The University of Wyoming/Casper College's annual free public lecture series will conclude at 7 p.m. Thursday with a discussion on state finances and climate change by Gov Dave Freudenthal.

The discussion will take place in the Wheeler Auditorium, Room 103 of the Wold Physical Science Center at Casper College.

Freudenthal is expected to discuss what climate change can mean for the state's finances and what the state is doing to position itself for that change.

Climate change could have many implications for Wyoming's budget picture -- from ecological impacts affecting tourism, hunting, fishing, and wildlife watching, to the need to adapt to coming change and high energy costs with public buildings and policies that put more emphasis on energy efficiency.

The discussion series, titled "Climate Change in Carbon Central -- Developing Strategies in Wyoming," started in September.

Each of the discussions will take place at the same time and place, and will be available for download at outreach.uwyo.edu/ocp/podcasting.asp.

The series is sponsored by UW's Helga and Otto Haub School and William Ruckelshaus Institute of Environment and Natural Resources, the UW/CC Center, and the UW Outreach School.

For more information, call the UW/CC Center at (307) 268-2713 or (877) 264-9930; or visit www.uwyo.edu/uwcc.

Series slate

The series schedule asks the question "What does climate change have to do with ...?" for the following topics:

* Wyoming Cities and Towns, led by Rocky Anderson and Mark Barron, Sept. 11.

* Work Force Housing, led by Mark Wooley, developer of a project in Rawlins; and Scott Kane, owner of Creative Energies renewable energy company in Lander; Sept. 25.

* Hunting and Fishing, led by Jim Posewitz, director of Orion: The Hunter's Institute; and Steve Jackson, UW botany professor; Oct. 9.

* Paying the Bills, led by Howard Geller, Southwest Energy Efficiency Project; and Mary Byrnes, member of the Wyoming Public Service Commission; Oct. 23.

* Kids, led by Scott Beall, seventh-grade science teacher from New York; and Craig Sorenson, superintendent of Sweetwater County School District 2; Nov. 6.

* State Finances, led by Gov. Dave Freudenthal, 7 p.m., Thursday.

Each of the discussions will take place at 7 p.m. in the Wheeler Auditorium at Casper College, and will be available for download at outreach.uwyo.edu/ocp/podcasting.asp.