We heard some pretty rational thought and conversation about climate change and about energy on NPR last week, on Science Friday.

Planners will enjoy the story and interviews about the American military's work to save money by energy efficiency. And also to save lives: A retired general spoke about saving $1B and many American lives by vastly reducing the number of shipments of fuel/energy to troops in the field. Fewer trips, less cost and fewer American's killed by attacks during the dangerous trips.

The other segment was on Americans and Climate Change and brought together a recent report from the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication at Yale University and Representative Bob Inglis (R-SC). No one yells at anyone else. It's a nice discussion.

Where can you find the very latest about academic programming and student learning at the United States' military academies? In the latest issue of Liberal Education, from the Association of American Colleges and Universities:

I wonder whether our military leaders will be the ones to help achieve a breakthrough public agreement that ensuring our nation’s future requires liberal education—and, therefore, that liberal education ought to be the curriculum of choice for everyone.

West Point: "Today’s military operates in contexts where uncertainty and ambiguity are commonplace. Human security challenges, when coupled with U.S. interests, demand an officer corps capable of responding promptly and effectively to a diverse set of issues in environments that require innovation, flexibility, and adaptability. The army needs officers who have benefitted from a liberal education."

Air Force Academy: "Although the academy’s commitment to liberal education has remained the same since the institution’s founding just over fifty years ago, the approach taken to fulfill that commitment has changed markedly. Over time, campus conversations have begun to focus much more on the achievement of agreed-upon outcomes for cadet learning and development."

Naval Academy: "The United States Naval Academy provides a top liberal arts education to all midshipmen, and one of the central elements of that liberal education is an understanding of global and cross-cultural dynamics."