AGU climate specialists available for science questions during Copenhagen Climate Meeting

AGU Release No. 09–32, 4 December 2009

WASHINGTON—Climate scientist-members of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) have organized themselves to provide round-the-clock support for journalists reporting on the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, 7–18 December 2009.

Approximately 650 Ph.D.-level climate scientists have volunteered to receive and respond to questions—via e-mail—during the conference. Teams of 3-5 scientists representing the diversity of climate science-related disciplines have signed up for 2-hour time slots throughout the days and nights of the conference to assure 24x7 handling of media queries.

Scientists will field questions about climate science (not policy) that are e-mailed to cop15science@agu.emailcenterpro.com, an e-mail box set up specifically for the project. Palo Alto Software of Eugene, OR, is supplying the platform.

Scientists will begin responding to questions on Monday, 7 December 2009, at 12:01 a.m., Pacific Standard Time (9:01 a.m., Copenhagen). Responses will be returned in a timely fashion with regard for journalists' deadlines.

Answers to questions will reflect the responding scientists' research and views and do not represent official positions of the AGU.

AGU regards this project as an innovative member-generated experiment in web-based media relations. It was proposed and organized by members wishing to provide increased levels of high quality science support for the Copenhagen conference. Data on requests and responses will be collected and feedback solicited from scientists and journalists for evaluation after the conference closes on 18 December.

For more information visit the Climate Science Q&A for Copenhagen web site. To submit climate science questions, e-mail cop15science@agu.emailcenterpro.com.