Climate, Atmosphere and Health Topic of Hammond Lectures
March 14, 2008 - News Release
"Climate Atmosphere and Health" is the topic of this year's annual Kenneth Hammond Lectures on Environment, Energy and Resources running March 21 and 22.
Hosted by the University's Faculty of Environmental Sciences, the two-day event begins with a keynote speech by Thomas Lovejoy March 21 at 7 p.m. at War Memorial Hall.
Known for coining the term biological diversity, Lovejoy is president of the H. John Heinz III Centre for Science, Economics and Environment and former biodiversity adviser to the World Bank.
The title of his free public talk is "Climate Change: Prospects of Nature."
"Thomas Lovejoy is an internationally recognized ecologist and conservation expert with expertise on the effect of climate change on biodiversity," said Prof. Joe Ackerman, associate dean of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences. "He has a global perspective that fits in perfectly with the lecture series' current focus on environments and health."
A free symposium featuring four speakers and a panel discussion will be held March 22 starting at 9:30 a.m. in the Trophy Room of the Cutten Club. The all-day event is open to the public, but space is limited, so people are asked to register by sending e-mail to hls.uoguelph.ca.
Symposium speakers include University of Toronto professor Kimberly Strong, who will give a talk on "Chemistry and Climate:Whither the Ozone Layer?"; Quentin Chiotti, climate change program director and senior scientist with Pollution Probe, who will discuss "Separating the Smog From the Fog: An ENGO Perspective on Air Quality and Health in Canada"; and McMaster University professor James Quinn, who speak on "Gulls, Germ-Line Mutations and Steel: Air Pollution Causes Genetic Change in Mouse and Gull Gametes."
University of Guelph history student Jacqueline McIsaac will also give a talk titled "Confronting Tomorrow: Ken Hammond's Contribution to Environment Awareness in Guelph" as a tribute to Hammond, who died last spring.
The lecture series began in 2000 and was named after Hammond, a former member of the University's Board of Governors and an advocate of environmental and resource issues and environmental education.
For more information on this year's Hammond Lectures.
For media questions, contact Communications and Public Affairs: Lori Bona Hunt, 519-824-4120, Ext. 53338, l.hunt@exec.uoguelph.ca, or Deirdre Healey, Ext. 56982, d.healey@exec.uoguelph.ca.
