AAAS Fellow James Fleming Discusses Weather, Climate Change for Television Series

James Fleming

James Fleming, the AAAS Roger Revelle Fellow in Global Stewardship and professor of science, technology, and society at Colby College, has been interviewed on the history of weather and climate change for two television series airing throughout the week.

Fleming, who is also chair of the AAAS History and Philosophy of Science section, was interviewed for "100 Biggest Weather Moments," a Weather Channel series exploring how weather has affected history, which airs on the channel daily at 8 p.m., and is repeated at 11 p.m., through 19 April.

For the series, hosted by Harry Connick Jr., Fleming discussed several topics including how weather affected the D-Day Invasion during World War II, the invention of the thermometer and barometer, and the 1889 Johnstown flood in Pennsylvania.

In addition, Fleming, currently working on a comprehensive history of weather and climate control at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, recorded a 30-minute interview on "The Climate Engineers," an installment of the 26-part Dialogue television series produced by the Wilson Center.

In "The Climate Engineers," Fleming will discuss his essay by the same name, published in the Spring 2007 issue of the Wilson Quarterly, on technological quick-fixes for global warming proposed by some scientists, along with the problems they might create.

For viewers in the Washington, D.C. area, the show will air at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, 18 April, on RCN cable channel 24 and on broadcast channel 56.

On Friday, 27 April, Fleming will speak at a Capitol Hill briefing on the history of climate change as part of the National History Center's Congressional Briefing series. The briefing event, designed to provide historical context on emerging issues for policy makers, congressional staff, and the public, will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Room 385 of the Russell Senate Office Building.

"Dr. Fleming is actively engaged in outreach on the history and effects of climate change to increase public understanding of this critical issue," said Cynthia Robinson, director of the AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships. "Like our other Fellows, Dr. Fleming is applying his scientific knowledge and analysis to help improve public policy and debate."

Fleming, who received his Ph.D. in the history of science from Princeton University in 1988, has been a visiting scholar at Harvard, MIT, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, and the U.S. National Academy of Sciences.

Established in 1997 in recognition of Roger R.D. Revelle, the AAAS Fellowship in Global Stewardship places scientists in the Washington, D.C., policy community to address global stewardship issues by applying a broad, multidisciplinary approach toward solutions to these important societal problems.

In addition to the Roger Revelle Fellowship, the AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships place more than 100 Fellows each year in a broad range of federal agencies and congressional offices, providing an opportunity for accomplished scientists and engineers to contribute to the federal policymaking process while learning firsthand about the intersection of science and policy.

Additionally, Fleming was elected a Fellow of AAAS in 2003, an award for which he was nominated and elected by peers for his meritorious efforts to advance science.

Benjamin Somers

17 April 2007