Town Hall: David Helfand – “Global Climate Change: What We Know and What We Don’t Know”

Dr. David J. Helfand is Chair of the Department of Astronomy at Columbia University. Dr. Helfand’s science course, part of Columbia’s famed Core Curriculum, is taught to all Columbia’s first year students. He received the University’s 2001 Presidential Teaching Award and the 2002 Great Teacher Award from the Society of Columbia Graduates. Dr. Helfand spent three years at the University of Cambridge, most recently as the Sackler Distinguished Visiting Astronomer, and was a visiting scientist at the Danish Space Research Institute and the University of Copenhagen. He has authored more than 200 scientific publications. Dr. Helfand served as a Visiting Tutor and later as President and Vice-Chancellor at Quest University Canada, Canada’s first independent, non-profit, secular university. He is also working to expand this model, creating new universities in England, Wales, and Vietnam. His recently published book, A Survival Guide to the Misinformation Age, provides tools to combat the tsunami of mis- and dis-information, and is recommended for all informed citizens.