World in View: German and American Ecological Awareness: Understanding Sustainability and Climate Change from Benjamin Franklin to Today

Professor Jürgen Overhoff will compare German and American environmental policy today while showing that worry about the impact humans have on nature has long been part of Pennsylvania history. Benjamin Franklin, the founding father, was very concerned about the dangers of man-made climate change and was focused on sustainability. As a scientist, he cultivated a deep understanding of natural processes and warned that it humans interfered with the natural world, we had to be “very circumspect lest we do more harm than Good.” His concerns can form the basis for American and German environmental policy as we face the risks of modern science in the Anthropocene.

Please note: Registration for events in this series is required and, given the topics and speakers, we anticipate interest to be high. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged for all. Schreyer Scholar attendees will receive a complimentary electronic gift card; to be eligible, Scholars must pre-register in advance). Link to RSVP: https://www.shc.psu.edu/events/item.cfm?id=10172