Research Science and Technology

Rosenstiel School to launch Climate Cafés series

The series of three virtual seminars will focus on climate science and research being conducted by Rosenstiel School faculty members and students.
An aerial view of the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science on Virginia Key.
An aerial view of the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science on Virginia Key. Photo: TJ Lievonen/University of Miami

With 2020 on pace to become one of the warmest years, if not the warmest, the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science will host a series of three virtual lunchtime conversations called Climate Cafés that will focus on groundbreaking climate science and research underway at the Virginia Key-based school.

Each of the Climate Cafés will feature Rosenstiel School faculty members and graduate students and will address a different area of climate science, with the first, “Climate Science in the Age of COVID,” taking place on Wednesday, August 5, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 

Ben Kirtman, professor of atmospheric sciences and director of the Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, will be among the presenters at the first session. According to Kirtman, he will discuss “how our response to the pandemic has affected how we conduct some elements of climate research, and whether we are able to detect how changes in our behavior in response to the pandemic affect the climate system.” . 

“The research taking place at the Rosenstiel School becomes more relevant and important literally every day,” said Amy Clement, professor of atmospheric sciences and an expert in climate modeling, who will give an introduction and overview at the first café. 

“With temperatures and sea level rise hitting ever new records, and the current hurricane season entering its peak during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical to understand and predict what will happen in the days, weeks, months, and seasons to come,” Clement said. “It is equally critical that we prepare our city for the long-term impacts of climate change, and never before has research at the Rosenstiel School played such an important role in local planning and decision-making. This Zoominar will show you what our amazing graduate students and faculty are working on, and how it can help inform policy and decision-making in Florida.” 

The following lists the Climate Cafés schedule. 

Climate Science in the Age of COVID

Wednesday, August 5, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 

  • Introduction and Overview by Amy Clement, professor of atmospheric sciences
  • Record Breaking Weather and Climate in 2020 by Sisam Shrestha, doctoral student
  • Student Climate Research Showcase by Marybeth Arcodia, doctoral student
  • Climate Change and Prediction in the Age of COVID by Ben Kirtman, professor of atmospheric sciences
  • What is the Climate Connection to COVID? by Lynée Turek-Hankins, doctoral student, Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy

Register at https://tinyurl.com/ClimateCafe1

Zoom ID: 955 2074 0793 

Building Climate Resilience for Florida’s Coral Reefs and Coastlines

Thursday, August 20, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 

  • Introduction and Overview by Andrew Baker, professor of marine biology and ecology
  • Increasing Coral Resilience by Olivia Williamson, doctoral student
  • Restoring Reefs by Diego Lirman, associate professor of marine biology and ecology
  • Become a Citizen Scientist: Rescue a Reef by Dalton Hesley, senior research associate 

Register at https://tinyurl.com/ClimateCafe2

Zoom ID: 922 7404 9486 

Economic and Societal Impacts of a Changing Climate

Wednesday, September 2, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. 

  • Introduction and Overview by David Letson, professor of marine ecosystems and society
  • Climate Impacts on Global Fisheries by David Die, professor of marine ecosystems and society
  • Climate, Security, and Conflict by Katharine Mach, associate professor of marine ecosystems and society
  • Climate Mobility in Miami-Dade County by Nadia Seeteram, doctoral candidate, Florida International University
  • Moving Out of Harm’s Way by Carolien Kraan, doctoral student, Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy 

Register at https://tinyurl.com/ClimateCafe3

Zoom ID: 936 3561 9130