Museum of Science, Boston

Press Release [Return to listing page]

March 23, 2009

Views of Boston-area citizens will be presented at the United Nations

Climate Change Conference (COP15)

Boston—The Museum of Science, Boston has been named a U.S. partner of World Wide Views on Global Warming (WWViews), an international effort to gather public input for The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark (COP15), taking place in early December. The Museum will join 60 partners representing over 40 countries on all continents, giving citizens the opportunity to influence COP15 negotiations and the future of global climate policy. COP15 deliberations are timed to replace the expiring Kyoto Protocol. On March 23 the project will launch officially at the Danish Parliament in Copenhagen, where international partners will convene to discuss and refine the methods that will be employed in the global program.

About World Wide Views

World Wide Views is the first event of its kind to capture citizen views on climate policy and present those views to the UN. Organized by the Danish Board of Technology, this global citizen deliberation event will take place concurrently in more than 40 nations including China, India, Russia, and Brazil, on Saturday, September 26, 2009.

Each participating nation will deliberate the issues of global warming with roughly 100 citizens at each site, selected to mirror the demographics of their region. The five areas of focus include climate policy goals, mitigation strategies, adaptation strategies, technology research and innovation, and financing.

Citizens at each location will learn basic scientific information, discuss the problems and potential solutions to global warming, and explore possible legislative responses to the issue. Among the questions to be considered:

> Should goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions be set among the international

community? If so, what should those goals be?

> If reductions are set, how will they be enforced, and what should the time frame be?

> Which technologies should be implemented to assist with reduction strategies? How

should the research and implementation of these technologies be ensured?

About the Museum's Role in World Wide Views

The Museum-hosted event, presented in collaboration with the Brookfield Institute (MA) and the Boston University School of Public Health, will connect Boston-area residents to an international network of ideas and possible solutions to the threat of global warming. The Museum joins six other locations in collecting everyday Americans' opinions on global warming, and it is the only site selected from the northeast. This distinction will give citizens from Greater Boston the chance to make recommendations about climate change policy. One hundred people representing a cross-section of Boston residents will be selected from a pool of applicants. The views presented at the September 26 event will be taken to the global stage at COP15 later this year.

As the only Museum chosen to participate in World Wide Views, the Museum of Science sees its role as both an honor and an opportunity. According to David Sittenfeld, manager of the Museum's Forum program and project manager for the Boston regional event, "The Museum and its partners are honored to lead Boston citizens in a discussion that will influence climate change policy-making on a global scale, and thereby impact the health of our planet. Their contributions will help ensure a more sustainable planet for their children and for future generations around the world. We're excited to hear their thoughts and concerns about climate change policies and to give members of our local communities the opportunity to communicate their recommendations to the policymakers who will be making such important decisions."

The Museum's long-standing commitment to educating and inspiring people to make informed decisions about science and technology aligns with the mission of World Wide Views. Through its innovative Forum program, the Museum has engaged members of the public in conversations about the impact of science and technology on the individual, society, and the environment. Forum programs educate adults on emerging topics like nanotechnology, alternative energy sources, and toxic pollution, and invite them to discuss the issues.

How the Public Can Participate

The public will be welcome to apply to participate in World Wide Views. Details on the application process will follow later in the year; application information will be available on the Museum's website by early May. This Boston area event is being developed and planned by the Museum of Science in partnership with the Brookfield Institute and the Boston University School of Public Health. For more information on the Museum-hosted WWViews event and its year-round Forum program, visit mos.org/forum.

For more information on World Wide Views, visit wwviews.org.

About the Museum of Science:

One of the world's largest science centers, the Museum of Science takes a hands-on approach to science, attracting approximately 1.5 million visitors a year through its vibrant programs and over 700 interactive exhibits. Highlights include the Thomson Theater of Electricity, home of the world's largest air-insulated Van de Graaff generator; the Charles Hayden Planetarium; the Mugar Omni Theater, a 180-degree IMAX® domed theatre; and the Gordon Current Science & Technology Center (GCS&T), which offers breaking news stories to the public with interpretation by Museum staff. In 2004, the Museum launched the National Center for Technological Literacy® (NCTL)®—helping facilitate a nationwide expansion of technology literacy by working with regional schools, offering educational products and programs for pre-K-12 students and teachers, creating curricula, and supporting an online resource center. For more information, visit mos.org.

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