Spring Break
Climate Change Initiative pools finding of various researchers
Nick Ngo
Issue date: 8/31/07 Section: News
Through communication and information sharing, Clark said they can think about new ideas about studying climate change and getting research funding.
Interest in climate change wasn't the only force that fueled the start of the Climate Change Initiative, other factors were in play as well.
Barbara Bond, associate professor of forest science, said the initiative was also spurred by the passing of a bill in the Oregon Senate.
H.B. 3543 was passed by the House and Senate in June. Bond said H.B. 3543 was a three part bill about Oregon's environment. The first part pertained to greenhouse gas emission reduction goals, the second part of the bill was about the Oregon Global Warming Commission, the third part established the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute - which helped start the Climate Change Initiative at OSU.
According to the bill the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute's purpose is to "facilitate research by Oregon University System faculty on climate change and its affects on natural and human systems in Oregon."
Gail Achterman, director of the Institute of Natural Resources, said "the state created a research institute on climate change that can address and synthesize climate science that's understandable to Oregonians."
The research institute will be housed at OSU and would be holding faculty from around the state. The institute will receive research funding of $180,000 every two years.
"By research standards, it's a small amount but good enough to get things started," Bond said.
Bond said the initiative is different from the institute.
"Hypothetically," Bond said, "the initiative would try to have more of an interdisciplinary curriculum. It won't only involve research, education would also be a component.
The initiative is still not yet a formal organization. A report from the workshop, held in June, has been submitted to the administration.
Interest in climate change wasn't the only force that fueled the start of the Climate Change Initiative, other factors were in play as well.
Barbara Bond, associate professor of forest science, said the initiative was also spurred by the passing of a bill in the Oregon Senate.
H.B. 3543 was passed by the House and Senate in June. Bond said H.B. 3543 was a three part bill about Oregon's environment. The first part pertained to greenhouse gas emission reduction goals, the second part of the bill was about the Oregon Global Warming Commission, the third part established the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute - which helped start the Climate Change Initiative at OSU.
According to the bill the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute's purpose is to "facilitate research by Oregon University System faculty on climate change and its affects on natural and human systems in Oregon."
Gail Achterman, director of the Institute of Natural Resources, said "the state created a research institute on climate change that can address and synthesize climate science that's understandable to Oregonians."
The research institute will be housed at OSU and would be holding faculty from around the state. The institute will receive research funding of $180,000 every two years.
"By research standards, it's a small amount but good enough to get things started," Bond said.
Bond said the initiative is different from the institute.
"Hypothetically," Bond said, "the initiative would try to have more of an interdisciplinary curriculum. It won't only involve research, education would also be a component.
The initiative is still not yet a formal organization. A report from the workshop, held in June, has been submitted to the administration.
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