An Aspiring Climate Scientist

What does an older member of Generation Z think about climate change? How does improving climate literacy and finding a balance between scale and individual engagement help tackle these challenges? Hosts Robert Mace and Carrie Thompson speak with Nicolas Tarasewicz, who has been working at the Meadows Center as a Climate Change Program Associate, about his thoughts and perspective on the climate crisis as he prepares to embark on his Ph.D.

In this episode, our hosts cover several topics:

• Three things Robert learned about geothermal power production, Climeworks, and groundwater on a recent vacation to Iceland [4:28],
• Talking about the three latest reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the balance between policy and science [15:00],
• The threat of a mega-drought compared to extended drought in Texas and its consequences on water planning [27:35],
• Soaring records of methane emissions in 2021 [31:00],

An Interview with Nicolas Tarasewicz:

• Introduction and brief background [34:14],
• How growing up in a small mountain town sparked an interest in nature [36:50],
• Being introduced to the field of geography and studying in Sweden [41:43],
• Moving to Texas [46:00],
• Future PhD work and explaining climate refugia [48:17],
• A Gen Z perspective on climate [52:50],
• Climate literacy and action empowerment [1:04:21],
• Coming to the Meadow’s Center and lessons learned [1:06:50],

Along with some feel-good stories to leave you inspired, like:

• Texas’ progress and potential to achieve net-zero by 2050 [1:170:38],
• How changes made at home can help us meet climate goals [1:20:31],

Articles Mentioned in this Episode:

• Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis (IPCC Sixth Assessment Report I),
• Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability(IPCC Sixth Assessment Report II),
• Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change (IPCC Sixth Assessment Report III),
• Technology to reverse climate change(Climeworks),
• Texas Can Get to Net-Zero by 2050 and Simultaneously Bolster the Economy (UT Austin),
• Climate change: IPCC scientists say it's 'now or never' to limit warming(BBC News),
• Climatologist says future megadrought could harm Lake Travis area(Community Impact Newspaper),
• Methane emissions jumped by record amount in 2021, NOAA says(The Washington Post),
• How going electric lets homeowners help slow climate change (PBS)