Mark Potosnak, Associate Professor
of Environmental Science, College of Science and Health. Potosnak’s research focuses on interactions between the
terrestrial biosphere and the atmosphere. Specifically, he studies how trace
gas emissions from plants affect atmospheric chemistry and how climate change
will impact this interaction in the future. “The extraordinary rains
from Hurricane Harvey have tragically caused loss of life and also extreme
disruption to millions of people in the Houston area and beyond,” said
Potosnak. “This drives home how vulnerable our society is to extreme weather
events. With climate change expected to make extreme weather even more severe,
the suffering in Houston should be heard as a call for decisive action that
takes advantage of clean and sustainable energy sources.” He can be reached at mpotosna@depaul.edu or
773-325-7867.
Barb
Willard, Associate Professor of Communication, College of Communication. Willard’s
background is in environmental communication. Her research examines how the rhetoric of popular culture and
environmental rhetoric intersect, informing and influencing cultural practice. In
the wake of Hurricane Harvey, Willard can discuss how scientists and others can
most effectively communicate about the environmental issues related to the
disaster. “At what point do climate scientists
start to make more definitive statements about these extreme weather events so
the general public will also make the connection, and therefore urge Congress
to take action?” asked Willard. “There is a particular way of speaking about
probability in scientific terms that does not translate well to the general
public. It makes the science appear to be uncertain and climate skeptics play
up on this uncertainty.” Willard added, “I think the warming ocean and warming
planet caused by humans is partially contributing to the devastating flooding
caused by Harvey. And, I imagine in the coming days we will start having a
national conversation about this.” She
can be reached at bwillard@depaul.edu
or 312-362-7468.
James Montgomery, Associate Professor of Environmental
Science, College of Science and Health. Montgomery
grew up in north suburban Houston and researches urban ecology and
sustainability. He can discuss the intersections of climate change, natural
disaster and urbanization. “The misery being faced by Houstonians is in part
the product of a rare 500-year flood occurring in a low-lying region of very
flat terrain that has seen massive urbanization or sprawl in the past several
decades,” said Montgomery. “Urbanization has increased the acreage of
impervious surface that does not allow for the infiltration of stormwater. As a
result, stormwater runs off into a network of creeks, bayous and flood control
reservoirs. When the storage capacity of creeks and bayous is exceeded, water
overtops the banks and flows where it wants,” he said.
“Sustainability directly implies that we must
live within our means — in this case, within the constraints of our ecosystems.
The world is becoming increasingly urbanized, and climate change may be a
driver in this process. Rampant urbanization is stretching the ability of many
cities in the developing world to provide basic services such as clean water,
sanitation and food. Understanding the impacts of global climate change on
urban society requires fundamental research into and understanding of urban
ecology,” said Montgomery. He can be reached at jmontgom@depaul.edu or 773-325-2771.
Jill Hopke, Assistant Professor of Journalism, College of
Communication. Hopke’s research focuses on
participatory and networked uses of emerging digital and mobile media
platforms, with an emphasis on the ways in which environmental activists use
these tools. "It is hard for us as individuals to
make sense of climate impacts in our daily lives. With disasters like Hurricane
Harvey, we tend to see an increase in media interest in covering climate
change, in the context of extreme weather events. How individuals perceive
climate change is based in worldviews and values,” she said. Hopke can explain
how to different communications approaches work to engage audiences to address
climate change. She can be reached at jhopke@depaul.edu or
312-362-7641.
###
Media Contact:
Kristin
Claes Mathews
kristin.mathews@depaul.edu
312-362-7735