“Facts Versus Values: How Can We Make Better Decisions?”
Keynote Speaker: Thomas Dietz, Michigan State University
Thursday, September 21
1:00pm
Hauck Auditorium
This event is free and open to the public. However, tickets are required.
Click here for ticket reservations or call 207.581.3195.
The 21st century will see unprecedented transformations in human life and vast changes on planet Earth. Key among these are the problems of sustainability, but emerging technologies − especially the intersection of nano, bio, information and cognitive technologies − also have the potential to reshape human life. These challenges will require difficult decisions based on both science and our values. There seems to be a broad consensus that we should improve human well-being while protecting the environment, but research shows that there are many obstacles to good decision making by individuals, organizations and government. How can we do better? While the obstacles we face are formidable, research on decision making provides ideas on how we can move forward to make decisions that better reflect both the facts and our values.
Thomas Dietz is a professor of Sociology and Environmental Science and Policy at Michigan State University (MSU). He holds a Ph.D. in ecology from the University of California, Davis. At MSU he was founding director of the Environmental Science and Policy Program and associate dean in the colleges of Social Science, Agriculture and Natural Resources and Natural Science, and assistant vice president for environmental research.
Co-sponsored by the Department of Communication and Journalism.