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U of M Institute on the Environment to launch collaboration with Climate Central
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL ( 1/21/2009 ) -- This month, the University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment will launch a unique partnership with Climate Central, a new nongovernmental organization based in Princeton, N.J., with an office in Palo Alto, Calif. Climate Central serves as a bridge between the science community and the public, including policy makers, on issues related to climate change. It provides clear and objective information about climate change impacts and solutions -- communicating complex issues through a series of video reports that are already appearing regularly on PBS's The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and will soon be on network television. "Climate Central focuses on bringing the world's best science and policy thinking to the national stage," said Jonathan Foley, director of the Institute on the Environment. "Our new partnership will connect the University of Minnesota to this vitally important mission. Working together, we're confident that we'll make a transformative difference in climate change science and policy." "Having a satellite office in the Upper Midwest -- especially one linked to a top research institution like the University of Minnesota is -- is critical to our mission," said Berrien Moore III, executive director of Climate Central. "The Minnesota region plays a key role in the area of biofuels and other renewable energy technologies, and the university has research strengths in so many areas connected with climate change. This is really a win-win from Climate Central's perspective." The Institute of the Environment will house Climate Central's newest regional "node," a satellite office of sorts that creates a bridge into the University of Minnesota's scientific community and the broader Upper Midwest region. The two organizations will work together to build a world-class research and public outreach operation, continually seeking new ways to bring the latest research on climate change to the public. In collaboration with Climate Central, the institute will support innovative research fellowships and internships. With significant funding from the institute's Discovery Grants program, postdoctoral scholars and media interns will focus on climate change impacts, mitigation and adaptation strategies and other critical topics. "I'm very excited about this synergistic partnership with the Institute," said Kent Cavender-Bares, a research scientist at Climate Central who will lead the Minnesota office. "We intend to leverage the great work being done at the University, while at the same time increasing the understanding of these challenging topics for the public in this region and beyond." Climate Central is a hybrid science and communications team tasked with turning the latest climate science into creative, easily understood and graphically rich pieces for print, Web and television. Its goal is to produce TV and educational content that makes climate change local and visible. The organization is an active advocate for bringing the best science to bear on issues related to climate change The University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment is dedicated to discovering solutions to the earth's most pressing environmental problems through cutting-edge research, world-class leadership development and innovative collaboration. For scientists interested in joining the Climate Central network of experts, please contact Kent Cavender-Bares at kbares@climatecentral.org. For more info gp to: environment.umn.edu and climatecentral.org ---------- |
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