Big Ideas of the 21st Century

“Sustainable Development: Can
it be Done in This or Any Century?”

Date: November 7, 2008

Location: MDI Biological Lab, Salisbury Cove

Time: 5:00 pm

Description: Two of the big global ideas of the 20th century, now at least fifty years old, have been development and environment. But can we have both - meeting human needs for food, energy, housing, health, employment, education - while preserving the life support systems of the planet? The vision that we could do both came together at the end of the 20th century under the rubric of sustainable development and is now part of the jargon of our times. But many think that development is not sustainable and a great natural experiment is underway in clarifying this big idea and transforming it into needed action.

Robert Kates trained as a geographer and taught geography for many years at Clark University in Worcester, MA, USA. He also participated in interdisciplinary programs addressing both environment and development at the University of Dar as Salaam in Tanzania, Clark University, and at the World Hunger Program at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Kates now serves as a Senior Research Associate in the Sustainability Science Program at Harvard University, is co-convener of the International Initiative on Science and Technology for Sustainability, a presidential professor at the University of Maine, as well as the Trenton representative to the Acadia Disposal District. As a member of the National Academy of Sciences, he co-chaired the report, “Our Common Journey: A Transition Toward Sustainability.” His current research is on long term trends, values, attitudes, and beliefs affecting a sustainability transition and on community resilience to hazards and climate change.

Big Ideas of the 21st Century

"Beyond the Human Genome Project:

A Future of Individualized Medicine"

Date: Took place: September 22, 2008

Location: Jackson Laboratory Auditorium

Time: 5:30 p.m.

Description: Richard P. Woychik, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Jackson Laboratory, will speak on the future of individualized medicine as it relates to the Human Genome Project.
This is part of a continuing series of "Big Ideas of the 21st Century" sponsored by Acadia Senior College.