MSU students and faculty to host fifth Climate Week on Nov. 17-20

BOZEMAN - Montana State University students and faculty are hosting their fifth consecutive Climate Week on campus from Nov. 17 to Nov. 20.

The week features a series of lectures and related content on how climate change is impacting the campus and community and solutions for a warming world. All events will be held on the MSU campus and will be free and open to the public.

"Climate change is significantly threatening Bozeman and the Gallatin Valley and will continue to get worse in the future," said Bode Kostick, a senior studying environmental science and one of the week's organizers. "Climate Week is aimed at promoting conversations around climate change in these especially uncertain times. The goal is to equip students and our community with the tools to promote social and political change."

Events start on Monday, Nov. 17, with a learning session on how to write public comments from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the MSU Library and a showcase of student films related to climate and environment-related work starting at 5:30 p.m. in the Procrastinator Theater. Students will introduce their films then lead discussions after the screenings.

Events continue Tuesday, Nov. 18, with the Electric Vehicle Showcase from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the sidewalk north of the Strand Union Building where attendees can get up close with the future of transportation and meet with electric car owners who will answer questions about cost, performance and sustainability.

On Wednesday Nov. 19, a discussion titled "After-WARD: A Panel on the Future of Bozeman's Water Needs" will take place 5-7 p.m. in Romney Hall, Room 306. The panel will feature staff from the city of Bozeman, organizers of the WARD proposal and local developers to discuss how to continue the community conversation meeting water needs in the face of changing climate.

Also on Wednesday, Climbing for Climate will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Student Wellness Center. The event is intended to be a fun, active way to connect fitness and environmental awareness. Participants will be able to scale the Wellness Center's climbing walls, meet fellow climbers and learn how outdoor recreation can inspire climate action.

"I've been involved in Climate Week since freshman year," said Gracie Caldwell, an environmental science junior and president of the Campus Climate Coalition, a registered student group at MSU. "We're really trying to pave the way for students to not just participate in events and climate action-based activities but to become climate leaders in their respective career fields."

Climate Week concludes Thursday, Nov. 20, with the Baucus Climate Scholars Panel from 12:10 to 1:30 p.m. in Romney 008 , featuring students and alumni who will detail their climate-related work with organizations including Disney and The Nature Conservancy.

That evening, Karin Kirk will present a talk titled "NASA Edited Climate Change Out of My Work. What Would You Do?" from 6 to 8 p.m. in Norm Asbjornson Hall, Room 165. Kirk, a former NASA science writer, says references to climate change were deleted from her work after the 2024 election. In her talk, Kirk will share firsthand lessons from her work with NASA and how it translates into actions others can take.

According to political science professor Paul Lachapelle, a member of the faculty-led Climate Solutions Group, "Faculty are beyond excited to be partnering again with these motivated students who are showing their leadership qualities to provide outstanding learning opportunities on what many scientists consider to be the most consequential issue facing humanity."

The events are sponsored by the Campus Climate Coalition and Climate Solutions Group at MSU.

For more information, including events, times, and locations, visit https://www.montana.edu/communitydevelopment/climateweek.html or contact Lachapelle at [email protected] or 406-994-3620.