Forecasting the Future: Climate Change Through the Lens of "The Light Pirate"

*This event will be filmed for an upcoming documentary. Requests to not be filmed can be directed to Programming & Outreach Manager Staci Stanton (sstanton@urbandale.org) prior to the event or upon arrival.

This talk explores how fiction can illuminate the emotional and societal impacts of climate change, using Lily Brooks-Dalton’s The Light Pirate as a powerful entry point. Blending science with storytelling, it examines the escalating consequences of sea level rise, extreme weather, and community resilience—connecting the novel’s narrative arc with real-world projections, lived experiences, and urgent adaptation efforts.

This program ties in with our 2025 All Urbandale Reads book, "The Light Pirate," but reading the book is not required. 
 

All Urbandale Reads (AUR) is a “one book, one community” reading initiative that attempts to get everyone in a city to read and discuss the same book. The goal of All Urbandale Reads is to unite the community and promote literacy through one inspiring read. Click here to learn more about this initiative and to see a list of past titles. 

Attend any AUR book discussion or program to be entered in a prize drawing for a gift card from Zellaphant Books!

All Urbandale Reads reading material and programming funded by the Urbandale Public Library Foundation. 

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About the speaker:

Chris Gloninger's fascination with meteorology ignited when Hurricane Bob struck his hometown of Sag Harbor, NY. He then embarked on a meteorological journey with internships at NOAA in Upton, NY, and WABC in New York City. Chris earned a BS in Meteorology & Atmospheric Science from Plymouth State University in New Hampshire and received his Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) accreditation from the American Meteorological Society. During his time in the Boston news market, Chris earned his MS in Emergency Management from Millersville University in Pennsylvania. He most recently earned his Certified Consulting Meteorologist (CCM) accreditation from the American Meteorological Society.

Chris's 18 years as a broadcast meteorologist took him to stations in Rochester and Albany, New York; Saginaw, Michigan; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Boston, Massachusetts; and Des Moines, Iowa. Throughout his career, Chris has covered various weather phenomena across different locations, including hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, ice floes, blizzards, and Nor'easters. He reported on hurricanes nationwide, covered two Super Bowls, and initiated the country's first weekly series on climate change. With the help of respected industry experts, community advocates, and politicians, the series explained the science of climate mitigation and adaptation, provided examples of how climate change is affecting people at the local level, and showcased some of the advancements being made in clean and renewable energy. Chris has earned three Emmys, two NBC Gem awards, and two Wisconsin Broadcasters Association awards in recognition of his various news coverage throughout his career. 

Deciding it was time for a change, Chris began consulting in climate mitigation and resilience for Arcadis. In 2023, Chris returned to Massachusetts and currently serves as a Senior Scientist in Climate and Risk Communication at Woods Hole Group in Bourne, where he continues to contribute his expertise to the field of meteorology and climate science.