Former Stanford President
to Speak at UC San Diego on
Misunderstood Science and Misguided Policy

August 21, 2008

By Henry DeVries

In an era when scientific questions increasingly impact legislation on issues like sustainable energy and stem cell research, there is growing concern that misunderstanding can produce misguided policy. Donald Kennedy, former president of Stanford University and editor-in-chief of Science magazine, will speak on "Where Science and Policy Converge"   at 7pm Wednesday, October 1, at the UC San Diego Institute of Americas Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public with no tickets or reservations required.

Kennedy served as editor-in-chief of Science from 2000 - 2008, the prestigious weekly international journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.  He is president emeritus of Stanford University and a former commissioner for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

A biologist by training, Kennedy's research has focused on exploring how the natural and social sciences can contribute to improving environmental practices and institutions.  His specific areas of expertise range from global climate change to the ecosystem impacts of alien marine species invasions.

He is Bing Professor of Environmental Science at Stanford, and co-chairs an interdisciplinary center devoted to the development of policies regarding such environmental problems as major land-use changes, economically driven alterations in agricultural practice, global climate change and the development of regulatory practices.

Kennedy received his Ph.D. from Harvard University, and is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society. He has also served on the Boards of the Health Effects Institute, Clean Sites, Inc., and the California Nature Conservancy.

The event is presented by The Daniel Yankelovich Chair in Social Thought, the Department of Sociology, and the Helen Edison Lecture Series.

In accordance with a major gift from a late philanthropist, the Helen Edison Lecture Series presents ongoing free public lectures on issues that advance humanitarian purposes and objectives. Attended annually by thousands, speakers include former Vice President Al Gore,  Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, former secretary of defense Robert McNamara, Nobel Prize in Literature winner Toni Morrison and Hispanic dramatist Luis Valdez, just to name a few.

For additional information contact UC San Diego Extension’s Helen Edison Lecture Series at (858) 822-0510, email emunk@ucsd.edu or visit http://helenedison.ucsd.edu.

Media Contact: Henry DeVries, 858-534-9955 or 619-540-3031 (after hours)