April 12, 2002

PITT-BRADFORD TO HOST ENVIRONMENTAL PANEL DISCUSSION

 

Bradford, PA—the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will host the panel discussion Approaches to Environmental Challenges:  Science, Religion, Management, Economics and the Law at 7 pm April 12.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held in Rice Auditorium in Fisher Hall.

Four professionals whose work often intersects with the environment will sit on the panel.  Each speaker will give a 10-minute presentation.  A discussion period will follow the presentations.  Refreshments will be provided by members of the Geo-Environmental Science Club.

Tom Buchele, an attorney who is director of the Environmental Law Clinic at the University of Pittsburgh, will discuss the legal approach to environmental challenges as well as the role that the law plays in establishing public policy.

Dr. Shailendra Gajanan, an associate professor of economics at Pitt-Bradford, will address both classic and developing models of economic thought as they relate to environmental problems and decision making, especially the challenge of cost-benefit analysis. 

David Prather, director of the National Conference on Ecology and the Bible, will speak about the significance of religion and spirituality in approaching environmental concerns along with the role that spirituality will play in the future.

Dr. Dessie Severson, associate director of the Allegheny Institute of Natural History and a professor of biology at Pitt-Bradford, will address the role of science in terms of providing decision criteria for developing effective responses to environmental challenges.

The event is being sponsored by the Social Science Seminar Series, the Geo-Environmental Science Club, and the Allegheny Institute of Natural History.