Industrial and energy transformations of the 19th and 20th centuries produced mounting problems that came to a head in the 1960s. The modern environmental movement led to the first Earth Day, the birth of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the landmark Clean Air Act in 1970. We will discuss the rapid development of expertise at all levels of government, industry, and science. We will also assess the last 50 years in air pollution programs, highlighting the importance of scientific research, monitoring, and accountability. What lessons did the U.S. learn from addressing major pollution of the 1960s and 1970s, and what do they suggest about our ability to address climate change today?

Registration deadline: Nov. 16