In 2012, through funds from NOAA and a project grant from PA Partners in the Arts, NNC  developed a community project that presented a global-to-local look at the latest scientific thinking on climate change, encouraging dialogue and reflection among community members. A valley-wide forum was also held, along with workshops to create the “Earth as Art Mural” now on display at the center.

Following is a more detailed listing of the project highlights. Project flyer here.

Science on a Sphere Presentations:
Climate 101: The Nature of Climate – Dork Sahagian, climate expert, Lehigh University
Climate 102: A People Planet – Dork Sahagian, climate expert, Lehigh University

Community Forum:
The Future of the Lehigh Valley and What Will Climate Change Mean for Us?
This was a discussion of projections of future climate impacts on Pennsylvania climate  and the implications of climate change and land use on flooding potential in Pennsylvania.

The above portion of the project was funded under award NA10SEC0080020 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce.  Statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations made did not necessarily reflect the views of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) or the U.S. Department of Commerce. 

Earth as Art Mural:
Examining Our Footprint from an Aerial Perspective

Hands-on art workshops exploring visions of land use as modern art –  Tom Maxfield, Art Instructor

Participants examined the human impact (or footprint) on the land we inhabit. An open discussion followed that explored communicating a sense of place through abstract art.  Attendees were encouraged to contemplate the characteristics of each site and portray those characteristics through painting style, color or composition. 37 participants, ages 3- 79.

This project was supported by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency, through the Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts (PPA), its regional arts funding partnership. State government funding for the arts depends upon an annual appropriation by the Pennsylvania General Assembly and from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. PPA is administered in this region by Lehigh Valley Arts Council.