NBC Learn, ASU to live stream town hall on future of water

‘Changing Planet’ town hall is 3rd in series; National Science Foundation and Discover magazine join NBC Learn and ASU to host dynamic discussion Aug. 25

The Aug. 25 “Changing Planet” town hall at Arizona State University’s Tempe campus will be live streamed on http://www.nbclearn.com, http://asutv.asu.edu and http://www.ustream.tv/channel/asutv. The town hall, scheduled from 6 to 7:30 p.m., also will be available on the cable systems at ASU’s four campuses through ASUtv on Quest Choice TV. Campus channel listings are at http://asutv.asu.edu/about.

“Adapting to Our Water Future” is the third in a series of “Changing Planet” town halls at major American universities that are videotaped and then televised on The Weather Channel. The topic for this town hall at Arizona State University is the future of water in the American Southwest and around the world. Hosted by NBC Learn, the National Science Foundation and Discover magazine, it will feature a panel of nationally-recognized scientists and public policymakers who will address the changing patterns of freshwater resources, as well as questions on how to develop more efficient and sustainable water practices.

The discussion will begin at 6 p.m. in Galvin Playhouse on ASU’s Tempe campus. RSVPs were requested and the event is at capacity. Doors will open at 5 p.m. and close at 5:45 p.m. No entrance or exit will be permitted during the videotaping. More information is available at http://sustainability.asu.edu/nbc-changing-planet or 480-965-2975.

Town hall panelists will include: Bill Richardson, former governor of New Mexico; Grady Gammage Jr., senior sustainability scholar with the ASU Global Institute of Sustainability and senior research fellow with the ASU Morrison Institute for Public Policy; Pat Mulroy, general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority; and Heidi Cullen, host of “Forecast Earth” and research scientist and correspondent with “Climate Central.” The conversation will be moderated by Anne Thompson, NBC News chief environmental affairs correspondent.

The “Changing Planet” town hall series was developed to encourage student learning and open a dialogue between the public and scientists, thought leaders, business people, educators and students around the issues and facts of climate science. The goal of these discussions is to promote the understanding of the implications of climate change, brainstorm solutions and provide avenues to get involved in climate research through citizen science projects on ScienceForCitizens.net.

As a national leader in sustainability science, Arizona State University was selected to host the third “Changing Planet” town hall. The first “Changing Planet” town hall was hosted by Yale University in January and examined the impact of climate change on human health, economic opportunity, religious values and today’s youth. The second town hall was hosted by George Washington University in April and examined the intersection of clean energy and green jobs.

In addition to the “Changing Planet” town hall, water is the topic of an ASU Morrison Institute report that is being released this week titled "Watering the Sun Corridor: Managing Choices in Arizona's Megapolitan Area." Town hall panelist Gammage is chief author of the report, which he wrote about in the Aug. 22 Viewpoints section of the Arizona Republic. His column is at http://morrisoninstitute.asu.edu/media/news-events/fluid-questions-addressed-in-watering-the-sun-corridor.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Margaret “Peggy” Coulombe, Margaret.Coulombe@asu.edu
480-727-8934
Arizona State University

Carol Hughes, carol.hughes@asu.edu
480-965-6375 desk | 480-254-3753 cell
Arizona State University

Meghan Pianta, Meghan.Pianta@nbcuni.com
212-664-2364
NBC News/NBC Learn