AFRICAN CLIMATE AND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE
Invitation to a public seminar, Why Global Warming is polarising and paralysing
ABOUT ACDI
The African Climate and Development Initiative (ACDI) was conceptualized in late 2009 under the leadership of Dr Max Price, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town (UCT). Bringing together UCT’s internationally-recognised research expertise in climate change and development issues, ACDI strives to be a centre, in Africa, that articulates an optimistic African perspective on responsible stewardship of planet Earth. The Centre will bring together natural scientists, engineers, social scientists, lawyers, economists and urban planners, amongst others, from UCT and beyond, to provide an African perspective, grounded in strong science, addressing issues relating to climate variability and global change affecting the African continent. It will actively create opportunities for African researchers and young scholars to contribute their own perspectives to these issues. In due course this Centre will have partners throughout Africa. In this way, UCT will contribute towards developing the African leaders of the future who have an intimate understanding of the physical and human needs of Africa, and who will contribute to addressing this all important issue facing humankind.
ABOUT THE SEMINAR
ACDI hereby invites you to the first in its series of public seminar, Why Global Warming is polarising and paralysing. Our response to global warming has stalled because of inadequate public involvement. Few realize that, because we, on planet Earth, and especially in “The Fairest Cape” are fortunate to be in a very special place at a special time, this potential environmental problem also presents splendid opportunities for immediate progress on a host of pressing problems – developing new economies, promoting education at all levels, bridging the gulf between scientists and laymen... This lecture explores how laymen, rather than passive recipients of warnings and advice from experts whose words are taken on faith, can be active participants in our response to global warming.
All researchers, academics, postgraduate students, administrators as well as the interested public are invited to attend the seminar which will be chaired by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jo Beall.
Date:
18 March 2010
Time:
18h30
Venue:
Lecture Theatre 3
Wilfred & Jules Kramer Law Building (Middle Campus)
University of Cape Town
Chairperson:
Professor Jo Beall
Deputy Vice-Chancellor
UCT
Speakers:
Professor George Philander
Director: African Centre for Climate and Earth System
Science (ACCESS),
University of Cape Town
Knox Taylor Professor of Geosciences
Princeton University, USA
Respondent:
Professor Mary Scholes
School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences
University of the Witwatersrand
