In the face of ever more complex and pressing global environmental issues, broad scientific literacy has never been more vital. Yet in this polarized, populist world of IT overload—this Age of Sound Bites—communicating science to the public and policymakers alike has never been more challenging. Who's responsible and what’s to be done? Our distinguished and lively panel will dive in and dig for answers:

• Beth Daley: Environmental Reporter for the Boston Globe
• John Sterman: MIT Professor in the Sloan School of Management
• Evan Hadingham: Senior Science Editor for NOVA
• Judy Layzer: MIT Professor in Urban Studies and Planning
• Randy Olson: Biology professor turned provocative filmmaker
• John Hagan: Executive Director of the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences

Reception to follow. Event sponsored by: MIT's Earth System Initiative, Sloan School Sustainability Initiative and Dept. of Urban Studies & Planning and the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences.

More about the panelists:

Beth Daley—Environmental reporter for the Boston Globe since 1994. Beth received the Ocean Science Journalism Award for excellence in communicating ocean science to the public from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

John Sterman, Ph.D.—Jay W. Forrester Professor of Management at the MIT Sloan School of Management and Director of MIT's System Dynamics Group. John is author of Modeling for Organizational Learning and the award-winning textbook Business Dynamics, and was part of the MIT delegation at the recent U.N. Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.

Randy Olson, Ph.D.—Marine biologist-turned-filmmaker—Flock of Dodos: The Evolution-Intelligent Design Circus and Sizzle: A Global Warming Comedy—and author of Don't be Such a Scientist: Talking Substance in an Age of Style. Randy made the epic journey from a tenured faculty position at the University of New Hampshire to Hollywood.

Judith Layzer, Ph.D.—Associate Professor of Environmental Policy in the MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning. Judy's work focuses on the roles of science, values and storytelling in environmental politics, and the efficacy of different approaches in environmental planning and management. She is the author of The Environmental Case: Translating Values into Policy.

Evan Hadingham—Senior Science Editor for the iconic PBS series NOVA from WGBH Boston since 1998. Evan was also co-executive producer of the Discovery Channel's Discover Magazine from 1995 to 1998, and is the author of several books including Early Man and the Cosmo; and Secrets of the Ice Age.

John Hagan, Ph.D.—President of the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences. John has worked on forestry and agriculture issues throughout the New England region using a bottom-up approach for engaging those who live and work on the land.