Global warming focus of Fermilab summit

As a high school and college student, David Carlson worked in the food service department shortly after Fermilab opened in the late 1960s.

Thursday night he'll be returning as one of the world's top scientists and an expert on global warming.

Carlson's discussion, "Exploring Polar Regions at a Critical Time," is part of a two-day global warming summit at Fermilab. The Thursday appearance at 7 p.m. is open to the public and will be followed by a full day of workshops for teachers Friday.

"The debate is not about whether or not there is global warming and if we are responsible. The debate is how fast is it happening and what can we do about it?" Carlson said during a telephone interview from London, where he is the director of the International Programme Office for the International Polar Year.

The International Polar Year is an effort involving hundreds of experiments and thousands of scientists from March 2007 to March 2009. They are focusing on the polar regions, where the impact of global warming is being felt as ice fields melt and glaciers break apart in the Arctic and Antarctic.

But Carlson said many things need to be done to slow the rate of global warming.

The reliance on fossils fuels must be changed and we all need to be more efficient in our use of fuels and conserve energy, he said. At the policy level, more alternative energy sources need to be found. That includes nuclear energy, which makes many people leery, he acknowledged.

"We have to have a mix," he said.

The United States is behind when it comes to implementing such policies. But even the leading nations -- such as Denmark, Sweden and Germany -- are finding it difficult to meet the goals necessary to fully address the issue, he said.

Nonetheless, Carlson said it is not too late.

"I think there's a message of hope here. Most scientists believe there is a little bit of time to change here," he said.

Getting these messages out to students and teachers is as important as speaking to scientists around the world, Carlson said.

This week's visit came about because of a few science teachers who are very active, said Carlson, who grew up in Aurora. Many months ago he received a call from former Naperville teacher Louise Huffman, who extended the invitation on behalf of a group of science teachers in DuPage County.

The International Polar Year projects only occur once every few decades so Carlson's visit will be a wonderful opportunity for several hundred teachers to receive the latest scientific information as they gather Friday for the institute day, said Bill Grosser. He helped organize the visit and teaches at Glenbard South High School in Glen Ellyn.

Grosser said he has been teaching about global warming for 10 years. In the last year he has seen a "dramatic change" in the level of interest and concern showed by students.

"This generation that we're teaching now, this is their challenge," he said.

Carlson's Thursday appearance begins at 7 p.m. in Fermilab's Ramsey Auditorium. His talk will be followed by a question and answer session.

The main entrance to Fermilab is just east of Randall Road on Pine Street in Batavia. More information about the summit is also available online at www.gwsummit.org where Carlson's talk will be available for later viewing for those unable to make the Thursday night event.