Panel I: Interdisciplinary Graduate Training in Environmental Policy at the Bard Center for Environmental Policy (BCEP), BCEP Faculty, and Pam Sturner of the Aldo Leopold Center at Stanford University on Training for Leadership

The “BCEP Model” is unique in the degree to which subject matter is integrated across disciplines in the core courses taken by the Masters degree candidates. In this panel, the model is presented by a panel of BCEP faculty, with discussion of the challenges and opportunities this presents in the education process. Then Pam Sturner of Stanford’s Aldo Leopold Center will present a model of leadership training for environmental scientists, with implications for the BCEP model.

Keynote Conversation on Public Education: Leon Botstein, President of Bard College, and Andrew Revkin, senior staff reporter for the New York Times.

Once tomorrow’s leaders have a strong interdisciplinary education, they will be able to apply systems thinking to the challenges ahead. But they also must be effective public educators—with the ability to bring that knowledge to inform democratic decision-making. Where is the line between public education and advocacy?

Panel II: Experiences in Environmental Policy Education from Abroad

Our Luce partners speak on the goals of their graduate programs and the employment opportunities they are training for. Juan Jose Consejo, INSO, Oaxaca, Mexico; Dr. Zarina Patel, University of Witswatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; and Dr. Yijun Ji, Nankai University, Tianjin City, China

Panel III: Has Global Warming Opened the Door for Interdisciplinary Dialogue?
The National Teach-In Experience

Representatives of colleges participating in the NTI, including Professors Penelope Canan, Jon, Isham, and Pushpa Ramakrishna, give 5-minute statements about the extent to which global warming as a subject matter, and the teach-in in particular, has fostered ongoing interdisciplinary dialogue on campus. To be followed by a moderated round table discussion.

Panel IV: Payment for Ecosystem Services:
A model field experience for training environmental policy makers.

Juan Jose Consejo, of the Institute for Nature and Society in Mexico, Alexander Pfaff, of Duke University, and Lindsey Lusher ‘07, discuss the concept of “Payment for Ecosystems Services” as a model integrative concept to utilize in training environmental policy graduates. Gautam Sethi, BCEP faculty, moderates.

Breakout Session: Evaluation and critique of BCEP model of graduate training in environmental policy, with application to home institutions.

Breakout groups will discuss the BCEP model of interdisciplinary training in environmental policy, make suggestions for solving some key challenges, and reflect on potential lessons for their home institutions. Group discussion for 45 minutes followed by 30 minutes to report back on summary points.

Plenary: Keynote Conversation on Higher Education and Sustainability: William H. Schlesinger, President of the Cary Institute for Ecosystem Services and David Orr, Professor of Environmental Studies, Oberlin College. Eban Goodstein as moderator.

What is the Role of Higher Education in building a sustainable future?

Coffee reception for the public to follow.

Keynote on The National Teach-In: Successes, Failures, Next Steps: Eban Goodstein.
Discussants: Penelope Canan, Jon Isham, Xarissa Holdaway, and Pushpa Ramakrishna.

A review and analysis of the last two years’ experience of the National Teach-In on Global Warming. A proposal for a follow-on 2009-2010 initiative will be discussed. Participants share the strengths and weaknesses of teach-in experience; engage in SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis of Goodstein’s 2009-2010 proposal.

Coffee Break

Break Out

Participants brainstorm alternatives/extensions to the 2009-2010 proposal, explore partnerships, funding ideas, and commitments.