Up Up and Away

This week I learned that it is possible to research almost anything out there in the world. Often when people here the word research they instantly think about research being done in the medical field such as cancer and other lifesaving medical research. The common citizen is often confronted with campaigns or partnerships to donate to this type of research. While I have learned many different areas and interests of research throughout my 3 1/2 years of college, never had i though that important research could be done on counting the number of errors, disagreements, or misunderstandings. However, this area of research done on the work and members of the IPCC serves as a critical area of research for our world to understand climate change and take steps toward solutions. This fascinating and complex process of research, data collection, reporting and review serves as one of the most complex and under-credited jobs in our world. Recently this week, I had the opportunity to conduct research of my own at a conference in Portland. While I was not researching a climate related topic, my travels did make me think about our climate and the IPCC. Members of the IPCC and those who research them, fly all across the world emitting significant amounts of greenhouse gasses into the world via air travel. I did this same thing as I traveled from Minneapolis to  Portland. I could not help but think about the impact that I was making during my time flying in the sky. What I find most fascinating about air travel is not only the incredible scope of the world and scenery one is provided by looking out the window, but the people that surround you on the flight that do not think once about their impact on the climate; pilots and flight attendants who are simply doing their jobs, and the common business flying across the country to meet with clients. It occurs everyday, everywhere by thousands if not millions of people. I can only hope that on my next flight I sit down next to a member of the IPCC and then we'll see where the conversation takes us.