Rep. McClellan, NASA DA Melroy Convene Climate Roundtable with Local Experts & Advocates
Richmond, VA – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), a member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee,and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy toured the Science Museum of Virginia’s new exhibit, Space: An Out-of-Gravity Experience, before convening a roundtable discussion on the climate crisis.
“It was an honor to welcome NASA Deputy Administrator Melroy to Richmond,” said Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan. “Our Commonwealth has a long and constructive history with NASA and is home to Langley, the agency’s first field center and birthplace of manned space flight. As we experience worsening climate impacts, it is imperative that we maintain strong coordination between all levels of government, advocacy organizations, and other stakeholders. Today’s roundtable discussion was an excellent opportunity to connect federal officials with local experts to share updates and priorities, as we continue our efforts to combat the climate crisis. As a member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, I look forward to continued collaboration with NASA to advance innovative technologies and preserve our planet.”
“NASA explores for the benefit of humanity – and protecting our planet is central to that mission,” said NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy. “Across the globe, people are facing extreme weather conditions that require action and more accessible data on how our planet is changing. For decades, NASA has used our unique vantage point of space to collect data that empowers researchers and climate leaders in our communities – and around the world – to make informed decisions and prepare for the impacts of climate change for generations to come.”
Congresswoman McClellan and NASA DA Melroy were joined by Dr. Kate Calvin, Chief Scientist and Senior Climate Advisor at NASA; Dr. Damian Pitt, Associate Professor of Environmental Policy and Planning at VCU; Dr. Stephen Fong, Director of Center for Integrative Life Sciences Education at VCU; Dr. Todd Lookingbill, Professor and Chair of the Department of Geography, Environment, and Sustainability at the University of Richmond; Richard Conti, Chief Wonder Officer at the Science Museum of Virginia; Sheri Shannon, Co-Founder of Southside ReLeaf, and Lisa Aikins-Afful, Outreach and Engagement Coordinator at Southside ReLeaf.
"It's exciting to be part of a close-knit discussion that bridges high-level coordinated policy, ongoing research, and local community-based action,” said Stephen Fong, Ph.D., Director for the Center for Integrative Life Sciences Education and the Integrative Life Sciences Doctoral Program at VCU. “Richmond has been a great example of doing this within the region and it is great to not only showcase what Richmond has been doing, but also to be a part of the broader national conversation."
“We’re living in a new abnormal that’s negatively impacting the health, wellbeing and livelihood of people, especially those in poverty and who are marginalized by systemic inequities,” said Sheri Shannon, co-founder of Southside ReLeaf. “As we’ve seen this summer, climate-related disasters are becoming another death sentence. Leaders at every level — including the business community — need to make sizeable infrastructure investments and policies that will create healthy, safe and climate-resilient communities.”
"The Science Museum doesn’t tell people what to think about climate change, we connect real climate change data to our guests' everyday lives. The realities of climate change directly impact our health, our commutes and our families," said Richard Conti, Science Museum of Virginia Chief Wonder Officer. “We let people make their own discoveries, and that authentic experience is what drives change. Presenting insightful information in unexpected ways helps people gain a fresh perspective and be more thoughtful in the decisions they make about their community and ultimately the world.”
View photos from the event here.
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