Xavier Cortada, Longitudinal Installation at the South Pole (2006) and North Pole (2007) Photo: Xavier Cortada. 1938 20-Mile Glacier No. 1612. Photo: U. of Alaska Archives.     2007 20-Mile Glacier. Photo: David Arnold

Understanding & Communicating
the Science of Climate Change

Providing grass roots information for teachers, students
and community members across America

WHEN:           Sunday, April 5th - Tuesday, April 7^th, 2009 (agenda below)

WHERE:        San Francisco's Exploratorium or on the web: www.exploratorium.edu/webcasts  www.explo.tv  www.exploratorium.edu/echo

WHO:             People impacted by climate change, including educators, scientists, artists and policy makers

The Iñupiat of the Arctic Slope are on the front lines of the battle against global climate change, but they are not the only people affected by the warming of the planet. The ECHO (Education through Cultural and Historic Organizations) Partners symposium will discuss without jargon or overly technical language the effects of climate change on the planet.  Join scientists, artists, educators and ECHO partners from Alaska, Hawaii, Mississippi and Massachusetts as we develop an effective dialogue on the issue of clearly communicating and educating the science of climate change to our global community.

The ECHO Climate Change Symposium will be permanently available and archived by the Exploratorium at www.exploratorium.edu/echo .  Barrow Arctic Science Consortium (BASC) www.arcticscience.org is symposium facilitator; the Exploratorium is our national host.   

Xavier Cortada will perform the Longitudinal Installation during the opening on Sunday, April 5th, 2009 at 6:00 p.m.  

Cortada will also deliver the Keynote Presentation, "Participatory Art Projects:  Global Awareness/Local Action" on Tuesday, April 7th, 2009 at 9:00 a.m.

ECHO Climate Change Symposium:

Understanding & Communicating

the Science of Climate Change

5-7 April 2009

The Iñupiat of the Arctic Slope are on the front lines of

the battle against global climate change, but they are not the only people affected by the warming of the planet. The ECHO (Education Through Cultural and Historic Organizations) Partners are hosting a national symposium to discuss the effects of climate change on the planet. The symposium will be held at the Exploratorium in San Francisco and will focus on providing grass roots information for teachers, students   and community members across America.

Sunday, April 5

7:00 – 9:00pm                Opening Reception –

                                          Performance of the Longitudinal Installation

                                          by artist Xavier Cortada, with Eugene Brower

Monday, April 6

9:00 – 9:30am                Welcoming Remarks – Richard Glenn

9:30 – 10:30 am             Panel - Impact of Climate Change: An Overview

         webcast                          Glenn Sheehan, Tim Churchill, Jeff Williams

10:30 – 11 am                Morning Break

11:00 – 11:45 AM          Keynote Address:  Charles Wohlforth

      webcast

12:00 – 1:00pm              Luncheon for Presenters

1:00 – 2:00 pm               Panel - Impact on Arctic Ecosystems and Populations

                                          Eugene Brower, Richard Glenn, Edward Itta

2:00 – 3:30pm                Panel - Impact of Climate Change Across America

         webcast                          Ku’ulei Rogers, Tim Churchill, David Welty, Jeff Williams

Tuesday, April 7

9:00 – 9:30am                Welcoming and Summary Remarks

9:30 – 10:30 AM            Keynote Presentation:  Xavier Cortada

        webcast                       Participatory Art Projects - Global Awareness/Local Action

10:30 – 11 AM                Morning Break

11 AM - 12 noon            Panel - Communicating Climate Change

        webcast                       to the Non-Scientific Community

                                          Katherine Ahgeak, Leon Geschwind, Amber Inwood

12:00 noon - 1 PM         Panel - Impact on Hawaiian Ecosystems and Populations

        webcast                       Phil McGillivary, Leon Geschwind, Amber Inwood, Ku’ulei Rogers

1:00 – 2:00pm                Closing Luncheon and Reclamation Project Ceremonial Tree Planting Ceremony

Webcast = live broadcast on www.exploratorium.edu/echo

ECHO is a major, federally funded educational and cultural enrichment initiative.  Established by Congress as part of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, ECHO consists of six regional cultural entities: Alaska Native Heritage Center and Iñupiat Heritage Center, in Alaska; Bishop Museum in Hawaii, New Bedford ECHO Project and Peabody Essex Museum in Massachusetts; and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians in Mississippi.  ECHO Programs amplify educational benefits, foster greater appreciation of local and national history and assist communities in maximizing the social benefits of new technologies.  ECHO is administered by the US Department of Education, Office of Innovation & Improvement.