Santer also has two other speaking engagements at Bates. He will discuss the recent scientific investigations of global warming February 3 at 4 p.m. in Room 204 of Carnegie Science. On February 4 at 4 p.m., he will participate in a panel discussion on the recent international agreement signed in Kyoto, Japan, to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions. Joining Santer for the panel discussion in Chase Hall Lounge will be Darren Goetze of the Union of Concerned Scientists, Elizabeth R. DeSombre, assistant professor of environmental studies and government at Colby College, and Jim Hughes, associate professor of economics at Bates. The public is invited to attend both events free of charge.

Santer's unprecedented statement, "Scientific evidence now suggests a discernible human influence on global climate," in the 1995 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report, touched off scientific debate about the degree to which human beings are responsible for global climate change, including more frequent droughts, rising sea levels and a more potent El Nino effect. Santer's conclusion also led to current geopolitical initiatives to reduce the worldwide production of greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting chemicals, which are responsible for widening holes in the ozone and an increased incidence of skin cancer and cataracts.

Santer will be available for interviews at Bates February 3 from 1 to 4 p.m. Contact Dana Professor of Chemistry Tom Wenzel at 207-786-6296 or Marc Glass at 207-786-6330 to arrange an interview.