Beyond the Forecast: What El Niño Reveals About Science, Society, and Action
Program: 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Reception: 3:00 to 3:30 p.m.
Scientists can often see the signs of El Niño months before many of its effects are fully felt. They can identify where drought, flooding, heat, and other disruptions may be more likely. But knowing what may be coming does not always mean that people, organizations, and communities are ready for it.
Beyond the Forecast: What El Niño Reveals About Science, Society, and Action will bring together the Climate, Earth, and Society Distinguished Fellows for a conversation about what happens after a forecast is made.
Using El Niño as a starting point, the panel will consider how people respond to climate information and how decisions are shaped by leadership, institutions, communication, culture, incentives, and human behavior. The Fellows will draw on their different areas of expertise to explore how climate knowledge can inform choices in science, policy, business, the arts, culture, and everyday life.
The conversation will feature Distinguished Fellows Justin Brice Guariglia, visual artist and environmental storyteller; Mareva Grabowski-Mitsotakis, entrepreneur and advocate for sustainable business and cultural preservation; and Miranda Massie, founder and director of the Climate Museum.
The event will begin with opening remarks from Dean Alexis Abramson. Professor Jeffrey Shaman, Senior Vice Dean, will then provide a scientific overview of El Niño and moderate the conversation.
The discussion will look at questions such as: Why do people and institutions respond differently to the same information? What helps communities and organizations prepare for risks that can be anticipated? What role can each of us play through our work, our communities, and the decisions we make?
The program will include an audience question-and-answer session and will be followed by a reception.
