“Every living thing will have to cope with these impacts,” shared Paul Bloom, assistant professor of physics, at the first Climate Change Panel hosted by NCC Green Scene.
The event, which occurred on April 21, was held in celebration of Earth Day. Coming from a variety of academic backgrounds, three professors and one professional led a discussion which probed students to consider the impact that they are leaving on the environment.
According to North Central College’s website, panelists included Bloom, associate professor of physics; Silvia Alvarez-Clare, assistant professor of biology; Matthew Krystal, associate professor of anthropology; and Vikas Chandola, who earned an M.B.A. and master’s degree in liberal arts with an emphasis on sustainability from Harvard University.
All panelists were given time to explain their beliefs and then the floor opened for a question and answer session, allowing attendees to share their thoughts.
This event was one of many planned for Earth Week 2016 on North Central College’s campus. From 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., an Earth Day Celebration was hosted at Jefferson Plaza. At the celebration there was food, trivia questions and a raffle of various eco-friendly prizes.
Earth Day and the entire month of April is a time of reflection in the eyes of Brittany Graham, sustainability coordinator.
“Earth Month, I think, is really just a time to be grateful,” said Graham. Focusing on how far the sustainability efforts on campus have come, and where they will go in the future, is something that Graham does during this time of year.
It seems that both Graham and the panelists would agree that with further efforts our environment will become a better place. A dialogue has now been opened on this campus and student organizations such as NCC Green Scene are responding.
“I think there is always hope,” said Alvarez-Clare, associate professor of biology.
Allison Hartman contributed to this story.
