LA JOLLA, Calif. -- Sea level rise threatens cities around the world, and academic leaders must talk about it differently to help people grasp the potential dangers and costs, climate experts said last week. Researchers must detail effects at the local and regional levels, members of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities Sustainability and Climate Change Program said as they met at the University of California, San Diego. They need to talk shorter time windows, mentioning impacts in 2050 as well as in 2100. And they should drive home to people that actions to limit climate change can help protect their children and grandchildren from huge economic and social impacts. Go to story #1

A growing number of the nation's university graduates are plunging headlong into careers promoting sustainability, whether building solar arrays, designing more energy-efficient homes or offices, or, like the work of LinkCycle, a company founded by two Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate students, offering consulting services to Fortune 500 businesses. Go to story #2