Participating in the National Teach-In on Global Warming Solutions via YouTube, Markey asks expert witnesses a student’s question during Congressional hearing.

WASHINGTON, D.C. and WALTHAM, MASS. – This week Representative Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) found a new way to engage students in his district by taking part in the Brandeis University National Teach-In event on Global Warming Solutions via video exchange from his office in Washington. Rep. Markey used YouTube to turn the event into a two way street, asking one of the student’s questions during a Congressional hearing on international climate policy.

“I wanted to put the Brandeis students in the chairman’s seat in Congress,” said Rep. Markey, who serves as Chairman of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. “Climate change is one of the greatest challenges the next generation will face, and it’s imperative that their thoughts on creating green jobs and building a clean energy future are heard.”

The National Teach-In is a nation-wide educational initiative conducted at more than 600 colleges, universities, and other institutions in all 50 states. The event is organized by faculty and students on each participating campus who design educational sessions at which professors of art, history, religion, political science, biology, geology, and other disciplines lead discussions about different facets of climate change.

“I am proud that these Brandeis students are passionate about Global Warming, and that technology advancements like YouTube make it possible for students and Congress to communicate and work on solutions together.

Rep. Markey concluded: “The kind of innovative American spirit that created technologies like YouTube, which facilitated our discussion, needs to be harnessed to create clean energy technologies. Massachusetts has been an IT leader for decades. With the kind of engaged young people at Brandeis participating in this National Teach-In, I am confident that Massachusetts will be a national leader in innovative global warming solutions.”

The Brandeis event was organized as a cooperative effort of the Campus Sustainability Initiative and many campus groups. A member of the coalitions, Students for Environmental Action, solicited questions for Rep. Markey earlier in the week from student members. The question came from Mathew Schmidt, a sophomore at Brandeis.

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