Ulrich Beck, Professor of Sociology, University of Munich; British Journal of Sociology Professor, London School of Economics. Abstract: Growing certainty that climate change is human-made and will have catastrophic consequences has reshuffled the cards for society and politics across the entire world. But it is a mistake to see climate change as an irreversible path to an apocalyptic future for humankind. Beyond belief and beyond hope, climate change opens up the opportunity to overcome the bounds of national politics and to found a "cosmopolitan realism" in the interests of nation states. Climate change is pure ambivalence. But it is precisely this feature that can be uncovered by the art and practice of the sociologist's methodological skepticism and be publicly turned against the dominant (discourses of?) cynicism and paralysis. In this sense, the sociology of climate change can serve as a heuristic for the productive creativity of uncertain times. With Panelists: Brian Wynne, Lancaster University; Michele Lamont, Sociology, Harvard University; Peter Hall, Government, Harvard University. Moderated by Sheila Jasanoff, Harvard Kennedy School. This Science and Democracy lecture and panel discussion is sponsored by the Program on Science, Technology & Society, Kennedy School of Government; the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences; and the Center for the Environment, Harvard University.