MERCED - Students and professors at the University of California, Merced, have organized a teach-in on global climate change that will take place Thursday, Jan. 31 on the newest UC campus. Based on a model from Focus the Nation (www.focusthenation.org), the teach-in is aimed at creating awareness on campus and in the community about the issues surrounding climate change.
Chancellor Steve Kang, professors from all three UC Merced schools, other representatives from the UC Merced administration, UC Merced student groups and guests from the National Parks Service will make educational presentations and answer questions from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Bobcat Lair, Room 169 of the Leo and Dottie Kolligian Library on the UC Merced campus. Attendees from the campus and community may come and go throughout the day
Topics will include how climate change is affecting Yosemite National Park, how popular books help mobilize for change, how communities respond to change, alternative fuels, and many more. Seventeen presenters have already confirmed their participation and more are expected to be added before the event.
The organizing team will also host a political roundtable on global climate change that evening from 6:30 - 8 p.m. in the campus' Dr. Lakireddy Auditorium, with local and regional elected officials addressing the topic. Representatives from the City of Merced, Merced County and the office of Congressman Dennis Cardoza have confirmed that they will attend. Several UC Merced students will participate in a panel discussion with the representatives, and there will be time for questions from the audience. Refreshments will be served after the event.
The public is welcome, and there is no cost to attend the teach-in or roundtable. UC Merced is located at 5200 N. Lake Road in Merced. Guests should park in the Lake Lot near the campus entrance. Parking is $4/day (visit http://taps.ucmerced.edu/ for more information about parking and transportation on campus).
For more information about UC Merced, please see www.ucmerced.edu. For more information about the Jan. 31 events on global climate change, please contact student organizer Emily DeCremer at edecremer@ucmerced.edu or (209) 386-2577.
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