Climate conference comes to campus

A scientific look at how climate changes are affecting area landscapes will be brought into focus during the ninth biennial Conference of Research on the Colorado Plateau held at Northern Arizona University Oct. 29-Nov.1.

The theme for this year's conference is "Shifting Landscapes on the Colorado Plateau: The influence of climate change on natural and cultural resources."

Dozens of researchers and scientists from around the country will present information relevant to integrating science with the environmental management of the Colorado Plateau.

NAU is hosting two symposiums during the conference: Climate Change and Ecosystem Impacts on Oct. 30 and Tribal Lands on the Colorado Plateau: Scientific Assessment of Climate Change and Impacts on Landscapes on Oct. 31.

Neil Cobb, director for NAU's Merriam-Powell Center for Environmental Research, expects hundreds of people to attend each NAU symposium and at least 500 people to attend the conference.

"Climate change is already impacting our region, and NAU is at the forefront of identifying its impacts and providing sustainable solutions for living under a changing climate," Cobb said. "We have invited experts from across the country to provide the most recent assessments of climate change and ecosystem impacts."

NAU also will highlight its extensive Colorado Plateau research through a free showing of A River Reborn: The Restoration of Fossil Creek at 7 p.m. Oct. 29 in the Cline Library Assembly Hall.

The one-hour documentary recounts the rebirth of a biologically critical river in Arizona following the ecological effects of a dam and hydroelectric facility and the 15-year effort to decommission them. The film is a case study in environmental management and features NAU researchers whose work led to the creek's restoration.

NAU's Fossil Creek researchers Jane Marks, Rod Parnell, Bruce Hungate and the film's executive producer, Stefan Sommer will discuss the film and meet with attendees following the screening.

Information about the conference is available online.