Stamford Raffles Lecture 2013

A very dangerous experiment with our planet

The climate of the Earth enables it to support a wide variety of life. This Lecture will explore the overall workings of the climate system, and the interactions of its component systems, including the biosphere. There are numerous global environmental problems related to human activity and Sir Brian Hoskins will describe why, in particular, the addition of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere is a very dangerous experiment to perform with our planet. The scientific basis for the concern over climate change and observational evidence for the changes taking place will be described. The way in which projections of future climate change are made and the confidence that can be had in these projections will be discussed. Finally, the likely implications of climate change, for both the natural world and human species, will be explored and comments made on the possible responses to climate change of individuals, states and countries.

Professor Sir Brian Hoskins

Sir Brian Hoskins became the first Director of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change at Imperial College London in January 2008, and now shares his time between Imperial College London and Reading University, where he is Professor of Meteorology. His degrees are in mathematics from the University of Cambridge, after which he spent post-doc years in the USA before moving to Reading. From 2000 to 2010, he held a Royal Society Research Professorship. His research is in weather and climate, in particular the understanding of atmospheric motion from frontal to planetary scales. His international roles have included being vice-chair of the Joint Scientific Committee for the World Climate Research Programme, President of the International Association of Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences, and involvement in the 2007 IPCC international climate-change assessment. He has also had numerous roles in the UK, including membership of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, and is currently a member of the UK Committee on Climate Change. He is a member of the science academies of the UK, USA, China and Europe, and has received a number of awards including the top prizes of the UK and US Meteorological Societies, Honorary DScs from the Universities of Bristol and East Anglia, and Honorary Fellowships from other institutions. He was knighted in 2007 for his services to the environment.

This lecture will be preceded by the ZSL Scientific Awards presentation ceremony

Online booking for a single ticket
Online booking for a group

Ticket prices
Full rate: £20.
Student/ZSL Friends and Fellows rate: £15.
A canapé reception will follow the lecture.

Registration deadline is June 7th. We regret that no refunds will be possible for places cancelled after this date.

Further information: please contact Megan Orpwood-Russell, Scientific Events Coordinator, Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London NW1 4RY.
Tel:+44 (0)20 7449 6227. Fax: +44 (0)20 7449 6411. E-mail: megan.orpwood-russell@zsl.org

Related links
Details of previous Stamford Raffles Lectures
ZSL Science and Conservation Events
ZSL Scientific Awards
Map showing ZSL Meeting Rooms
Directions to ZSL London Zoo
Information on ZSL membership