The MIT Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (EAPS), together with the Lorenz Center and the MIT Alumni Association, are hosting a climate symposium on Jan. 27 in the Kirsch Auditorium of the Stata Center (Room 32-123).

While this event is now fully subscribed, the day's proceedings will be available via a live webcast.

Taking action on climate change has become a dominating issue — globally, nationally, locally, and even here at MIT. Yet so many questions remain. How much and how quickly will climate change? How will these changes manifest, and where? What are the greatest risks posed by a changing climate and how likely are these worst-case outcomes? What is the science behind climate change, and how can basic research inform our efforts to avert, mitigate and adapt to its impacts?

Essential knowledge built through basic climate research lies at the core of all these questions. We would not even recognize that Earth’s climate is changing were it not for the cumulative efforts of climate scientists over the past five decades, many of them here at MIT. And we cannot hope to improve the climate outcome for ourselves and future generations without the vital, ongoing contributions of fundamental climate science research.

Touching on everything from the essentials of planetary climate through the complexities of Earth’s climate system to the challenges of finding the will to act on our knowledge to address current climate change, the symposium features talks and discussion by faculty experts from across the spectrum of climate research at MIT, plus keynote speakers Marcia McNutt (editor-in-chief of Science) and Justin Gillis (environmental science writer for The New York Times).

Speakers include:

Daniel Cziczo, MIT Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary SciencesElfatih A. B. Eltahir, MIT Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringLindy Elkins-Tanton, Arizona State UniversityKerry Emanuel, MIT Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary SciencesJohn Fernandez, MIT Environmental Solutions InitiativeW. Eric L. Grimson, MIT Chancellor for Academic AdvancementValerie Karplus, MIT Sloan School of ManagementThomas Malone, MIT Sloan School of ManagementJohn Marshall, MIT Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary SciencesDavid McGee, MIT Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary SciencesRonald Prinn, MIT Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary SciencesSara Seager, MIT Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary SciencesNoelle Selin, MIT Institute for Data, Systems and Society and Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary SciencesLawrence Susskind, MIT Department of Urban Studies and PlanningDennis Whyte, MIT Department of Nuclear Science and EngineeringMaria Zuber, MIT vice president for research

For more information and a detailed agenda, visit the EAPS symposium website.