Environmental journalist Andrew Revkin of The New York Times will be speaking to Miami University's campus April 8.

At the event, "The Hot Seat: Making Sense of Global Warming, from the North Pole to the White House," Revkin will be describing how humans have influenced the earth's climate.

Revkin will also be discussing the ways to reduce the risks connected to the climate issues as the human population increases. The event will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 8 in 115 Shideler Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

William Renwick, chair of the geography department, said the department has been able to bring leading speakers, such as Revkin, to campus because of the support from the Wallace and Della McConnell Fund.

Renwick said Miami is bringing Revkin to campus because he's a leading journalist who specializes in environmental issues and has greatly contributed to reporting news, especially global warming.

Revkin's online blog called Dot Earth allows the public to interact and discuss the current environmental issues occurring around the world.

"Revkin is a leader in communicating accurate scientific information to the general public about environmental issues," Renwick said. "In particular, he's worked on global warming, which is an issue of great importance and growing importance."

Renwick said many Miami students are interested in environmental issues, especially global warming, and they will find this event significant.

Jerry Green, associate professor of geography, said the purpose of the event is to reach a wide audience.

He said the department would like the community to be involved and attend the event.

"We would like it to reach a wide audience and capture the attention of the audience to the importance of global warming," Green said.

Green said he hopes students who are taking environmental courses will take something away from the event about global warming.

Clyde Brown, political science professor, said he has read many of Revkin's NY Times stories.

"Revkin writes on a wide variety of important environmental issues," Brown said.

Brown said he knows Revkin best for is his global warming stories. Brown said Revkin's work has pointed at climate change and its major impact on the Arctic, as well as the planet.

"He is an amazing writer, performing an important service by educating the American public on this critical issue," Brown said. "Revkin's work is very important because he is writing about one of the most serious problems facing the planet."

Brown said no matter what the cause of the melting polar ice cap, there will be major consequences for our planet and its inhabitants.

Brown said Revkin, sometimes from first-hand experience, has informed the public about the causes and effects of environmental abuse.

"He is warning us that humankind has to change its ways or face dire consequences," Brown said.

Mark Boardman, director of the Institute of Environmental Sciences, said he has attended many talks at Miami and is looking forward to Revkin's lecture.

"We should go to a lot of different talks because we never know which one will trigger something really special in us," Boardman said.