Conversations on Sustainability

The Conversations on Sustainability seminar series presents experts on current sustainability issues and generates dialogue about these important topics. Please check the website often for upcoming seminars.

Upcoming Events:

 

Check back soon for the next Conversation!

Past Events:

Food and the Fate of the World (re-thinking the ecology and community of agri-culture): A Conversation on Sustainability
What: Professor Anne R. Kapuscinski, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology and Director of Institute for Social Economic and Ecological Sustainability and Dana Jackson, Program Associate for The Land Stewardship Project and co-author of The Farm as Natural Habitat: Reconnecting Food Systems with Ecosystems also with Dr. Bud Markhart, Department of Horticulture, member of the Sustainable Agriculture Minor faculty and director of the Student Organic Farm speak about where our food comes from, the state of current agriculture and why we need to care.

Sustainable Cities: A Conversation on Sustainability
What: Professor Lance Neckar, Department of Landscape Architecture, John Carmody, Director of the Center for Sustainable Building Research and Paula Pentel, Geography Department and Urban Studies Program and Golden Valley City Council member discussed how urban areas now and in the future can become greener and more livable.

Better Values, or More Technology? A Conversation on Sustainability

What: Professors Dan Phillippon, Department of Writing Studies and Julian Marshall, Department of Civil Engineering spoke about innovations in technology and changes in societal values may lead to a more sustainable future.

The Food-Fuel-Envrionment Conflict: a Path Towards Sustainability

What: David Tilman, Regents' Professor, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior and Director spoke about ecology, biofuels and broader questions of sustainability.

Economics and Sustainability: An Oxymoron?

What: Steve Polasky and Fesler-Lampert, Professor of Ecological/Environmental Economics spoke about how economic concepts are relevant to sustainability.

Climate Change, Adaption, and Policy Options

What: World climate change experts Dr. Habiba Gitay of the World Resources Institute and Dr. Ian Noble of the World Bank presented global perspectives and policy frameworks of climate change. This joint seminar addressed what and where are the challenges of dealing with impacts of climate change and what are ways forward.

Global Change, Energy Use and Solutions for the Future

What: Will Steger headlined the presentation and discussion of global warming, environmental change, and the future of Minnesota's natural resources. Other speakers included University of Minnesota faculty John Carmody, Director of the Center for Sustainable Building Research, David Tilman, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, and Elizabeth Wilson, from the Humphrey Institute.