a respectful and civil conversation around those potential solutions,” he said. As part of Earth Science Week, Peppe is taking part in the Earth Science Symposium at The Mayborn Museum in Waco, Texas, where he will moderate a panel discussion on climate change. Panelists will discuss the science of climate change, the risks associated with it, and some of the potential solutions. “We hope that this will be a really productive discussion, and one in which the audience can participate,” Peppe said. Source:
On Thursday, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. would abandon the Paris climate accord. During his speech, Trump cited disputed numbers showing that the accord would result in a minimal change in temperature over time. Daniel Peppe, Ph.D., associate professor of geosciences in Baylor University's College of Arts & Sciences, studies ancient terrestrial ecosystems and how they have been influenced by environmental perturbations, such as long- and short-term climate change events. He works to recreate those ecosystems. Peppe argues that one goal of the Paris accord -- developing a strategy to keep the average increase in global temperatures to less than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels -- is integral to warding off future disaster. He said: "The Paris Agreement represents a really significant moment in history in which the countries of the world agreed that reducing greenhouse gas emissions was fundamentally important to help reduce the most significant effects of climate change around the world. The agreement developed a strategy to keep the average increase in global temperatures to less than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Crossing that threshold of temperature increase is likely the point where warming will push the Earth to a climate state that last existed millions of years ago -- one that is fundamentally different from today. Reconstructions of climate, the Earth, and its biota from the last time Earth was in a similar climate state indicate that sea level was dramatically higher, which would mean that many major cities around the world would be flooded; and many places on Earth were hotter and drier and the distributions of plants and animals on the landscape were very significantly different, which would have catastrophic effects on modern agriculture, water use and society." Source: