It’s not often that Stanford climatologist Stephen H. Schneider shares the limelight with the Dave Matthews Band (which has sold more than 30 million albums over the past 12 years), hip-hop rapper, producer, and actor Snoop Dogg, and recording artist and musical poet Citizen Cope.

Schneider, one of America’s most outspoken and widely quoted climate scientists, has been called many things in his day, and he may take most pride in some of the things the dwindling band of climate “skeptics” label him. In his much-praised book detailing his own medical challenges combating cancer, he has called himself “the patient from Hell.” He is a frequent and eloquent public speaker on climate change science and policy – and on what he sees as the substantial shortcomings of the news media in informing the public on these issues.

Now you can add impresario to the adjectives and nouns applicable to Schneider.

Schneider will celebrate this July 4 in western Michigan as curator of a four-day 2008 Rothbury Festival concert and energy independence “think tank” bringing together scores of well-established and independent musicians (“indies”) and a series of interactive panel discussions.

“The nation that put a man on the moon can and will lead the world into the post-carbon age,” boasts the festival web site.

“On our country’s birthday weekend, ROTHBURY brings together the innovators, entrepreneurs, thought leaders, celebs, and rabble rousers who are bringing this future into focus. They’ll share their strategies and successes, and offer practical ideas and inspiration. It’s time to have fun, talk solutions, and start working towards a fossil-free America.

“It’s time for a New Independence Day.”

Sponsors say they anticipate that the July 3-6 “music festival revolution” will attract as many as 50,000 attendees (see Editor’s Note). An upcoming issue of The Yale Forum will include an essay and photographs capturing the essence of Schneider’s latest foray into educating and informing the public on his perspectives on climate change.

Editor’s Note: Two individuals involved with The Yale Forum on Climate Change & The Media, Executive Editor Anthony Leiserowitz and Editor Bud Ward, are among those invited to participate in the “think tank” discussions.