Climate change is a “hot” topic.

This year’s One Book One Northwestern selection – “Hot, Flat, and Crowded,” by Thomas Friedman – sparked a campus-wide discussion on the future of the environment and its implications that didn’t end with the popular book. The inaugural Climate Change Symposium, held Thursday at the McCormick Tribune Center, further addressed the issues of climate change that have become topics of conversation and activism at NU this year..In his welcome to faculty and students from across the country, NU Prof. Bradley Sageman referenced the popular best seller.

“We have a big problem – that was essentially the message of this book,” he said. “The purpose of our symposium today is to focus on this question about the ‘Hot’ part.”

One Book One Northwestern co-sponsored the symposium, along with the Initiative for Sustainability and Energy at Northwestern, Earth and Planetary Sciences department and the Program in Environmental Policy and Culture. The event ran from 8:45 a.m. until about 4 p.m. and featured experts on the science and politics behind climate change and energy usage.

Before the symposium, Earth and Planetary Sciences Prof. Francesca McInerney, one of the speakers, said she was glad NU was able to hold such an event.

“Climate change is an incredibly pressing issue that we have to deal with now and not put off,” she said. “Understanding climate change and informing others about it is important so we can try and manage it.”

She spoke specifically about the geologic record of past climate shifts as a way to better understand ecological responses to the rapid change. The speakers, including professors from Ohio State University, the University of Chicago, Colorado State University and Columbia University, covered a variety of climate change-related topics. They touched on everything from alternative energy sources to the carbon cycle and even “Couples Therapy for the Marriage between Science and Policy,” a presentation by Columbia Prof. Gavin Schmidt.

“Bringing in outside speakers is a great opportunity to learn from other institutions, especially to get a broad understanding of different types of climate science,” McInerney said.

Sam Eckland , co-chairman of Students for Ecological and Environmental Development, said the speakers brought a range of expertise and knowledge to campus.

“What we see from events like this is that we’re…reaching out to the top environmental minds across the country to educate us,” the Weinberg senior said. “Not only are we bringing in leaders in the field, but we’re showing that we’re leaders also.”

Eckland said on a campus-wide scale, he hopes the packed crowd and student interest in the event will encourage NU to host similar programs.

“We’re building Northwestern’s reputation as a leader in environmental consciousness,” he said. “There’s also a big demand among students to study these issues.”

Weinberg senior Alex Drake said he attended as many speakers as he could throughout the day when he didn’t have class. Drake said the main reason he attended the day’s events was because he is studying Environmental Policy and Culture.

“There’s so much we don’t understand about how ecosystems and feedback groups work,” he said. “The more educated you can make other people, the more effective you can be.”

Students and speakers alike said climate change is not only important but complex and still requires more discussion. In his closing remarks, Sageman said there has been talk about making the Symposium an annual event.

While the topics presented were informative and have serious implications for the future, speakers like University of Chicago Prof. Liz Moyer were able to inject a sense of humor into their message.

“I hope I left you informed and cautious but not completely depressed,” she said to laughter.

The Climate Change Symposium was the first of two events this week that will bring the environment to the forefront on NU’s campus. Engineers for a Sustainable World’s fifth annual Energy Day 2009 Conference, which is also co-sponsored by One Book, among other groups, will be held at the Technological Institute on Saturday. [email protected]