Tuesday 24 October - Lunchtime
A session to honour Will’s scientific and broader legacy to Earth System Science.
Professor Will Steffen was a well-known and highly respected member of the WCRP and Future Earth communities. Will died suddenly on January 29, 2023 - this obituary published in Nature is an eloquent testament to Will’s life and achievements.
Building on his experience with the International Geosphere Biosphere Program (IGBP) and the Earth Systems Science Partnership (ESSP), Will and colleagues advanced key concepts that resonate throughout this Conference, such as the Anthropocene, Planetary Boundaries, and Tipping Points. In many ways, Will was a pioneer of Earth System Science. He was also an outstanding communicator, ensuring that the crises facing the globe were effectively explained to policy and decision makers, and society in general. His legacy lives on today, as Johan Rockström and Katherine Richardson explain in their article published in Science (Volume 380) in April William Steffen (1947–2023) | Science.
We welcome you to join us to celebrate and honour Will’s contributions to Earth System Science. Several of Will’s colleagues, including Mary Scholes, Thomas Stocker, Carlos Nobre, Guy Brasseur and Pep Canadell, will present their perspectives. Plus, there will be ample time and opportunity for the audience to share their personal anecdotes and reflections on how Will shaped their science.
Co-organizers: Helen Cleugh (WCRP) and Pep Canadell (CSIRO and Global Carbon Project)
Targeted audience: All participants. For those joining virtually, we are still investigating whether the event can be livestreamed - stay tuned.
Attendance: Open to all delegates registered for the WCRP Open Science Conference