The basics of climate change and what it means for the future are among many topics and activities planned for a daylong conference on Saturday, April 11. The Iowa Climate Festival will be held in the University of Iowa Museum of Natural History. It is free and open to the public.

The event is designed to engage the public through activities and discussions about climate science, and how to localize climate issues in Iowa. The Hygienic Laboratory is a sponsor of the event.

Session one – held from 9 a.m. to noon – will focus on the basics of climate science, including the effects of greenhouse gases and particulates in the air. Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Wanda Reiter-Kintz will discuss how to prepare for anticipated climate changes and extreme weather events.

The symposium will be followed by a climate science fair from 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. It will feature hands-on experiments and interaction with local climate researchers and environmental chemists.

Entries in a competition to design a new logo for the Iowa City recycling trucks will be on display throughout the day. Judging is expected to begin at 3 p.m., and a winning entry will be announced during the event.

For more information, visit: http://iowa.sites.acs.org/climate.htm