….and follow the lead of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, which includes scientists who have helped write the IPCC Assessments. Thus it’s no surprise that paleoclimatologist Michael Mann was asked to address the student body at Bishop O’Connell High School, a very large Catholic high school in Arlington,Virginia. It appears that Dr. Mann is more representative of the thinking of the Catholic Church about climate science than is the cultish Rick Santorum or the Inquisitor Ken Cuccinelli.

Re-posted from The Legend of Pine Ridge:

Climate Scientist Dr. Michael Mann Addresses Bishop O’Connell High School

On Friday, March 16, 2012, the famous paleoclimatologist Dr. Michael Mann spoke to all the students and faculty at Bishop O’Connell High School, a very large Catholic high school in Arlington,VA. Dr. Mann explained the science of climate change and the possible consequences of not addressing the problem. He showed pictures from his book Dire Predictions: Understanding Global Warming.

The students, who are studying climate change in science, asked a lot of questions that impressed Dr. Mann. The science teachers were really proud of the thoughtful questions the kids asked.

The Ecology Club all had their pictures taken with Dr. Mann. They were smiling like they were standing next to a rock star!

Just so everyone knows, Catholic educational institutions teach the peer-reviewed science about climate change and follow the lead of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, which includes scientists who have helped write the IPCC Assessments.

The Pontifical Academy of Sciences

Intervention by the Holy See at the Meeting of the UN General Assembly Debating on the Theme: “Addressing Climate Change: The United Nations and the World At Work” (New York, 11 – 12 February 2008)

Re-posted from the Bishop O’Connell High School website (underlining added):

Students Engage in Climate Discussion

Posted 03/16/2012 03:08PM

At a special assembly this morning, students at Bishop O’Connell had the opportunity to engage in a discussion on climate change with Dr. Michael E. Mann, director of the Earth System Science Center at Penn State University. In 2007, he and hundreds of climate scientists from all over the world won a Nobel Prize for their work as part of a United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Dr. Mann was introduced by Principal Joseph Vorbach who set the stage by referring to the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy of Sciences and their interests in international research efforts in the area of long-term climate changes. “Of particular note to the Vatican,” Dr. Vorbach remarked, “are the socio-economic effects that could impact the poorest and most vulnerable in the world.”

Dr. Mann began his discussion with a historical perspective. “Scientists have been collecting data on climate trends for more than 100 years,” he said. “This isn’t anything new.”

“What is relatively new in our lifetime is the global interest and engagement on the potential effects of an upward trend in average temperatures around the world,” he added.

Dr. Mann made a point to tell the students that the work he and his colleagues are doing is not to “predict” global climate trends, but rather to “project” how the trend could continue given different future scenarios. Students were introduced to some of the natural and human factors around the world that may contribute to rising temperatures, and some of the ways that society could be impacted by these changes over the next century.

With extra time for questions at the end of the presentation, students asked questions about his research and methods. One student asked how researchers are able to differentiate between simply correlation of factors and real cause and effect. Others asked not only about how to make changes for the future, but about the possibility of reversing some of the effects that are apparent already today. There were still hands up in the air when it was time to wrap up the discussion and head back to class.

“We were thrilled that our students could participate in this discussion today,” said President Katy Prebble. “Our hope is that these opportunities help them get their arms around the importance of being stewards of God’s creation and begin thinking about their personal role in their generation’s future.”

While passing through the Washington, DC, area, Dr. Mann also gave a well-attended and well-received talk at the legendary Politics & Prose Bookstore  on March 15 on his new book, The Hockey Stick and the Climate Wars.

Earlier posts:
Stephen Schneider and the millennial generation

“When we stumble onto those moments of wonder when we have pushed back the frontier of human knowledge, Steve is smiling. Whenever we find Steve’s courage to stand up to the forces of unreason, Steve is cheering. And whenever we open our office doors and our lives to students, guide them, mentor them, and teach them, Steve will be smiling.”

Virginia Supreme Court tosses out AG Cuccinelli inquisition on Michael Mann

“The Hockey Stick and the Climate Wars” – and a skirmish with denialists on Amazon