History shows that throughout the world, populations with the least political power have often experienced a lower quality of life and have been victimized by environmental degradation.
Focusing on this topic, Worcester Polytechnic Institute will present the 2009-2010 University Lecture from 5 to 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, 2009, in Alden Memorial. This year’s lecture will be given by Julian Agyeman, professor and chair of the Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning at Tufts University. Agyeman is an expert on the complex relationship between humans and the environment, and the effects of these relationships. He notes the connections between environmental quality and human equality, and between sustainability and environmental justice, and argues that, although they are not partnering effectively enough, the "environmental justice" and the "sustainable communities" movements are, indeed, compatible and shows how they can work together more effectively towards "Just Sustainability" for everyone.
Professor Agyeman is co-founder and co-editor of numerous international journals focused on the environment and environmental justice and sustainability, and is a fellow of the UK Royal Society of the Arts. He is also a member of the Board of the Center for Whole Communities in Vermont, and serves on the editorial boards of Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development; Environmental Communication: A Journal of Nature and Culture; Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy; the Journal of Environmental Education; and the Australian Journal of Environmental Education.
The University Lecture Series, which is open to the public and sponsored by the WPI Office of the President, provides a forum for speakers of national and international importance to enhance scholarly and scientific learning and stimulate intellectual conversation in the community.
Contact: Lorraine U. Martinelle, public relations specialist, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 508-831-6425, lurbans@wpi.edu
