Lehigh Valley

Richard Alley to discuss global warming issues at lecture

"Opportunities and Challenges in the Greenhouse: Better and Worse Than We Thought" is the topic for the 2007 Faculty Lecture Series presented by Richard Alley, professor of geosciences, Earth System Science Center at University Park, at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16, in the Atrium at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

Alley is chair of the Committee on Abrupt Climate Change, National Research Council, The National Academies. Alley will discuss the fact that the benefits of fossil-fuel energy use are not sustainable without technological innovation.

Alley graduated with a doctoral degree in 1987 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and with a master of science (1983) and a bachelor of science (1980) degrees from The Ohio State University-Columbus, all in geology. He teaches and conducts research on the climatic records, flow behavior and sedimentary deposits of large ice sheets to aid in prediction of future changes in climate and sea level. His experience includes three field seasons in Antarctica, eight in Greenland and three in Alaska.

Alley has served on a variety of advisory panels and steering committees for the National Science Foundation, targeted research activities and professional societies, including the congressionally mandated Antarctic External Review Panel and the Polar Research Board, and has provided advice to numerous government officials in multiple administrations. His book, "The Two-Mile Time Machine," was chosen science book of the year by Phi Beta Kappa in 2001.

The lecture is free to the public.

Last Updated March 19, 2009

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