Take a Scientist to Synagogue

In conjunction with COEJL’s “Light among the Nations” Climate Campaign, the following scientists and activists are available to speak at your synagogue or group to provide information regarding the scientific foundations of climate change or to facilitate discussion following your screening of a climate change documentary. Please contact speaker with regard to specific requests (click name), or contact daniel@coejl.org for general inquiries.

For speakers on a wide range of topics from “Judaism and the Environment” to “Environmental Practices and Energy Efficiency,” please consult the COEJL speakers’ guide.

CALIFORNIA

Marc Mangel, Ph.D., University of California, Santa Cruz

• Expertise: Theoretical ecology, mathematical biology, behavioral ecology
• Geographic range: Northern California
• Availability: Winter (contact speaker)

COLORADO

Daniel Ziskin , Ph.D., National Center for Atmospheric Research

• Expertise: Climate change, satellite observation of earth for research, remote sensing, how to interpret scientific data about climate.
• Geographic range: Denver metro area, Colorado and adjoining states possible
• Availability: Flexible

* Contact speaker for additional potential speakers from the National Center for Atmospheric Research

FLORIDA

Orah Rein-Moshe, Ph.D.

• Expertise: Ecosystem science, Water resources and soil science
• Geographic Range: South Florida
• Availability: Anytime except Shabbat and holidays

MID-ATLANTIC

Jack Kaye, Science Division, Science Mission Directorate, NASA

• Expertise: Atmospheric science, global environmental change
• Geographic range: Washington D.C., Baltimore
• Availability: Weekends, some weeknights possible

Gary Skulnik, The Clean Energy Partnership, Clean Currents, LLC

• Expertise: Global warming policy options, clean energy, basic science of global warming
• Geographic range: Within 2 hours of Washington D.C.
• Availability: Anytime except Shabbat and holidays

Stephan Sylvan, M.P.P, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

• Expertise: Energy and environmental policy
• Geographic range: Metro accessible locations in the DC metro region
• Availability: Weekends, during the week possible (contact speaker)

Josh Tulkin, Chesapeake Climate Action Network

• Expertise: International climate policy and state renewable energy regulation
• Geographic range: Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C.
• Availability: Flexible, contact speaker.

Alan Tweddle, B.Sc., MBA.  West Virginia Environmental Council and WV Public Energy Authority

• Expertise: Energy policy, energy efficiency, global warming, air quality 
• Geographic Range: West Virginia , Kentucky, Washington D.C., Maryland, Ohio, Virginia, Tennessee 
• Availability: Contact speaker

Reuven Walder, MSc, SeaWeb

• Expertise: Climate impacts on ocean ecosystems, Greening home and business
• Geographic range: Maryland, Washington D.C.
• Availability: Anytime, Shabbat and holidays require venue within walking distance within Silver Spring, MD.

NEW ENGLAND

Jeremy Fisher, Ph.D., University of New Hampshire

• Expertise: Global change ecology
• Geographic Range: Boston area and southern New Hampshire
• Availability: Evenings and weekends

Steven Hamburg, Ph.D., Brown University

• Expertise: Climate change, energy efficiency, ecological implications of climate change
• Geographic Range: Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts
• Availability: Contact speaker

Daniel Orenstein, Ph.D., Brown University/COEJL

• Expertise: Land use/cover change, Conservation ecology
• Geographic Range: Rhode Island
• Availability: Evenings

Mitchell Thomashow, Ph.D., Unity College in Maine and Antioch New England Graduate School

• Expertise: Existential dimensions of global environmental change
• Geographic Range: Maine, New England
• Availability: Contact speaker

NEW YORK , NEW JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA

Daniel Hillel, Ph.D., Columbia University

• Expertise: Climate change, Environment and the Bible
• Geographic Range: New York City area
• Availability: Contact speaker

Michael Oppenheimer, Ph.D., Princeton University

• Expertise: Climate change
• Geographic Range: New York City area
• Availability: Contact speaker

Eric Pallant, Ph.D., Allegheny College

• Expertise: Climate change, sustainable development
• Geographic Range: Western and central Pennsylvania, Upstate New York, Eastern Ohio
• Availability: Contact speaker

Cynthia Rosenzweig, Ph.D., Columbia University

• Expertise: Climate change impact
• Geographic Range: New York City area
• Availability: Contact speaker

PACIFIC NORTHWEST

Barak Gale, Washington Wilderness Coalition and Congregation Eitz Or.

• Expertise: Former activist/speaker with the Greenhouse Network (Mechanical engineering/optometry by profession)
• Geographic Range: Northwest to Central Washington State
• Availability: Flexible, contact speaker

KC Golden, M.Sc., Climate Solutions

• Expertise: Climate science and energy policy
• Geographic Range: King County, Washington State
• Availability: Weekdays preferred

SOUTHWEST

Lenny Gannes, Ph.D. College of Santa Fe

• Expertise: Ecology, environmental studies
• Geographic Range: New Mexico
• Availability: Contact speaker

CANADA

Paul Kay, Ph.D. University of Waterloo

• Expertise: Climate change and variability, Impact of climate change on water resources
• Geographic Range: Toronto, southern Ontario, Montreal and Cleveland
• Availability: Weekends, weekdays possible (contact speaker)

Environmental experts available to speak on issues other than climate change

David Brooks, Ph.D., Friends of the Earth – Canada

• Expertise: natural resource economics, geology
• Geographic range: No limit
• Availability: No specific limits (contact speaker)

Sarena McComas and Diane Soper, Certified Lighting Professionals, Lumenociti Inc.

• Expertise: Energy efficiency, lighting efficiency
• Geographic range: 3 hour radius of Indianapolis, IN; If further, contact speakers
• Flexible, contact speakers

Candace Nachman, M.A., National Marine Fisheries Service

• Expertise: Social, cultural, and economic impacts of environmental regulations, human-environment interactions specifically with regard to ocean issues
• Geographic range: Maryland, Washington D.C. Northern Virginia (East coast possible)
• Availability: Evenings and weekends