Tyler

By CINDY MALLETTE
Staff Writer

Global warming is a hot topic these days - no pun intended.

It's certainly not a laughing matter for Dr. Sallie Baliunas, an astrophysicist with the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, who says it's a fact that we all need to face.

Dr. Baliunas has spent years researching the causes for global warming, and she'll present her findings on Tuesday at The University of Texas at Tyler R. Don Cowan Fine and Performing Arts Center. Her talk is part of the university's Distinguished Lecture Series and begins at 7:30 p.m.

Susan Thomae-Morphew, the center's director, said Dr. Baliunas' research will present an alternative view to what's been widely publicized in the mainstream media.

"There are so many different opinions about global warming. There isn't a question of whether we have global warming, but as to what's causing it is what she'll address," said Ms. Thomae-Morphew.

Perceived as controversial by some climate scientists, Dr. Baliunas' work with fellow Smithsonian astronomer Willie Soon suggests global warming is more directly related to solar variability than to increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

"Her opinion of course is controversial, because most of what's out there is a certain slant," Ms. Thomae-Morphew said. "There's the Al Gore slant on global warming, and this is another slant. I think it will be interesting."

Dr. Baliunas is a senior scientist and chairman of the science advisory board at George C. Marshall Institute in Washington, D.C. She also has served as an adviser for the television series "Gene Roddenberry's Earth: Final Conflict" and as host of Annenberg Channel's series "Essential Science for Teachers: Physical Science" and "Force and Motion."

Dr. Baliunas holds degrees in astrophysics from Harvard University. Her research interests include magnetohydrodynamics of the sun.

Ms. Thomae-Morphew encouraged global warming skeptics to attend, saying Dr. Baliunas will stick to science, not theories based on a political perspective, during her lecture.

"It's not a partisan issue, even though it does get brought into politics some. She won't be coming at it from a partisan perspective," Ms. Thomae-Morphew said. "This is a topic that affects all of our lives. That's why I think this is something people shouldn't miss."

Tickets for the lecture cost $31, $26, $21, $16 and $11. Student tickets are $5.

Tickets are available at the Cowan Center box office or online at CowanCenter.org. Box office hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. The phone number is 903-566-7424.