Internationally Acclaimed Scientist Dr Michael Glantz Speaks on Climate-Society Interactions at AIT

Dr Michael Glantz, senior scientist at the US National Center for Atmospheric Research, delivered a Special Lecture to a filled-to-capacity audience at the Milton Bender Jr Auditorium at AIT. In his talk entitled “Preparing for El Niño: A Climate Affairs Challenge”, Dr Glantz spoke candidly about what we do and do not know about climate anomalies and the El Niño Southern Oscillation. For some countries, Glantz contends, the association between climate anomalies and El Niño is already demonstrated with enough reliability to guide decision-making. At the same time, the public, policy-makers and educators need to know more about the various ways that forecasts can be used in the sustainable development of societies and economies. In addition to climate forecasts, it is critical that forecasts be developed about the societal impacts of El Niño. 
Glantz strongly believes that national scientific establishments need the support of their governments and international donor agencies to undertake studies on regional and local problems related to El Niño. Moreover, educators at all levels should encourage their students to study the interactions among climate, society and the environment. At the university level, Glantz suggests, such studies might be supported through the development of a Climate Affairs Program. 

Dr Glantz’s lecture was part of the Asian Climate Training (ACT) Workshop organized by ADPC in partnership with national, regional and international institutions. The Special Lecture was hosted jointly by AIT and ADPC and was presided over by the AIT President Prof Jean-Louis Armand and ADPC Executive Director Dr Suvit Yodmani.

The slide show of Dr. Glantz’s presentation, links to further information on his climate studies and a description of the ACT Workshop may be found at http://www.adpc.ait.ac.th/ece/act/intro.html