The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment hosted Climate Science: The Good, The Bad, And The Wicked at the Texas State University LBJ Grand Ballroom on Sept. 7.

Robert Mace, executive director of the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, noted there are not very many climate science conferences in Texas, which is why they decided to host Climate Science: The Good, The Bad, and The Wicked, and also bring together various experts to share information with the general audience.

“We’ve overjoyed with the turn out. [There’ve] been great conversations that I’ve had with various folks, people learning about different aspects of climate change and how it’s affecting us in various different ways,” Mace said.

The details

The conference aimed to serve as a Texas think tank for climate intervention with a focus on exploring the lesser-known aspects of climate change while highlighting the unique challenges facing the state, according to a press release. Speakers covered an array of topics, including ecology, impacts of climate change on human health, water, biodiversity and more.


There were several guest speakers, including:
  • Michael Mann, director of Penn Center for Science, Sustainability and the Media
  • Rose Jones, research and strategic lead in urban green health, Texas Trees
  • Rob Dussler, chief education officer for the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment
  • David Ruth, director of UATX Center for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
  • Ryan McManamey, associate professor of environmental science, Baylor University
  • Kirk Winmiller, university distinguished professor in the department of ecology and conservation biology, Texas A&M University
  • Arthur Berman, director and geological consultant for Labyrinth Consulting Services
There was also a panel discussion led by Meadows Center founder Andrew Sansom with Mace; Enrique Valdivia, environmental lawyer and Edwards Aquifer Authority member; and Suzanna Scott, Texas State director of The Nature Conservancy.

Put in perspective

Mace said one of the conference themes is dealing with and responding to climate change as a "wicked" problem.

"The diversity of speakers is also a testament to a diversity of expertise that we're going to need to respond to a warming climate," Mace said.


He said he hopes attendees walk away with a better understanding of climate change and hope.

"This is a topic that can be depressing when you look at the impacts that we're seeing and what the projections are. But I think also, each of the speakers are a realist, but at the same time they have messages of hope. If we understand these problems, that helps us understand how we can solve these problems," he said.

For more information about the conference visit www.themeadowscenter.com.