In February and early March of 2008, Professor Emeritus Dave Klein traveled to, both Oslo, Norway, and Lisbon, Portugal to present about and discuss with participants the hot button topic of climate change. Dr. Klein gained insight into how Europeans are responding to the climate change issue to contrast with his Alaskan and North American perspective. He delivered talks to university students, faculty, and staff members, as well as presenting at primary and secondary schools and community events.
While in Norway and Portugal, Dr. Klein discussed the following topics:
- The developing human ethos in a changing global environment - a North American perspective
- Climate change in the North - natural and human system responses
- Wildlife conservation and management in a changing climate
During his trip to Norway from 1-29 February, Dave delivered guest lectures to international students attending a master's course on "Cultural Approaches to the Environment". Then during his visit to Portugal from 1-7 March 2008, Dr. Klein presented to faculty, and students (post doctoral, graduate and undergraduate), and general public, high school and possibly elementary school students.
Dr. Klein retired as Senior Scientist and Professor Emeritus at the Alaska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). He had been with the Coop Unit and a faculty member in the Biology and Wildlife program at UAF since 1962. He is now Professor Emeritus with the Institute of Arctic Biology, UAF. His research interests are in arctic ecology, plant-animal interactions, adaptations of arctic terrestrial mammals, arctic grazing systems (reindeer and caribou habitat relations, indigenous people relationships), northern development and associated environmental impacts and their mitigation, and winter ecology in the Arctic and sub-arctic. Professor Klein is a leading authority on the topics of climate change and its relation to wildlife and on the topic of environmental philosophy.