UNH Experts Available for Environmental Insights this Earth Day
Newswise — DURHAM, N.H. – As one of higher education’s leaders in research related to the environment and sustainability, the University of New Hampshire has a wealth of experts that can offer commentary on several topics this Earth Day, April 22, 2016. Below is a sampling of some of UNH’s rich resource of experts.
Climate Change
Cameron Wake, research professor in climatology and glaciology [email protected]; (603) 862-2329
Wake leads a research program investigating regional climate and environmental change through the analysis of ice cores, instrumental data, and phenological records, with a focus on the northeast United States, the Arctic, and central Asia. His collaborative research on several regional climate assessments in the northeast United States has been shared with state and federal agencies and representatives, has been covered widely in the media. Topics: Climate change, health impacts, sustainability as it relates to climate change and the importance for preparedness and building community resilience.
Ruth Varner, associate professor in biogeochemistry[email protected]; (603) 862-0322
Varner was part of a team of researchers that published research earlier this year showing that freshwater lakes and ponds at high northern latitudes are one of the largest natural sources of methane, a more effective, or potent, greenhouse gas. They estimated that annual emissions from the over 700 northern bodies of water included in the study were a dominant source of methane and will increase by 20 to 54 percent before the end of the century if ice-free seasons are extended by 20 days. Topics: Methane emissions, greenhouse gases, climate change (as it relates to emissions).
Ocean Acidification
Joseph Salisbury, research assistant professor of oceanography[email protected];(603) 862-0849
Salisbury’s research seeks to characterize distributions of carbon dioxide, air-sea carbon exchange and productivity in riverine-influenced coastal regions. In addition, he is developing methods for understanding community productivity dynamics and plume detection using satellite ocean color and salinity data. Topics: Ocean acidification, and biogeochemistry and ecology of coastal regions that are influenced by riverine discharge.
General Sustainability and UNH’s “Green” Efforts
Miriam Nelson, deputy chief sustainability officer [email protected]; (603) 862-8564
Nelson can address the importance of sustainability from a broader perspective. With a career in nutrition, Nelson previously served as associate dean of Tufts University’s Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service and professor of nutrition at its Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. She has published extensively on food policy, public health and civic engagement. Nelson is the author of 10 books, including the New York Times bestselling “Strong Women Stay Young.” She also served on the 2010 and 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committees for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. Topics: General sustainability, sustainability and food, responsible nutrition, food policy and public health. Tom Kelly, chief sustainability officer [email protected] (603) 862-8564
Kelly collaborates with faculty, staff, students and community members in the development of policies, programs and practices related to the Sustainability Institute’s four educational initiatives in biodiversity, climate, culture, and food. Co-editor and co-author of “The Sustainable Learning Community: One University’s Journey to the Future” (2009), Kelly has been working in the field of higher education and sustainability for more than 20 years in the US and abroad. Topics: General sustainability, sustainability and higher education.
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