UM Climate Change Experts Offer Independent Perspective on Power Shift 07

College Park, Md. -- The University of Maryland conducts a wide variety of high-impact research related to climate change and earth science prediction. As a top public research university and the flagship institution of the University System of Maryland, it is home to major research centers and key international investigators in the scientific, technological, economic and public policy aspects of climate change.

The university recently released a widely-cited study on the Hidden Costs of Climate Change, and, in conjunction with NOAA, NASA and the American Meteorological Society recently hosted "Climate Information: Responding to User Needs," a landmark two-day national conference.

As a green campus, the University of Maryland is pleased to provide a setting for Power Shift 2007, an event its organizers are billing as "the first national youth summit to solve the climate crisis." The university is not a sponsor of this event. However, as a leading center of Climate Change related research and policy analysis, the university has experts available to offer independent perspectives, insight and information.

To reach experts this weekend or after-hours, please contact our on-call staff person: 301-257-0073 (cell).

Over the past decade, the university has built on its long tradition of excellence in atmospheric, climate, biological and earth science to develop major new partnerships with federal agencies in the areas of earth science, remote imaging, climate change and energy research.

Among the most central of these partnerships are the university's Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center (joint with NASA), Joint Global Change Research Institute (joint with the Department of Energy) and the Cooperative Institute for Climate Studies (joint with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA). Also, the new Center for Integrative Environmental Research collaborates with a variety of public and private organizations, including the Maryland Department of Environment.

Through these centers and other initiatives, the University of Maryland produces cutting-edge research and developments relevant to topics likely to come up at the conference, including the U.S. economic impact of climate change and the university's Solar Decathlon Team, which recently placed second in the U.S. Department of Energy international competition to design and build an advanced solar home.

You'll also find current stories on data holes, gaps in scientific data needed by policy-makers and businesses, as well as Maryland's certified genius in climate change research and her satellite imaging work, the economic impact of state compacts to reduce greenhouse gases, subtle indicators of climate change, the startling impact on climate of tiny ocean plants, as well as development of alternative fuels.

UM Climate Change Research Centers and Programs

Joint Global Change Research Institute

The Joint Global Change Research Institute, a College Park-based interdisciplinary group, investigates the scientific, technological, economic and policy implications of climate change. The Institute, which was formed in 2001 as a collaboration between the University of Maryland and the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Wash.

One of the strengths of the Joint Institute is a network of domestic and international collaborators that encourages the development of global and equitable solutions to the climate change problem.

Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center (ESSIC)

ESSIC is a joint center between the University of Maryland and the Earth Sciences Directorate at the NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center. Its major research thrusts are studies of Climate Variability and Change, Atmospheric Composition and Processes and the Global Carbon Cycle. The goal of ESSIC is to enhance understanding of how the atmosphere, ocean, land, and Earth's biosphere interact and the influence of human activities on this system. A major focus is to further develop the scientific understanding and computer models needed to determine how global climate change will be translated into regional and local weather patterns over the coming years. One key to that effort is the center's work to understand natural climate cycles such as El Nino that determine climate or weather over shorter time frames.

Cooperative Institute for Climate Studies

ESSIC also administers the Cooperative Institute for Climate Studies (CICS), which is sponsored by the NOAA National Satellite, Data, and Information Services (NESDIS) and the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). Its studies focus on satellite climatology, climate diagnostics, modeling and prediction.

Center for Integrative Environmental Research (CIER)

CIER addresses complex environmental challenges through research into the dynamic interactions among environmental, economic and social forces. Working at local, regional, national and global scales, researchers are developing strategies and tools to guide policy and investment decisions.

Recent studies include: The US Economic Impacts of Climate Change and the Costs of Inaction and Economic and Energy Impacts from Maryland's Potential Participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Reports are available online.

University of Maryland Campus Sustainability Program

University of Maryland President C.D. Mote, Jr. has joined other higher education institution leaders in signing the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. Signatories of the Commitment pledge to take significant steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from campus operations and move toward the goal of climate neutrality (zero net greenhouse gas emissions). To this end, all new construction and major renovations must, at a minimum, meet LEED-Silver green building standards. Also, the Campus Master Plan includes guidelines to preserve the natural environment, reduce the number of cars on campus, reinforce the campus role as a good neighbor in the larger community, and enhance the campus with open spaces and vistas of green lawns and trees.

UM Solar Decathlon LEAFHouse

Architecture and engineering students, with assistance from faculty and professional mentors, designed and built a fully solar-powered home incorporating engineering innovations and sustainable design. The team won second place in the U.S. Department of Energy international competition and their house was voted the People's Choice.

UM Climate Change Researchers

To reach experts this weekend or after-hours, please contact our on-call staff person: 301-257-0073 (cell).
A media list of researchers is available online.