Environmental Sustainability:  A Path Forward via Government-University-Industry Partnerships

Final Agenda

Government-University-Industry Research Roundtable Meeting

 
October 9, 2007 (dinner)
Café Lombardy Restaurant
Hotel Lombardy
2109 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, D.C.  20006 

October 10, 2007 (meeting)
Rm 100 Keck Building
The National Academies
500 Fifth St., NW
Washington, D.C.   20001 

DAY 1 (Evening only)

Oct  9, 2007 

Café Lombardy Restaurant, Hotel Lombardy
2109 Pennsylvania Ave.
NW   Washington, DC
.
6:00–6:30pm Cocktails 

6:30–8:00pm DINNER  - “Brand Engineering”

Moderator:  Dan Mote, President, University of Maryland

Scott Miller, President and Founder, Core Strategy Group

Would the science and engineering community make more progress attracting youth to our discipline if we used professional marketing strategies?  This is the core question a new GUIRR project is tackling.   In this presentation, Scott Miller will provide the “Marketing 101” background needed to understand how to craft an appealing aura around any product.  Scott Miller is a corporate and political strategic communications consultant whose recent clients have included Mars, Inc., Rio Tinto, Google, The Walt Disney Company,  The Coca-Cola Company, McDonald's, Verizon, Highfields Capital, Cox Enterprises and The Home Depot.  He has also developed strategy for presidential campaigns in Colombia, Hungary, Russia, Nigeria, Peru, Mexico, The Czech Republic and the United States. 
  
Environmental Sustainability:  A Path Forward via Government-University-Industry Partnerships

DAY 2 (8am-3pm)

Oct 10, 2007  

The National Academies
Keck 100
500 Fifth St., NW  
Washington, DC

7:30–8:00 Continental Breakfast

8:00–8:15 Welcome: Dan Mote, President, University of Maryland

University-Led Partnerships

8:15-8:45 Tony Busalacchi, Professor, Dept. Atmospheric and Oceanic Science and Director, Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center (ESSIC), University of Maryland

Dr.  Busalacchi describes the role university research centers can play in facilitating cross-sector efforts in climate change.  His presentation is entitled, “Climate Observations and Services: Complementary Roles across Government, Academia, and the Private Sector.”

8:45-8:50 Discussion

8:50-9:20 Himadri Pakrasi, George William and Irene Koechig Freiberg Professor of Biology in Arts & Sciences, Professor of Energy in the School of Engineering and Director, International Center for Advanced Renewable Energy and Sustainability (I-CARES), Washington University in St. Louis

Dr. Pakrasi illustrates the global engagement of university-based centers in sustainability through his presentation, “Energy and Environment – An Academic’s View on National and International Partnerships.”  He will review the objectives and activities of I-CARES as well as the McDonnell Academy Global Energy and Environment Partnership, which has 21 universities, mostly from Asia, as members.

9:20-9:25 Discussion

9:25-9:55 Lorinda Rowledge, Provost, Bainbridge Graduate Institute and Karin Borgerson, alumna and board member, Bainbridge Graduate Institute
 
The Bainbridge Institute was established to imbue future corporate leaders with the training they would need to execute activities that were simultaneously profitable, socially responsible, and environmentally sustainable.  In her presentation, “Revolutionizing Business Education for Good,” Dr. Rowledge discusses the Bainbridge Institute’s unique approach to this mission – an MBA in Sustainable Business.  The Institute’s degree program illustrates how to infuse environmental and socially responsible innovation into a core curriculum. Karin Borgerson, a graduate of the institute, discusses the program’s impact on her education and career.

9:55-10:00 Discussion

10:00-10:20 Break

Government-Led Partnerships

10:20-10:50 Alex Folk, Center Operations Manager, Manufacturing Extension Partnership, NIST

NIST has been able to positively impact the environment by encouraging “green practices” among companies it works with, particularly those already retooling their processes in NIST’s lean manufacturing program.  Mr. Folk’s presentation is entitled, “Green Suppliers Network – A Public Private Partnership, Delivering Impact.”

10:50-10:55 Discussion

10:55-11:25 Alan Hecht, Director for Sustainable Development, Office of Research and Development, at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Dr. Hecht is currently the Director for Sustainable Development, Office of Research and Development, at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  As such, he has been heavily engaged with other federal agencies, non-profits, and companies in the pursuit of sustainable development projects based on a wide variety of partnering models.  Dr. Hecht’s presentation is entitled, “Role of Partnering in Sustainable Development.”

11:25-11:30 Discussion

11:30-12:45 LUNCH – Industry Partnerships

Dennis Treacy, Vice President for Environmental and Corporate Affairs, Smithfield Foods

What happens when a former government regulator crosses over to the corporate side?  For Mr. Treacy, the move allowed him to practice much of what he had preached.  At Smithfield Foods, Mr. Treacy has championed environmental sustainability as a core value in Smithfield’s Corporate Social Responsibility portfolio.  For the last 6 years, Smithfield Foods has made Fortune Magazine’s “most admired companies” list, ranking first in “most admired beef and pork producers.”  Some of Smithfield Food’s recent environmental initiatives include joining the Chicago Climate Exchange (with a commitment to reduce greenhouse gases by 6% by 2010) and moving towards methane capture from wastewater treatment.  Mr. Treacy will summarize these and other efforts, in his presentation entitled “Corporate Social Responsibility at Smithfield Foods.”

Academies and GUIRR Member Efforts

12:45-1:15 Marty Perreault, Director, Roundtable on Science and Technology for Sustainability, The National Academies
 
 Within the National Academies, the Sustainability Roundtable is the focal point for most sustainability-related activities.  In her presentation, “Sustainability at the National Academies,” Ms. Perrault will briefly describe the Roundtable and explain its upcoming project on best practices in partnerships for sustainability – a timely effort which should be able to inform GUIRR members interested in forming such partnerships.

1:15 – 1:20 Discussion  

1:20 – 1:50 Round Robin Discussion of GUIRR members’ sustainability efforts/partnerships:   Lessons Learned 

 Moderator:  Dan Mote, President, University of Maryland

Updates and Discussions on Current GUIRR Projects

1:50-2:00 Summary Update of Data Overload, Partnerships for Emerging Research Institutions, Federal Demonstration Partnership and University-Industry Demonstration Partnership

Dan Mote, President, University of Maryland

In an effort to minimize time spent on project updates, these projects’ activities since February will be summarized by the GUIRR co-chair.

2:00-2:10 Q&A between Membership and Working Group Leaders

- Data Overload:  Tilak Agerwala
- Partnerships for Emerging Research Institutions:  Vijaya Melnick
- Federal Demonstration Partnership:   Nancy Wray
- University-Industry Demonstration Partnership: Susan Butts on behalf of Bob Killoren

2:10-2:40 Science and Engineering Workforce Project Update
Kelly Sullivan, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and George Reynolds, Northrop-Grumman

Drs. Sullivan and Reynolds will discuss the current state of play of the science and engineering workforce project selected by a vote of feet at the last meeting.  As currently framed, the  project seeks to determine whether a professional marketing approach to attracting students in S&E can make a difference in career choice.

2:40-2:55 Discussion

2:55-3:00 Proposal of New Topics or Projects for GUIRR

3:00   Adjourn