A public discussion on arts, media and climate change

Strike up a casual conversation about climate change in Europe and you are bound to pick up on a key cultural difference compared to the U.S. There is little public debate it is happening.

Part of the reason may be that European governments – unlike the U.S. Congress - has accepted the scientific evidence for manmade global warming and developed policies to combat it.

But there are other reasons for the public vitriol on this side of the Atlantic – and on Oct. 18 and 19th, the Goethe-Institut of Boston will explore the role of arts and media in climate change in Europe and the U.S. The German cultural and information center is partnering with Boston University’s Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future and the Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities Essen and to invite artists, bloggers and journalists (including myself) to discuss the issue.

The symposium will examine perceptions of climate change within Europe and the U.S. and discuss the role and responsibility of the media and arts in shaping perception of climate change.

All panels are open and free to the public. Please RSVP at www.goethe.de/boston or 617-262-6050 ext 11.

Here is a list of panels:

Transatlantic Perceptions of Climate Change: The Role of the Arts and Media
When: October 18, 6 PM
Where: SMG Trustee’s Ball room, 9th floor, School of Management, Boston University, One Silber Way, Boston
Who: Andrew Revkin, Mike Bonanno, Stefan Rahmstorf, Adil Najam
Reception to follow.

Media Panel: Climate Change and the Media
When: October 19, 9-10:30 AM
Where: Room 426/428, 4th floor, School of Management, Boston University, 595 Commonwealth Ave, Boston
Who: Ann-Kathrin Eckhardt, Beth Daley, Chris Russill, Bernd Sommer, Miquel Munoz

Arts Panel: Climate Change and the Arts
When: October 19, 11 AM-12:30 PM
Where: Room 426/428, 4th floor, School of Management, Boston University, 595 Commonwealth Ave, Boston
Who: Marc Roberts, Simon Faithfull, Heidi Quante, Victor Coelho

Keynote Luncheon with Adil Najam, Director, Pardee Center
When: October 19, 12:30-1:30 PM
Where: Room 426/428, 4th floor, School of Management, Boston University, 595 Commonwealth Ave, Boston

Simultaneously, the Exhibition “Control Issues — A selection of video work from To the Elements!–Aeshetic Phenomena of Climate Change” runs thru 10/24 at the Mills Gallery, Boston Center for the Arts. Artist Talk with Simon Faithfull on Tuesday, October 19 at 6 PM.