Yet another biologist thinks he’s a climate guru and seeks to “educate” those who might actually know what they are talking about.
Clutching his remote control, Steven C. Amstrup watches the news of killer tornadoes, destructive hurricanes, hot and cold temperature extremes — and wishes he could put words into the mouths of those reporters and weather forecasters.
“They should add on the end of every one of these stories . . . ‘these sorts of events will continue to increase in number and severity as the world continues to warm,’ ” Amstrup said from his home in Kettle Falls, Wash.
“Adding that to the broadcast might begin to get people’s attention.”
More attention to global warming’s impact on weather extremes can lead to more action. More action can lead to real solutions.
And solutions could save Amstrup’s beloved polar bears — the focus of his work, the passion of his life and the reason he is being named today winner of the 2012 Indianapolis Prize for animal conservation.
The $100,000 award, presented by the Indianapolis Zoo every other year and funded by the Lilly Foundation, is given to the nation’s top scientists and researchers who advance the cause of animal conservation.
Five years ago, Amstrup led an international team of researchers to look at global warming and how it might affect polar bears, producing enough evidence to place the animals on the list of threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.
That was a significant milestone as polar bears became the first — and only species to date — to be listed solely on the basis of the threat of global warming.
One is comforted that so many are so concerned about the ability of Ursus maritimus to swim.