Professor Dennis Ojima has been active in global environmental change research and assessments for 30 years. Photo: William A. Cotton/CSU Photography
Colorado State University’s Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability is hosting a symposium examining approaches to addressing humanity’s mark on the planet on Oct. 29 in the Lory Student Center’s Longs Peak Room from 1-5 p.m.
The symposium, in honor of Professor Dennis Ojima, will explore the impact of ecosystem science, a major approach to addressing the global environmental challenges associated with the Anthropocene, the current geological age in which human activities are affecting the Earth.
The symposium will serve as a tribute to Ojima, who retired from his departmental role in May 2019. He continues to serve as a senior research scientist in the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory at CSU.
Following the symposium, a reception will be held to celebrate Ojima’s career from 5-6:30 p.m.
Ojima has been active in global environmental change research and assessments for 30 years. His research involves the application of social-ecological system approaches to climate and land-use changes on ecosystems, carbon accounting, food security, and adaptation and mitigation strategies to climate change.
Symposium speakers
The speakers include distinguished scientists and researchers from across the country in fields such as ecosystem science and anthropology. Speakers include:
Jerry Melillo, distinguished scientist at the Marine Biological Laboratory at the University of Chicago, will talk about the emergence of ecosystem science on the global scene.
David Schimel, research scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology, will discuss the development of ecosystem theory and methodology to address global issues at multiple scales.
Robert Corell, global climate scientist and a principal at the Global Environment Technology Foundation, will speak on the involvement of ecosystem science in policy and assessment deliberations.
Kathleen Galvin, CSU professor in the Department of Anthropology and Geography, will examine the importance of the integration of social sciences in the expansion of ecosystem research efforts.
