Conversations in Science Series 2007-2008
A program conceived and organized
by the Wisconsin Initiative for Science Literacy at the University of
Wisconsin-Madison, with the collaboration of the Madison Metropolitan
School District and the Edgewood Sonderegger Science Center.
Thursday, February 14, 2008 at 4:00 p.m. LOCATION: Sonderegger Science Center (Click here for parking information)
1000 Edgewood College Drive Madison, Wisconsin
Professor John Magnuson
Professor Emeritus, Zoology and Limnology
Center for Limnology
“Climate Change and Waters of Wisconsin”
The Conversations in Science series brings together UW-Madison science researchers and Dane County science teachers. Designed to stimulate discussion between scientists and science educators at all levels, these conversations connect high-, middle-, and elementary school classrooms with the University's cutting-edge research. Questions and ideas are freely exchanged between expert and an audience of K-12 educators.
ABOUT THE CONVERSATION
Climate change is more than warming. While global in its extent, climate change is realized locally in conditions and impact. Today we will talk about the changes occurring in waters in the midwest that are already affecting us will continue to do so an greater intensities. Lake ice has become a miner's canary providing a strong local and global indication of change. Impacts of climatic change on fishes will be felt by society and will be apparent in the functioning of aquatic ecosystems. The hydrologic cycle is already changing and will continue to do so with a wide range of impacts on aquatic ecosystems.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
John J. Magnuson is an Emeritus Professor of Zoology and past Director of the Center for Limnology at the University of
Wisconsin-Madison. He earned his BS and MS from the University of Minnesota-St. Paul in fish and wildlife management
and his Ph.D. from University of British Columbia, Canada, in zoology with a minor in oceanography. He joined the faculty
in 1968 and taught Limnology and Ecology of Fishes. At Madison he taught Limnology and Ecology of Fishes and mentored
graduate students in aquatic ecology. He was one of the co-chairs of the Waters of Wisconsin Project for the Wisconsin
Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters (2001-03) and is a member of the Dane Co. Lakes and Watershed Commission and
a Co-chair of the council for the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts. He played a lead role in the lakes and
streams portions of the 1995 and 2001 Assessments by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change as well as the Union of
Concerned Scientist’s “Confronting Climate Change in the Great Lakes Region.” He is presently co-chair of the
“Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts". His most recent books is: Magnuson, Kratz, and Benson 2006.
Long-Term Dynamics of Lakes in the Landscape. Oxford University Press. John Magnuson’s research interests are in
long-term regional ecology, aquatic ecology & climate change and variability, biodiversity and invasions, and fish and
fisheries ecology.
SELECTED READING
The IPCC has published its 4th Assessment in 2007 and received the Nobel Prize for their contributions over the last 30 years. The entire reports are on the WEB. They are great resources for the state of the science, the impacts, and possible adaptations and mitigation strategies. The Summary for policy makers would be a great place to do some browsing. Or read the acceptance speech by the IPCC Chairman when he accepted at the Nobel Prize on behalf of the IPCC. All materials are at: http://www.ipcc.ch/