"Environmental Governance at the Leading Edge of Technology"
March 23–24, 2011
The conference will explore the need for the possible structure of anticipatory governance systems that are capable of protecting the environment and public health in the context of emerging technologies such as geo-engineering to address climate change, hydro-fracturing and deep water drilling to recover energy resources, synthetic biology to produce new fuels and other innovative materials, and expanding use of nanotechnologies.
Day 1 Video
Day 2 Video
Wednesday, March 23
8:30-9 am:
Registration and Breakfast
9–10:30 am
"The Governance Challenges Associated with Leading Edge Technology"
Moderator: Scott Schang, Vice President, Climate and Sustainability, the Environmental Law Institute
Brad Allenby, Lincoln Professor of Engineering and Ethics, and Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and of Law, Arizona State University
Presentation
David Rejeski, Director of Science and Technology Innovation Program, Woodrow Wilson International Institute for Scholars
Presentation
Gary Marchant, Lincoln Professor of Emerging Technologies, Law and Ethics at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University
Presentation
10:30–10:45 am
Break
10:45–12:30 pm
"The Technology Context—A Discussion of the Nature of Leading Edge Technology Including Information Technologies That May Help Resolve Governance Challenges"
Moderator: Jennifer Bowmar, Associate Professor and Shaw Fellow, The George Washington University Law School
Samual Thernstrom, Bipartisan Policy Center
Michael Rodemeyer, Science, Technology and Society Program, University of Virginia
Jerry Johnston, U.S. EPA Office of Environmental Information
Presentation
Jonathan Gilligan, Assistant Professor, Vanderbilt University
Presentation
12:30–1:15 pm
Lunch
1:15–1:30 pm
Announcement of the winner of first Jamie Grodsky Prize for Environmental Scholarship
1:30–3 pm
"The Strengths and Limitations of Existing Governance Structure"
Moderator: Robin Juni, Assistant Dean, The George Washington University Law School
Mark Greenwood, Partner, Ropes & Gray
Presentation
John Monica, Partner, Porter Wright
Presentation
Lynn Bergeson, Bergeson & Campbell
Presentation
3–3:15 pm
Break
3:30–4:45 pm
"Environmental Impact Analysis in the Complex Technology Context"
Moderator: Robert Glicksman, J.B. Maurice C. Shapiro Professor of Law, The George Washington University Law School
Brad Karkkainen, Professor, University of Minnesota Law School
Paul B. Smyth, Of Counsel, Perkins Coie, and former Associate Solicitor, Division of Mineral Resources, U.S. Department of the Interior
Jim McElfish, Senior Attorney and Director, Sustainable Use of Land Program, ELI
Thursday, March 24
8:30–9 am:
Breakfast
9–10:30 am
"Public Engagement, Stakeholder Dialogues, and Information Availability"
Moderator: Barry Hill, Visiting Scholar, the Environmental Law Institute
Don Braman, Associate Professor, The George Washington University Law School
Presentation
Laura Bloomberg, Executive Director, Center for Integrative Leaderhip, University of Minnesota
Presentation
Dan Kahan, Elizabeth K. Dollard Professor of Law, Yale Law School
Hari Osofsky, Professor, University of Minnesota Law School and Associate Director of Law, Geography, and Environment with the Consortium on Law and Values in Health, Environment & The Life Sciences at the University of Minnesota
Presentation
10:30-10:45 am
Break
11–1 pm
Round Table Discussion of New Approaches to Government Oversight
Moderator: Lee Paddock, Associate Dean for Environmental Law Studies, The George Washington University Law School
Gary Marchant, Lincoln Professor of Emerging Technologies, Law and Ethics at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University
David Rejeski, Director of Science and Technology Innovation Program, Woodrow Wilson International Institute for Scholars
Dan Fiorino, Director, Center for Environmental Policy, Department of Public Administration, American University
Tracy Hester, Assistant Professor of Law and Director of the Environment, Energy and Resource Center, University of Houston Law Center
Michele Garkinfel, Policy Analyst and Associate Professor, J. Craig Venter Institute
Annie Petsonk, International Counsel, Climate and Air, Environmental Defense Fund