Leading expert explores global climate change

Waterloo - A leading environmental policy expert who has advised the Canadian and U.S. governments will give a public talk on the science and politics of global climate change next week at the University of Waterloo.

Edward (Ted) Parson, a professor at the University of Michigan (U-M), will deliver his speech on Wednesday, March 19 at 12:30 p.m. in the Mathematics and Computer Building, room 2065 on the UW campus. The event is sponsored by UW's Faculty of Environment and the university bookstore.

"Dr. Parson will outline where science and policy collide and answer such questions as Is the climate changing? Are humans responsible? and What futures can we expect?" says Roger Suffling, professor of planning. "His book is a must for those who want to move beyond the rhetoric and understand climate science policy, as well as for those who seek an interdisciplinary outlook on the management of global environmental issues."

Parson holds a joint appointment in U-M's law school and school of natural resources and environment. His research examines international environmental policy, the role of science and technology in public policy and the political economy of regulation.

His latest book, The Science and Politics of Global Climate Change, was co-authored with University of Maryland professor Andrew Dessler. His earlier book, Protecting the Ozone Layer: Science and Strategy, won the 2004 Harold and Margaret Sprout Award of the International Studies Association.

Parson's articles have appeared in such scholarly journals as Science, Climatic Change, Issues in Science and Technology, the Journal of Economic Literature and the Annual Review of Energy and the Environment.

As well, he has chaired and served on several senior advisory committees for the National Academy of Sciences and the U.S. Government Global Change Research Program.

He has worked and consulted for the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, United Nations Environment Program, Office of Technology Assessment of the U.S. Congress, Privy Council Office of the Government of Canada and White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Parson received degrees in physics from the University of Toronto and in management science from the University of British Columbia, along with a doctorate in public policy from Harvard. He was formerly a professional classical musician and an organizer of grass-roots environmental groups.