October 10, 2019 | "The Demise of Tropical Glaciers: Why Should We Care?" with Lonnie G. Thompson, Distinguished Professor of Geologic Sciences; Senior Research Scientist, Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center, The Ohio State University
For the past four decades, Thompson has led an effort to rescue the remaining archives of ancient climate trapped in ice cores from those locations for future research as melting has progressed. To rescue those records, Thompson and his team have conducted more than 50 expeditions to some of the Earth's most remote places, some as high as 23,600 feet (7,200 meters), to drill ice cores and bring them back to Ohio State to extract those climate records. He is believed to have spent more time at altitudes above 18,000 feet (5,500 meters) than any other human. Thompson was elected to the National Academy of Science in 2005 and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2019. In 2005, he was awarded both the prestigious Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement and the National Medal of Science.