April 12, 2017, Wednesday - A Sip of Science at Aster Cafe

Time: 5:30pm - Location: Aster Cafe (River Room) 125 SE Main Street

April Sip of Science - A Tale of Two (Contradictory?) Poles: Sea Ice and Climate Change

One of the more visual lines of evidence for climate change is observing sea ice growth and melting trends at the poles. Indeed, relatively consistent warmth, punctuated by winter heat waves, has stymied Arctic sea ice growth this winter, leading to another record low in a series of record lows. However, from 2012-2014, pan-Antarctic seas ice seasonal maximums reached successively record high extents. These maxima mask substantial seasonal and regional variability, but such events generated news headlines contrasting Arctic sea ice loss with Antarctic sea ice gain. Such seemingly contradictory information about climate change provides a case study where we can investigate what the public perceives about sea ice and climate change. Join us!

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Katy Barnhart received her B.S.E in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Princeton University and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Geological Sciences from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She did a postdoctoral fellowship at the Anneberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania and is now a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Colorado. While primarily a geologist interested in how landscapes evolve over a variety of timescales, she is also interested in the intersection between scientists, the public, the media, and policy makers.

RSVP (the event is free, but reservations are required due to limited seating)

A SIP OF SCIENCE bridges the gap between science and culture in a setting that bridges the gap between brain and belly. Food, beer, and learning are on the menu in a happy hour forum in which researchers pair with musicians, artists and storytellers to put science in context through storytelling. This talk takes place during happy hour at the Aster Cafe - Food and Drink Available for Purchase.