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Cut Global Warming? Not In My Backyard.
March marks 50 years of nearly uninterrupted measurements of the rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere from Hawaii's Mauna Loa.
When the Mauna Loa measurements began in March 1958, the atmosphere already contained about 315 parts per million CO2. It has since risen to 383 parts per million. That's a nearly 22 percent increase, driven by the burning of fossil fuels.
When displayed in graph form, the Mauna Loa record steadily curves upward from 1958 to the present. Within that curve, though, there are plenty of squiggles.
Those regular squiggles represent the dip in CO2 levels that coincides with the greening of the northern hemisphere each spring and summer.
There is more land, and as a consequence, more vegetation, in the northern hemisphere. So when things are green north of the equator, there is a slight drawdown in the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. After things turn brown again in the northern fall and winter, CO2 levels again pick up their upward climb.
On one hand, the squiggles remind us that vegetation, through photosynthesis, each year scrubs the atmosphere of at least some of its surfeit of CO2.
On the other hand, the overall curve shows we still have the upper hand. Simply put, humans are pumping CO2 into the atmosphere much, much faster than nature's greenery (and the oceans) can take it out.
Take the United States, where forests absorb the equivalent of just 14 percent of the nation's CO2 emissions. That means those trees offset just one-seventh of the country's overall carbon dioxide emissions. So my question is this: Could more trees make a difference?
Not in my backyard.
at Southern Methodist University, School of Engineering
Dallas, TX • April 26, 2008
| 11:00am - 1:00pm 1:00pm - 4:15pm |
Check-in, Lunch, Street Fair Featured Talk, Discovery Workshops, Street Fair |
The festival features:
- An inspiring talk by astronaut Sally Ride
- Discovery Workshops for students, given by local scientists and engineers
(examples include chemists, veterinarians, microbiologists, and others) - Workshops for parents and teachers on ways to support students' interests in science and math
- A Street Fair with booths, hands-on activities, food, and music
Advance registration is required and is $18. The registration fee includes the featured talk, workshops, lunch, and the Street Fair.
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at Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX • April 26, 2008
Sponsors
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at Southern Methodist University, School of Engineering
Dallas, TX • April 26, 2008
Schedule
| 11:00am-12:45pm | Check-in, eat lunch, enjoy the Street Fair |
| 1:00-2:00pm | Featured Talk by astronaut Sally Ride |
| 2:00-2:15pm | Break (assemble and go to workshops) |
| In the afternoon, girls go to 2 workshops, while adults go to one longer workshop. | |
| 2:15-3:00pm | Discovery Workshop #1 |
| 3:00-3:25pm | Break (assemble and go to workshops) |
| 3:25-4:10pm | Discovery Workshop #2 |
| 4:15pm | End of the Festival |
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at Southern Methodist University, School of Engineering
Dallas, TX • April 26, 2008
Directions & Maps
Click here for a campus map (PDF)
Parking and Directions
-
Registrants may park in the Law Garage the day of the event. The arms on the garage will be up and no fee or parking code will be required.
Directions:-
Traveling South on N Central Expressway (75)
Exit Lovers Lane/University Boulevard/SMU Boulevard
Turn Right at University Boulevard
Turn Right at Airline
Follow it around - the street name will change to Daniel
The Parking Garage is the second building on the right past Athens Avenue -
Traveling North on N Central Expressway (75)
Exit Mockingbird
Continue on the access road
Turn Left at University Boulevard
Turn Right at Airline
Follow it around - the street name will change to Daniel
The Parking Garage is the second building on the right past Athens Avenue
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Traveling South on N Central Expressway (75)
Event Location
- The event will be on the South end of the grassy area in front of Dallas Hall.
- The stage will be constructed in front of the Deadman College Signage by the flagpole facing Dallas Hall.
- Sidewalks which angle out from the fountain in the area will be home to the festival activities.
Higher resolution and web access maps are available at http://smu.edu/maps/download/main-campus.asp
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at Southern Methodist University, School of Engineering
Dallas, TX • April 26, 2008
Sign Up
Sorry, signup for this festival is closed.
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at Southern Methodist University, School of Engineering
Dallas, TX • April 26, 2008
Workshops for Students
Many Discovery Workshops are offered! But there is only time for two. Choose the six workshops that interest you the most. We will try to assign you to two workshops from your six favorite! Please note: We can not guarantee your workshop choices.
| Wkshp ID | Title | Area of Discovery | Presenter/Affiliate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marshmallow Mania | Physics | Sherri Stuewer ExxonMobil |
| 2 | Puff Mobiles | Engineering | Robbie Luxbacher ExxonMobil |
| 3 | Science in the Kitchen: Extracting DNA from Strawberries | Biomedical Sciences | Olivia Lee & Anne Marie Corgan University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center |
| 4 | Flying High With Paper Airplanes | Physics of Flight | Cynthia Whisennand Civil Air Patrol & Solar System Ambassador with JPL |
| 5 | Exploring DNA | Molecular Biology, Genetics & Developmental Biology | Amy Helms Collin County Community College |
| 7 | Race to Win: Righty vs. Lefty | Statistics | Elizabeth McClellan, Darcie Delzell, & Jing Shen Southern Methodist University |
| 9 | How a Ham Sandwich Fits in Your IPOD | Electrical Engineering | Meagan Pollock Texas Instruments |
| 10 | Fun with Flies and Fish | Biology | Stefanie W. Leacock & Kathleen Galindo UT Southwestern Medical Center |
| 15 | Building Bridges With Requirements | Software Engineering | Pavani Akundi Brierley & Partners |
| 16 | Egg Drop Challenge | Electrical & Mechanical Systems | Justa A. Treviño Raytheon |
| 17 | Edible Engineering: Using Math and Science to Create Your Favorite Foods | Food Process Engineering | Betsy Willis Southern Methodist University |
| 19 | Artificial Intelligence: From Science Fiction to Computer Science | Computer Science | Mihaela Iridon Southern Methodist University |
| 20 | Now You See Me! An Investigation of the Eyes, the Brain, and Vision. | Biology | Donna White Collin College |
| 21 | Video Game Design | Computer Science | Elizabeth Stringer Southern Methodist University |
| 23 | What is IT? | Software Engineering | Christine Brinson, Jo McQuire & Maria Loscerbo Northrop Grumman |
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at Southern Methodist University, School of Engineering
Dallas, TX • April 26, 2008
Workshops for Adults
A separate track for adults is also available. Parents, teachers, and other interested adults may also register to hear Sally Ride, participate in the Street Fair, and attend their own workshops. Adults choose one workshop to attend. Adults pick three choices from the list below and we will try our best to accommodate their preferences.
Educators who attend the festival will receive a certificate stating they have earned 4 hours of professional development.
| Wkshp ID | Title | Presenter/Affiliate |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 | Tour of Engineering Building | Michael Paul Southern Methodist University |
| E-2 | Science Careers for Educators | Jim Brown Sally Ride Science |
| Wkshp ID | Title | Presenter/Affiliate |
|---|---|---|
| P-1 | Toy Design: Engineering in Disguise | Francis French Sally Ride Science |
| P-2 | How Can I Support Her Interest in Science? | Jennifer Fenner Sally Ride Science |
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