Forum on Critical Thinking, Innovation & Leadership to be held on Tuesday, March 12 at the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center

3/6/2013

Third annual Forum will focus on “Food – Water – Energy: The Right Balance.”

Ferrum, Va. (March 6, 2013) – The third annual Ferrum College Forum on Critical Thinking, Innovation & Leadership, focused this year on “Food – Water – Energy: The Right Balance,” will be held Tuesday, March 12, at the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center in Roanoke. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m.  The Forum will begin at 9:00 a.m. with welcoming remarks from College President Jennifer Braaten.  A panel discussion and question and answer session for audience members will take place after the presentations, followed by a luncheon at 12:00 Noon.  WDBJ-7 weekend anchor Nadia Singh will moderate the discussion.

“Ferrum College is proud this year to host regionally and nationally recognized speakers who will join in a thought provoking and important discussion about the interconnections and trade-offs our society must consider as we attempt to increase food, water and energy supplies around the world,” said Dr. Braaten. “We are pleased that the College is able to broaden its role as an institution of higher learning by providing an opportunity for the Roanoke Valley to participate in this important conversation.”

Forum speakers will include Janaki Alavalapati, Department Head of Forest Resources, Environmental Conservation College of Natural Resources & Environment, Virginia Tech; Ann Bartuska, Deputy Under Secretary for the US Department of Agriculture's Research, Education, and Economics Office; Coleman Bazelon, principal, The Brattle Group; Travis Hill, Virginia Deputy Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry; Frank Rusco, Director, Natural Resources, Environment-Energy and Science at the U.S. Government Accountability Office; and Lisa Vojta, Senior Analyst with the Natural Resources & Environment team at the U.S. Government Accountability Office.  

The 2013 Forum will address the physical sustainability of modern life; specifically society’s requirements for water, energy, and food. These essential elements share the conditions of being limited relative to society’s needs and availability now and in the future.  Assuring long-term sustainability will entail achieving the right balance between private incentives and public goals. The Forum will explore the features of public policy that can facilitate finding this delicate balance within the respective roles and capabilities of government, business and private entities.

Through its sponsorship of the Forum, Ferrum College raises the level of public discourse about trending issues that require the country’s best critical thinking skills, practical innovations, and business and civic leadership. Hundreds are expected to attend this year’s Forum, including regional corporate and government officials, Ferrum College faculty and students, representatives of area higher education institutions, and members of the community.

A detailed program as well as registration and other information are available on line at www.ferrum.edu/forum or by calling 540.365.4211.

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