September 18, 2025
World-renowned climatologist Dr. James Hansen delivered a lecture at the Schoellkopf Family & Friends Lounge in Venable Hall on September 10, highlighting the need to address climate change.
Sponsored by Hampden-Sydney College Environmental Studies Department and Dean of the Faculty Tim Diette, and organized with the help of Hansen Assistant Professor of Biology Scott Starr, the lecture offered an opportunity to learn about environmental issues related to climate change, explore potential solutions, and highlight the need for younger generations to take action.
“It was wonderful to have Dr. Hansen on campus to share his knowledge with our students and the community members who attended,” Starr says. “Collaborating with Dr. Diette and President Larry Stimpert to make this possible was a valuable experience, and it demonstrates how our campus community can come together to bring in outside speakers.”
Dr. Hansen, formerly director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies and now a professor at Columbia University’s Earth Institute, where he heads the Climate Science, Awareness and Solutions Program, was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1995. Hansen rose to prominence in the 1980s with congressional testimony that brought national attention to the risks of climate change. In the decades since, he has become a leading voice on global warming, challenging policies and urging the public to take action to protect future generations and the planet.
“Academic lectures can be powerful experiences for our students,” Starr says. “They bring new knowledge and perspectives to campus and give students the chance to engage directly with experts in fields they care about.”
With many students passionate about environmental science and the health of the planet, the lecture offered an opportunity to explore the many dimensions of climate change and take a deeper look at a global issue.
“From an environmentally conscientious young man's perspective, Dr. Hansen's speech was truly inspiring,” Cooper Wendley ’26 says. “He not only addressed what young people can do to combat climate change but also acknowledged that younger generations should not be burdened with this issue alone. Dr. Hansen did not shy away from pointing out that older generations—especially those in power—continue to ignore research that clearly shows how large-scale fossil fuel burning is driving Earth’s decline. In his lecture, he focused on identifying the root causes of climate change, rather than getting lost in smaller, distracting factors. To truly fight climate change, we must confront those root causes, and Dr. Hansen did this extraordinarily well.”
Through thought-provoking lectures and the dedication of our students, faculty, and staff, Hampden-Sydney will continue to be a place where critical issues are examined, meaningful dialogue takes place, and lasting solutions are pursued for the benefit of our community and the wider world.