Spring 2009 Seminar Series

The George Perkins Marsh Institute and Jeanne X. Kasperson Research Library announce the Spring 2009 Seminar Series. Seminars will present cutting-edge research on human/environment interactions taking place at Clark University and are designed to catalyze discussions regarding future research possibilities. Seminars are open to all in the Clark community and will take place from 12:15 pm - 1:15 pm in the University Center Lurie Conference Room. The January 29th seminar (only) will take place in the University Center Grace Conference Room. The format is a 30 minute presentation followed by 30 minutes of questions and discussion. Light refreshments will be provided. Please feel free to bring your own brown-bag lunch if desired.

Seminar dates speakers are as follows:

1/29	Framing Wind: The Importance of State Policy and Perceptions in Deploying Climate-Mitigating Energy Technologies Jennie C. Stephens, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science and Policy, Department of International Development, Community and Environment (IDCE), Clark University
2/12	Using Lawn Maps to Catalyze Human-Environment Research: The Case of Suburban Boston Colin Polsky, Assistant Professor of Geography, Clark University
2/26	Impacts of Recent Sea Ice Decline on Biological Productivity in Arctic Shelf Seas Karen Frey, Assistant Professor of Geography, Clark University
3/12	Carbon Consequences of Forest Disturbance and Regrowth Across North America  Christopher Williams, Assistant Professor of Geography, Clark University
3/26	Competing Revolutions in Health Risk Analysis and Toxicity Testing for Chemical Exposures  Dale Hattis, Research Professor, George Perkins Marsh Institute, Clark University
4/9	Practicing Globalization in Bolivia's Wood Products Industry: A Relational Perspective on South-to-North Value Chain Relations  James T. Murphy, Assistant Professor of Geography; Adjunct Assistant Professor of IDCE, Clark University

Marsh Lectures 2008

October 16, 2008

The George Perkins Marsh Institute and Environmental Science and Policy Program presents "Nanotechnology: Health and Environmental Risks, and State of the Science" by Jo Anne Shatkin on Thursday, October 16th at 4:00 p.m. in the Higgins University Center, Lurie Conference Room.

Clark alum ('90 MA, '94 Ph.D.) Jo Anne Shatkin presents the state of the science and salient issues raised by the rapidly expanding development and use of materials in the nanoscale range. The unique properties that may exist for these materials potentially have significant implications for environmental, health, and safety concerns, and may confound the accurate assessment of potential risks as well as require changes to the way such risks are communicated. Shatkin will provide an overview of international activities to address these issues, including NANO LCRA, her proposed adaptive screening level approach for assessing and managing substances in real time, and findings from a recent workshop she organized in Washington DC focused on advancing the science using the tools of risk analysis.

September 23, 2008

The Mosakowski Institute for Public Enterprise and the George Perkins Marsh Institute presents "Closing the Gap Between Science and Practice" by Roger E. Kasperson on Tuesday, September 23rd at 3 pm in the Grace Conference Room, Higgins University Center.

Science has been responsible for many of humankind's most important advances, from vaccines to increasing crop yields to the Internet. Yet the quest for and discovery of new knowledge does not always translate into improvements in societal practices and public policies. Roger Kasperson, a distinguished scholar and member of the National Academy of Sciences, will consider ways to closing the gap between science and practice.

February 15, 2008

Ortwin Renn, formerly of Clark University, currently Managing Director and Professor at the University of Stuttgart, Institute of Social Sciences, gave the first lecture of the 2007-08 academic year on February 15th in the Grace Conference room of the University Center. His topic was "Concepts of Stakeholder Involvement in Environmental Policy Making: Application to the Climate Change Debate in Europe." Click here for an abstract of the talk.

Other speakers will be scheduled soon; please continue to check this site.