Release date: 24-Mar-05

Emory to Host "Water In Our Lives" Symposium March 31-April 1

Local and international water issues will be the topic on tap for a two-day symposium at Emory University March 31- April 1. "Water in Our Lives" will focus on how science and society can effectively interact to address such issues.

The symposium begins at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 31 with an opening reception, followed by the keynote address by Georgia Institute of Technology President G. Wayne Clough. His remarks will be followed by a panel discussion with representatives from the Sierra Club, the Clean Streams Task Force, and the DeKalb Soil and Water Conservation District to address local water issues.

Moving to more global water issues on Friday, April 1 there will be multiple interactive sessions throughout the day, led by Emory faculty members. Discussion topics include "Water and Politics, " "Water and Disease," "Water as Sacred" and "Teaching Water Across Disciplines."

The symposium is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. All events will be held in the Cox Hall third floor ballroom, 569 Asbury Circle, on the Emory campus. Visitor parking is available in the Fishburne deck and Peavine visitor lot. For schedule, registration, directions and parking information, go to http://www.emory.edu/water.

The symposium is sponsored by the Program in Science & Society of the Emory College Faculty Science Council. The complete schedule is as follows:

Thursday, March 31
6:30 p.m. Reception with heavy hors d'oeuvres

7 p.m. Introduction: Emory University President James Wagner
Keynote Address: Georgia Tech President G. Wayne Clough

8 p.m. Panel Discussion: Jacqueline Echols, spokesperson for the Clean Streams Task Force; Bryan Hager, director of the Georgia chapter of the Sierra Club; and Dell MacGregor, chairwoman of the DeKalb Soil and Water Conservation District

Friday, April 1
9:15 a.m. Continental breakfast

9:45 a.m. Welcome: Arri Eisen, senior lecturer in biology and director of the Program in Science & Society

10 a.m. Session #1: "Water as Sacred," Bobbi Patterson, senior lecturer in religion and director of the Emory Scholars Program

11:15 a.m. Session #2: "Teaching about Water," Anne Hall, lecturer in environmental studies, and Jack Zupko, associate professor of philosophy

12:15 p.m. Lunch and discussion

1:15 p.m. Session #3: "Water and Disease," Rick Rheingans, director of the global environmental health program at Emory's Rollins School of Public Health, and Christine Moe, associate professor of global environmental health, Rollins School of Public Health

2:30 p.m. Session #4: "Water and Politics," Lance Gunderson, associate professor and chairman of environmental studies, and Gordon Newby, professor and chairman of Middle Eastern and South Asian studies

3:30 p.m. Symposium Summary: Peggy Barlett, professor of anthropology, and Arri Eisen

Emory University is known for its demanding academics, outstanding undergraduate college of arts and sciences, highly ranked professional schools and state-of-the-art research facilities. For nearly two decades Emory has been named one of the country's top 25 national universities by U.S. News & World Report. In addition to its nine schools, the university encompasses The Carter Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center and Emory Healthcare, the state's largest and most comprehensive health care system.

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