Join MaryPIRG Student Climate Action Coalition and Sunrise UMBC on Sunday, October 3rd from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm EST to hear how professors and graduate students at our universities are interacting and studying the impact of climate on their fields!

The MaryPIRG Student Climate Action Coalition (MSCAC) aims to represent college students across the state and advocate for meaningful climate action, environmental justice, and to empower youth. We are a 100% student-run group with more than 200 active supporters and have representation from most Maryland public universities - including University of Maryland College Park, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Morgan State University, Salisbury University, Frostburg State University, Towson University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, and St. Mary's College of Maryland.

Professors:

• Joanna Goger, Esq. (University of Maryland, College Park) Joanna Goger is a Senior Lecturer in the Environmental Science and Policy Program and Co-Director of the Sustainability Studies Minor at the University of Maryland College Park. She teaches courses in environmental law and policy and environmental justice and advises students interested in pursuing careers in environmental law. She will be presenting on legal options for responding to climate change including the Clean Air Act, nuisance law, and novel new theories such as the Due Process Clause.

• Dr. Micheal Lewis (Salisbury University) I am an environmental historian who now teaches in the Environmental Studies department at Salisbury University. My research has ranged from the global to the local - writing about conservation science and politics in India, wilderness science and politics in the U.S., and now Chesapeake science and restoration politics. In this zoom session, I will be leading a discussion about how climate change challenges our understanding of the uses of history and historical ecology in setting goals for ecological restoration work and conservation. We've all seen the bumper sticker "Save the Bay," but what does that mean in the context of a rapidly changing climate?

• Dr. Can Ataca (University of Maryland, Baltimore County)

• Dr. Maggie Holland (University of Maryland, Baltimore County)

• Dr. Jonathan Cumming (University of Maryland, Eastern Shore) Stress Resistance for Bioenergy: Tree physiology and linkages to soil microbes - Providing feedstocks for bioenergy development presents challenges because of limited land and competition with agricultural use. To overcome these challenges, it is important to identify stress resistant genetic lines of woody feedstock species such as poplar and willow that can produce biomass on poor soils. In addition, one can manipulate soil microbiology in an effort to foster symbiosis that also boosts woody feedstock production. We have screened poplar and willow for resistance to acid soil stressors and found that there's wide variation that can be tapped into to select genotypes for productivity. These are associated with enhanced organic carbon flux to the root zone that aids in the detoxification of toxic soil aluminum. In addition, the association of mycorrhizal fungi with roots also alters phosphorus acquisition as well as carbon relation of woody plant hosts. All of these approaches allow for the selection of woody biomass lines for enhanced productivity and poor soils.

Graduate Students:

• Gracie Melody Chaney (University of Maryland, Baltimore County)

• Jan-Michael Archer (University of Maryland, College Park)

Each professor will have a breakout room and give a presentation about their subject matter and how it relates to climate change. The graduate students will give shorter presentations on their research, and share a breakout room. The event will start with introductions and end with a survey. Completing the survey makes students eligible to win the following prizes:

Prizes:

• Tickets to the Baltimore Aquarium

• Campsite Reservation at Deep Creek Lake! (2 nights of your choice)

• Adopt a Panda (we will adopt on your behalf, you will get certificate and stuffed animal)

• Adopt a Honey Badger (we will adopt on your behalf, you will get certificate and stuffed animal)

• Adopt a Blue Footed Booby (we will adopt on your behalf, you will get certificate and stuffed animal)

More about the survey:

A broad coalition of Maryland climate and other advocacy groups, including MSCAC, is working to make sure Maryland’s climate policy is on the right path. As more communities feel the increasingly dire effects of climate change, it’s critical that we get input from those who are most impacted and also from those who have historically been absent from the table. MSCAC wants to make sure youth priorities are heard!

Since you are active in the fight against climate change, we are hoping you will participate in a short survey designed to identify key legislative priorities for the upcoming Maryland General Assembly session in January 2022. We want to hear from as many voices as possible--and that means YOU.

Your answers to this survey will help our greater coalition build a strong climate/clean energy platform. Your answers will also help hold legislative candidates accountable as they decide on their platforms and pledges for the 2022 state elections.

Please take 15-20 minutes to fill out this survey when received.

Help make sure Maryland is on the right path!