Scientists, activists comprise UNL's 2007-08 Thompson Forum schedule

National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore will give the first lecture in the 2007-08 E.N. Thompson Forum on World Issues at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The year's theme is "Changing Nature," and the slate of speakers will explore a cross-section of themes related to the science and politics of environmentalism. Sartore's lecture begins at 7 p.m. Sept. 13 at the Lied Center for Performing Arts, 301 N. 12th St.

All Thompson Forum lectures are free and open to the public. New this year, free tickets will be required for all lectures. Tickets are available at the Nebraska Union, Westfield Gateway or the Lied Center ticket office, (402) 472-4747 or (800) 432-3231, or a mail form is available on the Thompson Forum's Web site, http://enthompson.unl.edu.

Other lecturers in the forum's 20th season are Sunita Narain, director of the Centre for Science and Environment in Delhi, India (Nov. 12); Amory Lovins, cofounder, chairman and chief scientist of the Rocky Mountain Institute (Feb. 12); Richard Cizik, aka the "Green Evangelist," vice president for governmental affairs, National Association of Evangelicals (Feb. 25); and William K. Reilly, president and CEO, Aqua International Partners (April 22).

An addition to the Thompson Forum schedule this year is the Charles and Linda Wilson Dialogue on Domestic Issues. Through a moderated debate between two recognized experts, the Wilson Dialogue will explore varying viewpoints of an issue with significant impact on Nebraska and the world. Ethanol is the topic for the inaugural dialogue Oct. 15 and its speakers are Douglas Durante and Jerry Taylor.

For 19 years, the Thompson Forum has brought a diversity of viewpoints on international and public policy issues to the university and the citizens of Nebraska, to promote understanding and to encourage debate. The forum features forceful speakers who are committed to the issues they address, seeking balance over the range of its programs rather than in each presentation. The forum is a cooperative project of the Cooper Foundation, the Lied Center and UNL. Its mission is promoting better understanding of world events and issues to all Nebraskans. In 1990, the series was named in honor of E.N. "Jack" Thompson (1913-2002), a 1933 graduate of the University of Nebraska, who served as president of the Cooper Foundation from 1964 to 1990 and as its chairman from 1990 until his death.

Following is the schedule for the 2007-08 Thompson Forum. Each forum begins at 7 p.m.

Sept. 13: Joel Sartore, "Grounded: A Reflection on the Use of Life and Land." A native Nebraskan, Sartore began his career with the National Geographic Society in 1991. Since then, he has completed 17 stories for National Geographic magazine, all focusing on natural history and wildlife. Sartore has been recognized for his work by the National Press Photographers Association, the Inland Daily Press Association, and the Pictures of the Year International contest. In addition to appearing in National Geographic, Sartore's photographs have also run in Audubon, Life, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated and Time magazines, and in numerous books. He has been featured on several television and radio programs, including "National Geographic Explorer," "NBC Nightly News," National Public Radio's "Weekend Edition" and CBS's "This Morning." Sartore was recently featured in the PBS documentary, "At Close Range."

Oct. 15: Wilson Dialogue, with Douglas Durante and Jerry Taylor, "Ethanol: Fueling Debate." Durante, has been working in the fields of energy, transportation, and the environment since 1977, is the executive director and Washington representative of the Clean Fuels Development Coalition, a nonprofit organization he helped found in 1987. The coalition works to support renewable alcohols and has a broad-based membership, including automotive, agricultural, and other alternative energy interests. Taylor is the most widely cited and influential right-of-center critic of federal energy and environmental policy in the nation. He is a frequent contributor to the Wall Street Journal and National Review, has published op-eds in the Washington Post, New York Times and Los Angeles Times, and is a regular guest on international broadcast programs. Taylor has served on numerous congressional advisory bodies and has testified on Capitol Hill on energy and environmental policy.

Nov. 12: Sunita Narain, "Changing Nature in an Unequal World." In addition to serving as director of the Centre for Science and Environment in Delhi, Narain is also director of the Society for Environmental Communications and publisher of the magazine "Down To Earth." Since joining the Centre for Science and Environment in 1982, she has worked to analyze and study the relationship between the environment and development, and to create public consciousness about the need for sustainable development. Narain is an active participant, both nationally and internationally, in civil society. She serves on the boards of various organizations and on governmental committees. She has a bachelor's degree from Delhi University.

Feb. 12: Amory Lovins, "Winning the Oil Endgame," Lewis E. Harris Lecture on Public Policy. Lovins is the cofounder, chairman, and chief scientist of the Rocky Mountain Institute. A MacArthur Fellow and consultant physicist, Lovins has advised the energy industry as well as the U.S. departments of Energy and Defense for more than three decades. Published in 29 books and hundreds of papers, his work in more than 50 countries has been recognized by many honorary doctorates, memberships, and awards. Among other honors, he was named Time Magazine's "Hero for the Planet." His book, "Small Is Profitable," an Economist book of the year, was published in 2002. His most recent book is "Winning the Oil Endgame."

Feb. 25: Richard Cizik, "For God's Sake." Cizik is vice president for governmental affairs of the National Association of Evangelicals. His primary responsibilities include setting the association's policy direction on issues before Congress, the White House and the Supreme Court, as well as serving as a national spokesman on issues of concern to evangelicals. A conservative both politically and religiously, Cizik is on a mission to convert millions of Americans to the cause of conservation, using a right-to-life framework and spreading the doctrine of "creation care" to evangelical Christians. Cizik holds degrees from Whitworth College, the George Washington University School of Public and International Affairs, and Denver Seminary. He has also studied at the National Political Science University in Taipei, Taiwan, and at the Taipei Language Institute.

April 22: William K. Reilly, "Corporate Environmentalism -- Bridging the Communications Gap." Reilly is president and chief executive officer of Aqua International Partners, an investment group that finances the purification of water and wastewater in developing countries and invests in projects and companies that serve the water sector. He served as the first Payne visiting professor at Stanford University's Institute for International Studies and lectured on the challenges to the global community. From 1989 to 1993, he served as the seventh administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Prior to becoming EPA administrator, he held five environment-related positions over two decades. An alumnus of Yale University, Reilly holds a law degree from Harvard University and a master's degree in urban planning from Columbia University. He served in the U.S. Army to the rank of Captain in 1966 and 1967.

Thanks to a grant from the Cooper Foundation, the Nebraska Humanities Council collaborates with colleges and universities across Nebraska to simulcast the forum lectures at Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff, Mid-Plains Community College in North Platte, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Wayne State College, and the University of Nebraska at Omaha. For more information, contact Aimee Poor at the Nebraska Humanities Council at (402) 474-2131 or by e-mail.

CONTACT: Marcia White, Thompson Forum Coordinator, (402) 472-0074