This podcast was produced for Battelle by Scientific American Custom Media, a division separate from the magazine’s editorial board.
In this interview with Battelle Technical Fellow Justin Sanchez, we discuss how societies can build resilience in response to the imminent threat of climate change. At the 2nd Annual Innovation in Climate Resilience Conference, Battelle brings together leading experts to address climate change as a top priority.
Transcription:
Megan Hall: With raging wildfires, extreme floods and winter heatwaves, climate change is undeniable. But what can be done about it? How can we prepare for what’s to come, mitigate its impact, and build resilient societies? We are addressing this issue at the Innovations In Climate Resilience conference that took place. The second annual event brings together top experts on climate change to share breakthroughs and action plans.
Scientific American Custom Media recently sat down with Battelle Technical Fellow and Conference Chair Justin Sanchez to learn more about the conference and why climate resilience is a top priority.
Justin Sanchez first spent his life creating innovative technologies for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
Justin Sanchez: Many of the technologies we love today came out of DARPA. Internet, GPS, touch screens, etc. in mobile phones were basic technologies.
hole: and to Battelle.
Sanchez: They think about chemistry, biology, physics, and materials science, and use these approaches in completely different ways to develop new techniques and approaches to solving some of the world’s most difficult problems.
hole: Addressing these issues is literally Battelle’s mission. Founded nearly 100 years ago as a charitable trust, it aims to use science and technology to address society’s greatest challenges.
Sanchez: It’s almost a difficult task. But that being said, there are some areas of focus. So within Battelle, we focus on health, the environment, infrastructure and national security.
hole: Now Justin is focused on climate change. Specifically, how can we respond to rising sea levels, extreme weather, and other impacts of a warming planet?
Sanchez: No need to keep saying climate change is coming, coming, coming—almost “the sky is falling.” No, here. Well, come here, what are we doing?
hole: That’s why Battelle is hosting the Climate Resilience Conference for the second year in a row. Why resilience? Justin says it reflects strength and resilience in the face of climate change.
Sanchez: Just look up the word resilience in the dictionary and you’ll find words like robustness and the ability to manage change.
hole: Justin has three main goals for the March rally.
Sanchez: Action, action, action. That’s everything.
hole: What does that behavior look like? Let people from different backgrounds and perspectives speak up…
Sanchez: Now, here are the changes that are happening now and in the future. Here are the technologies and bold ideas and the actions you can take to mitigate them.
hole: Justin says these actions must happen on many fronts at once because climate change will affect nearly every aspect of our society, from defense to…
Sanchez: Given the changes taking place not only in the United States, but in various parts of the world, this is a big question of how we protect our nation.
hole: For health…
Sanchez: I think it’s only recently that people are really and personally feeling the effects of extreme heat and how it affects their bodies.
hole: For what you pay at the grocery store…
Sanchez: Today, you may be thinking about how rising food prices are related to inflation and other factors, but these food prices are also influenced by how difficult crops are to grow. , will be affected by climate change.
hole: To address the multifaceted impacts of climate change, the conference brings together problem solvers from a variety of locations, including the National Science Foundation, Google, and the Department of Defense.
Sanchez: And I would like to conclude this conference with the intention of mobilizing all those who will participate in this conference to find new ways, take that action, and implement them.
hole: Justin says Battelle is uniquely positioned to focus on solutions, one way or another. For example, he’s excited about speakers researching how agriculture can be used to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.
Sanchez: They have a whole new kind of idea of using crops to capture carbon dioxide and are starting to bring these technologies out of the lab and into real-world settings.
hole: Justin says if there is only one conference to attend on climate resilience, it should be this one.
Sanchez: Your horizons are so widened that you leave the event and say, ‘Oh my God, I never even thought this was possible, or even meet some of the people who actually attend. I didn’t expect to participate in the event.
hole: Even if you’re not a scientist or climate change expert, Justin says the conference is worth attending for new perspectives and inspiration. Ultimately, building climate-smart and resilient societies will require all of us, on a personal and political level.
Justin Sanchez is a Technical Fellow at Battelle. The Innovations In Climate Resilience conference will be held March 28-30 in Columbus, Ohio. Registration details are available at battelle.org.
Battelle is an independent, not-for-profit charity that advances science and technology to have the greatest impact on our society and economy. This podcast was produced by Scientific American Custom Media and made possible with the assistance of Battelle.
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