EAST LANSING, Mich. — How does a ski resort stay in business when there’s no snow? What alternatives are available to tart cherry growers when an unexpected frost caused by global climate change wipes out an entire crop? 

These are just a sampling of the questions being raised by decision makers in Michigan who are witnessing first-hand the affects of climate change.

An international symposium on climate change, “Climate Change in the Great Lakes Region: Decision Making Under Uncertainty,” will address many critical elements of Michigan’s ecosystems, infrastructure and economy that likely will be affected – or already are affected – by changing climate.

Sponsored by Michigan State University’s Environmental Science and Policy Program, the event will take place Thursday, March 15, and Friday, March 16, in the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center. The conference is free and open to the public.

“Our goal is to draw the top minds together on the climate change issue,” said David Bidwell, a sociology doctoral student helping coordinate the conference.

The conference is part of the university’s initiative to explore and discuss the potential effects of climate change in the Great Lakes region. Speakers will represent nonprofit organizations, government agencies and industry.

“These are the kinds of people that are actually going to be making decisions to help deal with climate change,” Bidwell said. “The hope is that these groups will provide a certain amount of grounding to the academic work that we hear about.”

The symposium also will address the issue of decision making amid uncertainty. Though there is a scientific consensus that climate change already is happening, there is much disagreement about what its magnitude will be.

“There are these layers of uncertainty when looking at the effects of climate change. This creates a problem when looking at how to adapt to the changes,” Bidwell said. “However, Michigan State is well-suited to be talking about these adaptation issues.”

The conference will conclude with discussions about the future direction of climate-related research at MSU.

“You have to know what the key questions are before you can begin looking for the answers,” said Bidwell. “Once you have a clear vision of what research is needed, it helps in forming interdisciplinary teams to look for projects based on an informed level.”

For more information or to register, visit http://www.environment.msu.edu/climatechange/index.html.

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Michigan State University has been advancing knowledge and transforming lives through innovative teaching, research and outreach for more than 150 years. MSU is known internationally as a major public university with global reach and extraordinary impact. Its 16 degree-granting colleges attract scholars worldwide who are interested in combining education with practical problem solving.