Sustainable development conference held

Called "Sustainable Development: Managing the Transition," the conference featured experts on sustainable development in the western hemisphere, policymakers, business leaders, and scholars.

Conference sections covered key aspects of sustainable development, a concept that combines economic development and environmental protection into a single model. Topics included the global commons project of the National Academy of Sciences, challenges of the 21st century, ethics and leadership, science and uncertainty, market tools, stakeholder participation, and population and consumption.

The event merged the biennial De Lange Conference of Rice University and the Woodlands Conference of the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC). It was organized by LBJ School Professor Jurgen Schmandt, who is the director of the Woodlands Center for Global Studies at HARC; LBJ School graduate Marilu Hastings (Class of 1990); and members of the Rice University community.

LBJ School student Laura Ubarri participated in the closing panel discussion, "Charting the Roadmap."

In addition to HARC and Rice University, conference partners included the LBJ School and the National Academy of Sciences.