DANBURY, Connecticut — To help the community understand the effects of climate change on humans, Western Connecticut State University invites the public to attend five free programs that are part of its 11th annual lecture series hosted by the university’s Jane Goodall Center for Excellence in Environmental Studies. The live lectures include faculty and student presenters, and will be held at 7 p.m. in the university’s Science Building, Room 219, on the Midtown campus at 181 White St. in Danbury. Topics include:
- Monday, 3/23/26: “The Ethics and Economics of Human Survival” presented by Mitch Wagener, professor of Climate Ecology and Biology, with student Lindsay Kirkness
- Tuesday, 3/31/26: “The Political Economy and Geopolitics of Climate Change” presented by Jayson Funke, adjunct professor of Geography and Sociology
- Tuesday, 4/7/26: “Reimagining Public Transportation” presented by Dr. Rotua Lumbantobing, professor of Economics, with a group of students
- Tuesday, 4/14/26: “The Hidden Harms of Our Tech World” presented by Anna Malavisi, professor of History, Philosophy & World Perspectives, with student Kate Jackson
- Wednesday, 4/22/26: “The Calm Before the Swarm: Mosquitoes in a Changing Climate” presented by Zach Popkin-Hall, assistant professor of Biology, with student Terrence Spofford
“Climate change is real, and it affects all of us,” Wagener, a leading speaker on global climate change, said. “And while experts agree it is bad, there is hope, if we all act soon.”
“As Margaret Atwood once said,” Wagener added, “Climate change is everything change. Climate change will affect us all in many ways. The more we know, the more prepared we will be to make wise choices.”
Western Connecticut State University changes lives by providing all students with a high-quality education that fosters their growth as individuals, scholars, professionals, and leaders in a global society. Our vision: To be widely recognized as a premier public university with outstanding teachers and scholars who prepare students to contribute to the world in a meaningful way.