Hardly a day goes by when we don’t see, feel, or read about the effects of global warming and climate change. Facing and dealing with climate change is one of today’s greatest challenges, and how we respond will have a direct impact on the reality of tomorrow.

The first step toward positive action is to be informed, says Bert Drake, emeritus scientist and plant physiologist with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. His 40 years of tracking how plants respond to changes in temperature, water, and carbon dioxide—in longest-running field experiment of its type in the world—has given him a wide perspective on this important issue. He draws on that experience in a three-part series in which he lays out the foundational pillars of understanding global warming and climate change.

Please Note: Individual sessions are also available for separate purchase.

July 16  The History and Physical Science of Global Warming

Meet the first discoverers of human-induced climate change and understand how greenhouse gases cause temperature changes around the globe. Explore why Americans are so divided in their views on climate change as Drake follows the path from climate-change skepticism in the 20th century to denial in the 21st.

July 30  The Effects

Discover how rising temperatures have the power to melt polar ice caps, expand seas, raise sea level and increase flooding. Learn what rising atmospheric carbon dioxide and rising temperature mean for the world’s food supply and its nutritional value.

Aug. 13  The Challenge

Can we control global warming? Find out how much carbon dioxide humans are producing and the various ideas for reducing it, from renewable energy to geo-engineering.

3 sessions

Photo caption: Bert Drake at his CO2 research site at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (Photo: Kimbra Cutlip)