FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Glacial Climate Change

Bader Lecture to address the high-tech study of glaciers, sea level rise, & climate change

Dr. Richard S. Williams, Jr.

VIRGINIA KEY, FL (March 9, 2007) — One of the world's most renowned glaciologists will present at this year's University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science Bader Lecture, to be held Wednesday, March 28 at 4 p.m. in the school auditorium. Dr. Richard S. Williams Jr., senior research geologist from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Woods Hole Science Center, will discuss, “Earth's Dynamic Ice: The Meltdown” at this free lecture geared toward academics and oceanography enthusiasts.

Over the past two decades, Williams has been using state-of-the-art airborne and satellite sensing technology to study glaciers around the world. His research and that of his colleagues has taken on new importance as the Earth's climate warms and its ice sheets melt. Melting of the Earth's ice will influence climate and accelerate global sea-level rise that will strongly impact low-lying coastal regions and islands. In his Bader Lecture, Williams will review Earth's dynamic ice, the current global meltdown, including the surprisingly rapid disappearance of the Greenland Ice Sheet, and the societal and economic consequences for humans, particularly those who live along low-lying coastal regions including Florida, the Bahamas, and other Caribbean islands.

Williams earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Michigan and his Ph.D. degree from Pennsylvania State University, all in geology. In addition to his work for the USGS, Williams is an adjunct senior scientist at the Woods Hole Research Center and vice chairman emeritus for the National Geographic Society Committee for Research and Exploration. His work is extensive, with more than 325 journal articles, book chapters, books, abstracts and maps under his authorship. He has two glaciers in Antarctica named for him, and in 2006, he published his first children's book, A Bear with a Pear!.

The Bader Lecture is an annual event since 2000. G.J. and Naomi O. Wasserburg endowed the Henri and Adele Bader Lectureship at Rosenstiel School to honor Henri Bader, the famous glaciologist. Each year, a leading scientist is selected to spend three days in residence at Rosenstiel School and interact with students and younger faculty. During this time he or she gives two lectures. One is a general lecture aimed at the entire faculty and student body of the School. The other lecture is for a high school audience for the purpose of conveying the excitement and beauty of science. Williams is also scheduled to lecture at MAST Academy during his stay at Rosenstiel School. The divisions of meteorology and physical oceanography, applied marine physics, and marine geology and geophysics take turns each year selecting the Bader lecturer.

Rosenstiel School is part of the University of Miami and, since its founding in the 1940s, has grown into one of the world's premier marine and atmospheric research institutions.  See http://www.rsmas.miami.edu.

Media Contact:
Ivy Kupec, Communications Director
Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science
305/421-4704