What exactly are carbon credits? If there is more water in the world, since all the ice is melting, why are there still droughts even in places like here in New York? What do YOU do to conserve the environment and help stop climate change?
These are some of the thoughtful questions that eighth graders in Zach Miller’s earth science prepared for their conversation with Dr. Richard Alley, a world authority on climate change. Dr. Alley studies the planet’s largest and oldest ice sheets to help predict future changes in climate and sea level. He was a co-recipient of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for his work on the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and awarded the 2025 US National Medal of Science—the nation’s highest honor for achievement and leadership in science and technology.
Miller explained that the virtual visit was student driven.
After completing the earth science unit on climate and the environment, the students wanted to learn more. Miller knew of Dr. Alley as host of the PBS special “Earth: The Operators’ Manual. “I called him during lunch," he said. "He said sure!"
A typical earth science class is hands-on, using rock specimens, maps and magnifying glasses. On the day of the class’s conversation with Dr. Alley, all twenty students sat at lab tables, focused on the lively scientist on the big screen who described adventures in Greenland and Antarctica and encouraged their talents and interests as the hope for the future.
Dr. Alley began with a reality check.
“The idea that scientists don’t know what we’re talking about is just absurd,” he said. “If we don’t restrain CO2, there will be more sea level rising, more floods and droughts, stronger storms and ecological extinction.”
He offered students a simple solution.
“Suppose we get rid of all fossil fuels,” he said, “and build a sustainable energy future.”
Dr. Alley gave heartening glimpses of positive change: wheat farmers in Texas generating a profit—and energy—through wind turbines, and German farmers combining solar arrays with agriculture.
“We can do this!” he said to the students. “We have done it so many times before. When oil wells were first drilled, the whale oil industry went out of business.” He expanded his view to transportation, reminding students that railroads put the canals out of business. “We can do this!”
In a conversation ranging from climate change perception tracking done by Yale University to biodiversity corridors connecting national parks, Dr. Alley circled back to the eight graders in earth science class.
“We need diversity of communication,” said Dr. Alley. “Some people will listen to me. Some will listen to you. We all need to connect with our sphere."
He also gave the rising high school students aspirations for future studies, citing the need for material scientists, architects of energy-efficient buildings and renewable energy engineers. “Whatever you do, find the win-win that moves us in the right direction.”