Ecological Sciences and Engineering Symposium focuses on extreme polarization

Riley Dunlap
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The widening gap in key U.S. issues on the environment, society and technology will take center stage next week at Purdue's Ecological Sciences and Engineering Symposium 2016, a student-run event next week at Purdue University's Discovery Park.

Riley Dunlap, Regents Professor of Sociology and Laurence L. and Georgia Ina Dresser Professor at Oklahoma State University, will speak at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 28 in Discovery Park's Burton Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship, Room 121. The two-day symposium on Sept. 28-29 is titled "Polarization: A Forum on Extreme and Radical Thought in our Environment, Society, and Technology."

Both his talk and the daylong event in Discovery Park, sponsored by Purdue's Ecological Sciences and Engineering Interdisciplinary Graduate Program, are free and open to the public. Dunlap's work in environmental sociology involves trending public environmental concern, the U.S. environmentalism movement and climate change.

"Through this symposium, we hope to promote discussion surrounding the relevance and implications of polarization regarding the interconnected domains of environment, society and technology," said ESE graduate student Dante Francomano, chair for this year's symposium.

Polarization refers to the divergence of attitudes, often involving government policy and politics, that moves toward ideological extremes in public opinion or within certain groups. A recent report from Pew Forum, the United States has never been more polarized, except perhaps during the period leading up to the Civil War.

Day two of the event will feature a research poster session, a Three-Minute Thesis competition and an art exhibition. The symposium's four core areas are the Positives and Negatives of Polarization, the Emergence and Dissolution of Radical Movements, Polarization within Academia, and an Open Showcase for Extreme and/or Radical Ideas.

Although the symposium is free, online registration is required and available at http://www.purdue.edu/gradschool/ese/symposium/registration.html. The complete agenda is at https://www.purdue.edu/gradschool/ese/symposium/agenda.html.

Dunlap's early research examined the link between traditional American beliefs and values and environmental attitudes and behavior. His current research focuses primarily on climate change, including analyses of public opinion on the topic, as well as the growing political polarization over climate science and policy, and the sources and nature of climate change denial.

Currently, he serves as a member of the National Advisory Committee for the U.S. Sustained National Climate Assessment conducted by NOAA and the U.S. Global Change Research Program.

The Ecological Sciences and Engineering Symposium, a student-run, interdisciplinary event, provides undergraduate and graduate students with an opportunity to present their research and interact with experts in various environmental fields. The annual symposium also raises awareness about the ESE program and other environmentally focused initiatives.  

Writers: Paige Pope, 765-494-2083, popep@purdue.edu

Phillip Fiorini, 765-496-3133, pfiorini@purdue.edu 

Source: Dante Francomano, dfrancom@purdue.edu