Audio Interview: Climate Modeling

The issue of climate change is both existential and urgent. Climate activists around the world continue to call for systemic changes from governments, green technology investments from industries, and sometimes even scientific acceptance from individuals. But that begs some questions, what if we did change our behaviors?  What if we as individuals, conglomerates, and perhaps most importantly, political governing bodies, heeded our own advice—how much would that change the projected increases in global temperatures?

In this interview, we talk with experts in the rather new field of integrating human behavior into climate change models: Drs. Brian Beckage and Katie Lacasse.

For a full transcript of this interview, click the PDF below. 

  • About the Presenters
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    A headshot of Katherine Lacasse

    Katherine Lacasse

    Associate Professor of Psychology

    Dr. Katherine Lacasse is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Rhode Island College. She is a social psychologist broadly interested in understanding human-risk perception, decision making, and behavior change. She conducts much of her work as part of interdisciplinary teams, working on integrating human behavioral feedbacks into the modeling of the climate and local ecological systems.

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    A headshot of Katherine Lacasse

    Katherine Lacasse

    Associate Professor of Psychology

    Dr. Katherine Lacasse is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Rhode Island College. She is a social psychologist broadly interested in understanding human-risk perception, decision making, and behavior change. She conducts much of her work as part of interdisciplinary teams, working on integrating human behavioral feedbacks into the modeling of the climate and local ecological systems.

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    Dr. Beckage stands in front of flowers

    Brian Beckage

    Professor of Computer Science and Plant Biology

    Dr. Brian Beckage is an ecologist broadly interested in population and community dynamics including tree demography, maintenance of species richness, and the ecological effects of climate change. He emphasizes the use of quantitative approaches to investigate the mechanisms structuring ecological systems, including statistical models, analytical models, and computer simulation models.

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    Dr. Beckage stands in front of flowers

    Brian Beckage

    Professor of Computer Science and Plant Biology

    Dr. Brian Beckage is an ecologist broadly interested in population and community dynamics including tree demography, maintenance of species richness, and the ecological effects of climate change. He emphasizes the use of quantitative approaches to investigate the mechanisms structuring ecological systems, including statistical models, analytical models, and computer simulation models.

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    Erin Duffy

    Faculty Specialist

    Erin Duffy was a Faculty Specialist at the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC) from 2019 to 2023. In this role, she supported the communications team in the design and development of communication products that disseminated the vast knowledge created by SESYNC researchers around the world. Inspired by the Center’s diverse and interesting projects and participants, Erin developed a podcast called, Succinct ScienceAudio Interviews from SESYNC, to help integrate intellectually expansive information into everyday life.  

    Passionate about community, individual, and environmental...

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    Erin Duffy

    Faculty Specialist

    Erin Duffy was a Faculty Specialist at the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC) from 2019 to 2023. In this role, she supported the communications team in the design and development of communication products that disseminated the vast knowledge created by SESYNC researchers around the world. Inspired by the Center’s diverse and interesting projects and participants, Erin developed a podcast called, Succinct ScienceAudio Interviews from SESYNC, to help integrate intellectually expansive information into everyday life.  

    Passionate about community, individual, and environmental health and well-being, Erin has worked in a variety of roles, including: environmental educator; marketing associate for a social service organization and community garden coordinator for a food bank, both through Americorps; as well as a caregiver for adults with differing physical and intellectual abilities. 

    Erin earned a bachelor's degree in Environmental Policy and Science, and she has continued to pursue educational opportunities, most recently by becoming a certified yoga instructor and positive psychology practitioner. 

Presenters
Katherine Lacasse, Rhode Island College
Brian Beckage, University of Vermont
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