River to River

Iowa Experts Discuss How Current Global Crises Intersect With Climate Change

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Via Flickr

Nicole Welle | June 17, 2020

On yesterday’s episode of Iowa Public Radio’s River to River, experts in environmental health and sustainability discussed the intersection of the COVID-19 pandemic, police brutality and the ongoing issue of climate change.

Eric Tate, associate professor of geographical and sustainability science at the University of Iowa, spoke on how health and climate crises can highlight disparities already impacting the country’s most vulnerable populations. Peter Thorne, another professor at UI and head of the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, compared COVID-19 to climate change by speaking on how early action can cave lives and minimize harm. Finally, Ulrike Passe, associate professor of architecture and director of the Iowa State University Center for Building Energy Research, spoke on the importance of considering both climate and social factors when designing and constructing buildings.

Click here to listen to this episode of River to River.

IPR’s ‘River to River’ discusses how new EPA carbon emission standards will affect Iowa

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Nick Fetty | June 5, 2014

Photo by Michael Paul Willis; Flickr
Photo by Michael Paul Willis; Flickr

Today’s segment of ‘River to River’ on Iowa Public Radio discussed how the EPA’s new carbon emissions standard will affect Iowa.

Jerry Schnoor, University of Iowa environmental engineering professor and CGRER co-director, contributed to the program as did producer and Little Village Magazine editor Adam Burke, who produced a documentary about air quality in Muscatine (pictured above) where in 2012 residents filed a lawsuit against the Grain Processing plant.

An audio podcast of Thursday’s program can be downloaded via iTunes.

IPR’s River to River highlights solar energy in Iowa

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Graphic by Iowa Public Radio.

Tune in to Iowa Public Radio’s River to River segment on Monday, July 16th for a discussion on solar energy in Iowa.

The first half of the segment will feature Decorah resident Steve Peterson, who installed a solar energy system in his new home with the help of Dennis Pottratz of GoSolar, along with Nathaniel Baer, Energy Program Director for the Iowa Environmental Council.

The second half will be comprised of two interviews, one with Iowa State University’s solar race car team, PrISUm, and another with a representative from Luther College, which just installed the largest solar production facility in Iowa.