Ford School Public Events

About the Speaker: Mark R. Jacobson recently left the NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan where served from August 2009-July 2011 as the Deputy NATO Senior Civilian Representative, and ISAF Director of International Affairs. In this capacity, Jacobson represented ISAF as part of the international diplomatic community in Kabul, helped to bring cohesion to a coalition of over 50 nations and international organizations, and served as the principal foreign policy advisor to the Commander, ISAF.

Mistinguette Smith describes the Black/Land Project as a complex nation-wide research and education initiative established 'to identify and amplify conversations happening inside black communities about the relationship between black people, land, and place in order to share their powerful traditions of resourcefulness, resilience and regeneration.' The Black/Land Project interviews individuals and groups, and identifies key environmental, cultural, economic and social justice issues in their stories about land and place.

For over 50 years the Antarctic has been governed through the Antarctic Treaty, an international agreement between 46 nations of whom 28 Consultative Parties undertake a management role. These Parties have qualified for their position on scientific grounds. The presentation will examine both the scientific and political outputs of all the Consultative Parties over the last 20 years and demonstrate that a small number of original Parties not only provide most of the science but also set the political agenda for the continent. Generally those countries producing the most science papers have the greatest political output as well. None of the most recent signatories to the Treaty appear to play a major role in managing Antarctica. The Treaty prides itself on its scientific credentials, but while nations have to demonstrate a substantial science programme to gain consultative status, there is no process to review science quality or commitment thereafter. The presentation will conclude by highlighting the reputational risk of this policy lacuna and will suggest a way in which it could be addressed.

Wendy Abrams is the founder of Cool Globes, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of climate change.

In this talk, Wendy Abrams will share how her concern of climate change affecting her children's future kick-started her journey from career businesswoman to environmental advocate, a journey on which U-M students can model their own paths as they combine their academic knowledge, networking skills, and passion for the environment to bring about change. She will discuss the challenges she overcame in establishing her non-profit organization and raising awareness, and what happened when business leaders, policy makers, and even Presidential candidates took notice of her success.