News & Announcements
Jim Hansen on “Global Climate Change: How Can Young People Take Charge of Their Future?”
On Wednesday, March 8, Dr. Jim Hansen, an atmospheric physicist turned activist, spoke to a concert hall packed with students, professors, and community members. Hansen was born into a tenant-farming family in Denison, Iowa, and completed his B.A., M.S., and Ph.D. at the University of Iowa in the 1960s. He began his career researching the
Log Lunch: “Cutting our Carbon: A Participatory Exercise in Which You Choose How to Fight Climate Change at Williams!”
Williams has committed to reduce emissions to 35% below 1990 levels by 2020. Ever wonder how the college will actually meet its emissions reduction goal? On Friday, March 3, Log Lunchers put their heads together to design a solution. Environmental Fellow-in-Residence Elizabeth Kolbert and economics professor Sarah Jacobson guided students, faculty, and community members through the wedge
Leah Penniman on “Ending Racism in our Food System”
On February 24, Leah Penniman entertained the Log Lunch crowd with a presentation full of information, justice and even a bit of poetry. She is an educator, a farmer, a writer, and a food justice activist from Soul Fire Farm in Grafton, New York. According to Leah, despite how the world may seem today, our
Stephen Gardiner on “The Peculiar Ethics of Geoengineering”
On Tuesday, Feb. 28, Stephen Gardiner—professor of Human Dimensions of the Environment and director of the Program on Values in Society in the Philosophy Department at the University of Washington, Seattle—spoke about the ethics of geoengineering in response to climate change. Williams philosophy professor Julie Pedroni, while introducing Gardiner, noted the record-breaking temperatures of the
Stephen Gardiner and “The Treat of Intergenerational Extortion: On the Temptation to Become the Climate Mafia, While Masquerading as an Intergenerational Robin Hood”
On Monday, Feb. 27, Stephen Gardiner—professor of Human Dimensions of the Environment and director of the Program on Values in Society in the Philosophy Department at the University of Washington, Seattle—spoke about the intergenerational ethics of climate change. Gardiner’s talk, “The Treat of Intergenerational Extortion: On the Temptation to Become the Climate Mafia, While Masquerading
Drew Jones on “Cute Little Owls in Hopkins Forest: 15 years of Banding Migrant Northern Saw-Whet Owls”
On Friday February, 17, Drew Jones visited Log Lunch from Hopkins Forest to discuss his project tagging Migrant Northern Saw-Whet Owls. The tagging takes place in Hopkins Forest to clarify the answer to: What is the nature of migration? Wildlife agencies do not know much about these owls because they are very secretive and
Katie Constantini ’16 et al. on “The EcoFellowship Experience: How CET is training the next generation of environmental leaders”
On Friday, February 10th, five fellows from the Center for EcoTechnology (CET) spoke to the log lunch crowd. CET is a forty-year-old non-profit located in Pittsfield, Northampton, and Springfield that works with residents, businesses, contractors, and communities in Massachusetts, promoting and facilitating energy efficiency and waste reduction. CET, which focuses on tangible impacts, helps homeowners,
Don Carlson ’83 on Sustainable Investing
On January 13, 2017, Don Carlson spoke to the Log Lunch crowd about sustainable investing. With the incoming administration antagonistic toward environmental regulation, Carlson’s work—mobilizing the private sector to accomplish environmental good—has become more important than ever. Carlson, who went on to Harvard Law School after graduating from Williams in 1983, has worked for Goldman
Carmen Montoya on “Ghana Think Tank: Turning the Tables on Climate Change”
How do you prevent the huge amounts of waste generated by current party culture? Design can and bottle recycling containers specifically for drunk users. How do you reduce the number of unnecessary short drives that occur in Williamstown? Organize a car-share program and a bike cab service. How do you talk about climate change with people who don’t
Sophie Robinson on “The Age of Consequences”
On November 4th, 2016, Sophie Robinson, spoke to the Williams College community on the film, The Age of Consequences. Sophie is a filmmaker, climate change organizer and a social justice activist. With that, she is the film’s Executive Producer and Director of Outreach. Sophie spent three years organizing and coordinating with The Better Future Project
