The Cornell Daily Sun (https://cornellsun.com/tag/climate-change/page/2/)
The represented nations agreed that any temperature rise above 1.5 degrees Celsius will cause serious harm to the planet and said society must aim to limit this increase, according to Prof. Bob Howarth, ecology and evolutionary biology, a conference attendee.
Think big and carve your own paths, urged Prof. Bruce Monger, earth and atmospheric sciences, in his “last lecture.”
The last lecture series, hosted by Mortar Board, brings speakers to reflect on his or her life experiences and share thoughts with students, as if it was the speaker’s last lecture. In his lecture titled “My Slightly Unusual Life-Journey And Some Important Things I Have Learned Along the Way…,” Monger recounted how he grew up in the small town of Shelton, Washington, where the two main industries were saw mills and logging. Despite his deep love for science as a child, Monger said in high school he “just mindlessly sort of followed what [his] friends were doing,” taking carpentry and woodshop instead of science classes. After high school, he continued to follow his friends and went into the logging business, “because that’s what everyone else did.” However, during one solo motorcycle trip to Colorado during a summer vacation, he had an epiphany that changed the direction of his life. While checking into a motel, he realized, “That’s what adults do…I’m totally an adult. I’m in charge of everything now.
Cornucopia is a biweekly podcast that covers research stories unfolding across campus. Join hosts Addison Huneycutt ’18 and Ali Jenkins ’18 as they dig into the juiciest discoveries they can find. In each episode, you’ll meet a researcher, chat with Addison and Ali and hear some corny jokes. Check out the science section of The Cornell Daily Sun for biweekly updates about the latest episodes. Queries relating to Cornucopia may be sent to [email protected].
By ELIZABETH CHI
At her inauguration, Cornell President Elizabeth Garrett referenced scientist and author Edwin Slosson. She said, “We expect more of Cornell. Cornell, in order to be conservative in the sense of being true to its traditions, must be radical and progressive, for that is the way it started.” Speaking before the rows of esteemed personnel seated neatly on the sun-soaked Arts Quad, President Garrett seemed both genuine and promising; she accepted the challenge to carry on Cornell’s trailblazing tradition and its mission to serve both its local and global community. However, it remains to be seen whether she will do so at this fall’s meeting of the university’s trustees, when they can potentially take a stance on fossil fuel divestment. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the scientific community have affirmed on multiple occasions that climate change — driven largely by fossil fuel emissions — is a threat to humanity.