ESSP Presentation: Romsdahl

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences
Contact: Karen Ryba/Phone: 701-777-4761
March 13, 2008

Planning for the Potential Climate Change Impacts on Land Use in North Dakota: Attitudes, Policy, and Barriers
Dr. Rebecca Romsdahl
Earth System Science and Policy, University of North Dakota

(Grand Forks, North Dakota): Despite increasing levels of awareness of the scientific evidence for climate change, actions toward mitigation and adaptation measures are lagging in many regions of the United States, such as the Northern Great Plains. Dr. Rebecca Romsdahl, an Assistant Professor in UND’s Department of Earth System Science and Policy (ESSP) will present the findings of a mail survey she is conducting to assess levels of consideration and planning for climate change impacts amongst a sample of 495 state, regional, and local government decision-makers in North Dakota on Friday, March 14, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. in Clifford Hall Auditorium, room 210, on the UND campus.

The Great Plains regions of the United States are significant in climate-relative categories such as agriculture and renewable fuels development. However, the Northern Great Plains (NGP) region is not well studied and therefore often suffers from lack of attention on national policy agendas.

Dr. Romsdahl’s survey aims to address the following questions: to what degree are these decision-makers considering the potential implications of changing climatic conditions and what, if any, steps are they taking to adapt their management of natural resources and public health? How can climate research be made more accessible for these decision-makers; and how can they become engaged in a dialogue with researchers so that climate science can better inform government decision-making in North Dakota? The survey serves as a pilot project to help prepare for a more extensive survey of government decision-makers across six states in the NGP region.

About Dr. Romsdahl: Dr. Romsdahl joined ESSP in 2006. Her research interests focus on the human dimensions of global environmental change and government interaction with stakeholders in developing environmental policies. She received her B.A. in Environmental Studies from Gustavus Adolphus College, her M.S. in Resource Development at Michigan State University and received her Ph.D. in Environmental Science & Public Policy from George Mason University.

For more information contact Dr. Michael Hill at 701-777-6071, or hillmj@aero.und.edu.

About UND Aerospace:
UND Aerospace, which includes the Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences at the University of North Dakota and the UND Aerospace Foundation (UNDAF), is an international leader in collegiate and contract aviation education and training services flying over 100,000 hours per year in over 120 aircraft. UNDAF also has facilities in Spokane, Washington, with Spokane Falls Community College; Lumberton, North Carolina, with Robeson Community College; Phoenix, Arizona, in conjunction with Chandler-Gilbert Community College; Williston, North Dakota, with Williston State College; and Crookston, Minnesota, with the University of Minnesota in addition to its home-base in Grand Forks, North Dakota. With more than 2,000 students from throughout the world, the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences is the second largest college at the University of North Dakota. Undergraduate and graduate programs leading to a variety of rewarding careers in aerospace are offered through five different academic departments: aviation, atmospheric sciences, computer science, earth system science and policy, and space studies. The UND Aerospace training complex is the most technologically advanced environment for aerospace education, training and research in the world.

In 2008, UND Aerospace will be celebrating its 40th anniversary. A series of regional alumni gatherings will be held across the country, as well as several events during UND’s Homecoming and 125th anniversary on October 13-18. For an updated listing of events, see www.undaerospace.com or www.undalumni.org.

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