National Meeting - Communicating Climate Science

- A joint meeting of the Royal Meteorological Society and Royal Geographical Society.

Several recent reports have emphasised the need to communicate the scientific evidence concerning climate change in a way the general public can more readily engage with. However, the best way to achieve this is not self-evident, and the design and implementation of improved communication strategies will require significant involvement both from those undertaking climate science research, and those undertaking dissemination. This open meeting is being jointly hosted by the Royal Meteorological Society and the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), partners of the WIREs Climate Change journal, and will explore how the communication of climate science might be improved. It will include the presentation of results from a report to be published this autumn entitled Climate Science, the Public and the News Media, on research carried out in 2011 with the UK public.

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Summary findings of a Survey and Focus Groups conducted in the UK in March 2011 are given in the report entitled Climate Science, the Public and the News Media and can be found in the Meeting Resources or accessed via the link above. The report will be discussed as part of the meeting.

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A panel discussion is to take place from 4:40-5:30.  The panelists are:

- Susan Ballard (Communications, Living With Environmental Change)
- Simon Buckle (Policy Director at the Grantham Institute for Climate Change, Imperial College London)
- Prof Nick Pidgeon (Director of the Understanding Risk Research Group, School of Psychology, Cardiff University)
- Prof Rowan Sutton (Director of Climate Research,  National Centre for Atmospheric Science, Department of Meteorology, University of Reading)

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This meeting is part of the Royal Meteorological Society National Meetings programme, open to all, from expert to enthusiast, for topical discussions on the latest advances in weather and climate. Non members are welcome to attend these meetings. Where seating capacity is limited, priority will be given to members.