Harvard Professor to Deliver Sen. George J. Mitchell Lecture Oct. 2

The Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions at the University of Maine will host the 7th annual Mitchell Lecture on Sustainability Oct. 2 with a talk by Harvard University’s William Clark of the John F. Kennedy School of Government. Sen. George J. Mitchell and UMaine President Susan Hunter are scheduled to make remarks.

Clark’s talk, “Mobilizing knowledge to shape a sustainable future,” will focus on strategies for linking knowledge with action to improve human well-being while protecting the planet’s life-support systems.

A pioneer in the emerging field of sustainability science, Clark will discuss how collaborations involving universities, government, the private sector and civil society are helping to tackle the challenge of sustainable development. Drawing upon lessons learned in both local and global efforts, he’ll show how university–stakeholder partnerships can accelerate the transition to a sustainable world.

The lecture will run from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Hauck Auditorium with a reception to follow. The event is free and open to all, but tickets are required and can be obtained by calling 207.581.3244 or by making a reservation online.

William Clark is the Harvey Brooks Professor of International Science, Public Policy and Human Development and co-directs Harvard’s Sustainability Science Program. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is a recipient of a MacArthur Award, the Humboldt Prize, the Kennedy School’s Carballo Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Harvard College Phi Beta Kappa Prize for Excellence in Teaching.

Previous Mitchell Lecture speakers include the late Elinor Ostrom, winner of the 2009 Nobel Prize in Economics and the only woman to ever win the prize; Jane Lubchenco, Wayne and Gladys Valley Professor of Marine Biology at Oregon University and the first woman to serve as administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); and James Gustave “Gus” Speth, co-founder of the Natural Resources Defense Council and founder of the World Resources Institute.

The mission of the Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions is to help search for, implement and evaluate policies and practices that protect ecosystems while improving economic well-being and fostering strong communities in Maine, New England and beyond. The overall strategy for achieving the goal is to transform the creation and support of interdisciplinary teams within the university as well as working to meet the needs of stakeholders. In essence, working to link knowledge to action more effectively.

The vision for the Mitchell Lecture on Sustainability is to bring together people from across Maine who seek a clearer understanding of the economic, social and environmental challenges and opportunities we face, as well as to present constructive options that will facilitate a renewed commitment to the development of collaborative approaches to problem solving.

Contact: Tamara Field, 420.7755