For the second time this year, the president of a country dealing with global climate changes will be on campus to talk about the problems his country - and the world - will be facing in the years to come.
Bangladeshi President Iajuddin Ahmed will come to Ohio State to speak about the consequences of global warming today at 3 p.m. at the Wexner Center for the Arts. The lecture, titled "Global Warming Effects on Sea Level Rise and Arsenic Poisoning in Bangladesh," is intended to leave students and faculty informed about the climate crisis as it relates to the region. This is particularly important to Bangladesh because excessive flooding has already plagued the area.
Iceland's President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson visited in March to be present during the signing of the university's pledge to help study land degradation.
Meanwhile Bangladesh, which is home to more than 140 million people, has already endeavored to raise global awareness about rising sea levels. According to the Regional Impacts of Climate Change report issued by the International Panel on Climate Change, immense amounts of Bangladeshis could be displaced by 2100, if the rise in sea level continues.
Ahmed has earned a master's degree of science and doctorates from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is also responsible for creating a soil redistributing method thought to increase farm production and general vegetation.
In a press release, OSU President E. Gordon Gee said he is honored to host the leader.
"As a political leader and soil scientist, President Ahmed brings a unique perspective to issues of global warming, climate change and groundwater protection," he said. "His visit also underscores Ohio State's international reach."
Cassie Kazanas can be reached at kazanas.1@osu.edu.
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