C.W. Post Honors Conference Explores the Environment * November 6

Brookville, NY - What constitutes an environment? Our natural world certainly -- plants, animals and our surroundings -- but don't music and art and people and activity also contribute to the world in which we live?

A thorough examination of all types of environment -- social, natural and artistic -- will be the focus of the annual Honors Conference at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University on Friday, November 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.

Workshops and discussions will cover both specific environments -- paperless and crime scene -- to more general ones -- ecosystems and the future -- and will be presented by members of the C.W. Post faculty, alumni and respected professionals.

“Students who are graduating from colleges and universities within the next few years are going to learn that the businesses they might work for are engaged in new environmental policies,” said Dr. Joan Digby, director of the Honor Program. “With this conference and the Honors Green curriculum, we hope to key into central issues that corporations, not-for-profits and other organizations are going to be exploring over the next decade.”

The keynote address, "The Human Rights: Ecology Convergence," will be given by Dr. Scott Carlin, professor of earth and environmental science. He will discuss two major movements of the 20th century -- human rights and ecology -- and how their intersection affects people worldwide, from those displaced by environmental disasters to policy makers to corporations to those living on Long Island.

The Honors Conference will feature a wide spectrum of thought-provoking topics of interest, from earth-friendly careers to investing in "green" companies. Professor Abby Dress of the Media Arts Department will lead a panel of environmental leaders in a discussion about how acting locally for environmental change can sustain communities for generations to come. Dr. Mark Pires, professor of earth and environmental science, will give an interactive workshop on the challenges we face in living green. Emily Walshe, a librarian in the B. Davis Schwartz Memorial Library, will give a thought-provoking presentation on the limits of anonymity in a paperless environment -- just who owns that tweet you just sent?

The conference is tied in to "Honors Green," an environmental honors program that prepares students for careers focused on a greener future. Through the program, freshman take six environmentally focused bachelor's level courses in literature, philosophy, geography and film as well as a lab course in earth and environmental science. In addition to these innovative studies, students will have opportunities to intern with local conservation businesses and visit pristine national parks.

“Environmental issues are everywhere,” Dr. Digby said. “We want our students to be prepared and aware of what they are and how to address them.”

For further information contact Dr. Digby at (516) 299-2840 or e-mail joan.digby@liu.edu or visit www.liu.edu/cwpost/honors. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend. The conference takes places in various buildings on the C.W. Post Campus, located at 720 Northern Boulevard in Brookville, New York.

Posted: October 19, 2009