Utah Physicist Joins SUU for Conversation on Climate Change

Published: September 28, 2016 | Author: Maddie Townsend | Read Time: 2 minutes

Utah physicist and educator Dr. Robert Davies will be joining SUU during the third convocation of the 2016 fall semester on Thursday, October 6 at 11:30 a.m. in the Hunter Conference Center. In an address titled “Iceberg, Dead Ahead!” Climate Change & Two Decades that will Change the World, Davies will present his research findings on global climate change and its earth-altering effects. Sponsored by SUU Convocations, this event should shed greater light on a timely and much deliberated topic.

“We are honored to hear from Dr. Davies, a respected authority on the important topic of Earth’s changing climate,” said Dr. Danielle Dubrasky, director of SUU Convocations. “His presentation will be a great opportunity for students, faculty, and community members to learn more about not only this area of research, but also our responsibility as consumers of this knowledge.”

Davies currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at Utah State University, where he has studied upper atmospheric physics and electrical interactions between spacecraft and the near-Earth space environment, among other subjects. He has been with the Utah Climate Center at Utah State since 2009. His published works and research delve into interactions of spacecraft with the universe, the nature of light and information, as well as Earth’s changing climate. He has taught on the faculty of three universities, served as an officer and meteorologist in the U.S. Air Force, and worked as a technical liaison for NASA’s International Space Station project.

One of Davies’ most notable achievements is his co-creation of The Crossroads Project. This initiative blends scientific findings, powerful imagery, and moving music to provide opportunities for contemplation. It looks to bridge the gap between scientific findings and the human responsibility that comes with new knowledge.

“Not only is Dr. Davies a renowned climate change scientist, but he also is an artist and an educator, which is just about my favorite combination of traits in a scientist,” said Dr. Jacqualine Grant, assistant professor of biology and museum curator at SUU. “I expect his convocation to be a fascinating blend of compelling information and skillful science communication.”

Strongly influenced by his home of Black Hills, South Dakota, Davies developed a love for science and learning at an early age. Growing up he was surrounded by theatre, literature, microscopes, telescopes, and chemistry sets. His love of reading flowed with his adventurous spirit as he hiked around the Black Hills and gazed at the stars through his grandfather’s telescope. “I’m not sure I distinguished, at the time, between scientific endeavor and artistic endeavor,” wrote Davies. “It was all just human endeavor. And I still feel that way today.” His well-rounded view of the world ultimately led him to pursue a career in physics and education.

As with all of SUU’s convocations, this event is free and open to the general public.

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