Earth’s History Shines a Light on Modern Climate Change: Lightning Talks, Lunch & Behind-the-Scenes Tour of the Smithsonian Fossil Collections

Above: The Smithsonian’s fossil and Paleobiology collections at the National Museum of Natural History. (Image credit: Chip Clark/Smithsonian)

Earth has been in a constant state of change since it formed more than 4 billion years ago. Earth’s long geologic history—particularly the past 600 million years—can help scientists understand how human activities can influence our future on the planet. Museums are important stewards of Earth’s fossil and geologic record and can help scientists better understand and address 21st-century challenges such as biodiversity loss and climate change.

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History invites the DCSWA community to a special event on March 29 that will explore how Earth’s deep past is connected to our future. Attendees will hear from scientists who study Earth’s climate history, educators who teach about climate change in the classroom and science communicators and journalists who address the challenges of climate change in public discourse. Following 6 lightning talks, including a keynote address by Andrew Revkin, a climate reporter for ProPublica, museum scientists and staff will guide a behind-the-scenes tour of the museum’s expansive fossil collections. Scientists and staff will highlight the ways that they use the collections to understand the interconnected story of life, climate and other Earth systems.

The Smithsonian is generously providing lunch, where attendees can mingle with scientists who study Earth’s ancient climate!

Support for this event is provided by Roland and Debra Sauermann.

When: Thursday, March 29, 2018, 10:30am-3:00pm

Where: Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, 10th St. & Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20560. (Enter the museum from the Constitution Ave. lobby on the North side of the building and proceed to the Q?rius education space.)

Cost: Free, but a $5 deposit will be required. If you attend the event, your deposit will be returned.

Registration: https://dcswa.wildapricot.org/event-2856050/Registration The deadline to register is Friday, March 23.

Related evening event: For those interested in learning more about the connection between climate change and the Earth’s history, the museum will also host a related evening program that is open to the public, which you can register for here.