Common Ground
Science and Religion in Dialogue for a Sustainable Future

May 3-4, 2009
Low Rotunda Columbia University

CSSR Symposium "Common Ground" in the news:
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Given what scientists confirm is the state of our planet, it is critical that science and religion engage each other and share the diverse approaches to understanding our interdependence and our impact upon the earth. Creating such dialogue is essential in order to increase our understanding of the earth as not only a biophysical home, but also as a real symbol and medium of human interdependence and unity. Though science and religion may speak differently about value or meaning, the earth figures centrally for both modes of knowledge. Our common cause grounds our understanding of our effects upon the earth and each other, and grounds our global collaboration to sustain the living world.

 

On Sunday and Monday, May 3 and 4, 2009, The Center for the Study of Science and Religion at the Earth Institute of Columbia University, in collaboration with The Fetzer Institute of Kalamazoo, Michigan, is holding a public dialogue between science and religion on sustainability—Common Ground.

 

This program will bring together scholars, leaders, and activists from diverse fields and perspectives to describe and plot a path toward a sustainable and equitable future. We are looking forward to an exciting and distinguished group of people contributing to the exploration of these topics.

 

 

PROGRAM

 

Sunday, May 3rd, 3:00pm

 

Welcome from The Fetzer Institute: Wayne G. Ramsey

 

Introductory Remarks:
Jeffery D. Sachs – Director of The Earth Institute, Quetelet Professor of Sustainable Development, and Professor of Health Policy and Management at Columbia University; Special Advisor to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

 

Keynote Address
"Climate Threat to Creation: Implications for Inter-generational Equity and Justice"
James Hansen – Director, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies

 

Panel I: Creating a Vision for Sustainable Business
Moderated by Devin T. Stewart – Director, Global Policy Innovations Program at the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs

Panelists:
Kevin Knobloch, President Union of Concerned Scientists
Rev. Fletcher Harper, Executive Director, GreenFaith
George Pohle, CEO, Suasoria

Monday, May 4th, 10:00am

Keynote Address
"The Emerging Alliance of Ethics and Ecology"
Mary Evelyn-Tucker – Co-director, Forum on Religion and Ecology, School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and The Divinity School, Yale University

 

Panel II: Educating for Partnership with Science and Religion
Moderated by Robert E. Pollack – Professor, Biological Sciences and Director, The Center for the Study of Science and Religion, Columbia University

Panelists:
Laurel Kearns, Associate Professor, Sociology of Religion and Environmental Studies, The Theological School and Graduate Division of Religion, Drew University and Caspersen School of Graduate Studies
James R.Mihelcic, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Southern Florida
Joan Anderson, Office of Public Information, Soka Gakkai International

12:30pm Break for Lunch. Resume at 2:00p.m.

Keynote Address
"Living Water, Arid Land: The World Food Crisis and Climate Change"
Peter Mann – Co-director, Global Movements Program, World Hunger Year

 

Panel III: Empowering Eco-Justice Advocacy through Best Practices
Moderated by Lois Barber – Executive Director, EarthAction

Panelists:
Pedro Sanchez, Director, Tropical Agriculture & The Rural Environment Program, and Senior Research Scholar, Earth Institute at Columbia University; and Co-chair, United Nations Millennium Project Hunger Task Force
Rabbi Lawrence Troster, Director, Fellowship Program, GreenFaith
Fr. John S. Rausch, Director, Catholic Committee of Appalachia

Questions? Contact Cynthia Peabody at cmr93@columbia.edu

The Fetzer Institute

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