RSVP for Nelson Institute Earth Day Conference

press release: Monday, April 23, 2018 from 9:00AM-5:00PM

The Honorable Minister Tshekedi (T.K.) Khama II, Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism in the Republic of Botswana, will deliver the keynote address and be among other notables to speak at the 12th annual Earth Day Conference on  Monday, April 23, in Madison, Wisconsin.

“Up for the Challenge: Innovation for People, Places, and the Planet” is the theme of the conference, hosted by the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, named for Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson.

A slate of local, national, and international speakers will provide a window into how science, conservation, corporate leadership and more are driving innovation, adaptation and solutions to global challenges like food insecurity, energy storage, and the effects of a changing climate.

“When Earth Day was created 50 years ago, we knew where leadership was going to come from,” says Nelson Institute Director, Paul Robbins. “Today, a new generation of leadership including cities, county governments, and international cooperation will lead the charge in environmental change.”

According to the BBC, Botswana is one of the best-governed countries in the world and conservation has played a strong role, helping drive a tourism industry that accounts for 12 percent of the nation’s GDP. Khama II will discuss Botswana’s innovative conservation efforts and the push from its leaders to address environmental challenges and opportunities.

Earth Day attendees will also hear more about how technology from drones, carbon extraction, and large-scale batteries are changing the world, and how the next generation of eco-leaders are being trained.

For instance, Marek Kubik, a young entrepreneur recognized in 2017 on the Forbes 30 under 30 list, will be among the panelists for the discussion: “Powering the Future: Can Batteries Save the Human Race?” Kubik is market director for the Washington DC-based energy storage company Fluence. He played an instrumental role in the development of the United Kingdom's first fully-commercial battery storage array at Kilroot Power Station in 2015.

Alejandro Meitin is an artist, lawyer, and environmental activist who co-founded the art collective Ala Plástica based in La Plata, Argentina. He will join panelists in a session titled: “Let's Talk About the Environment: Storytelling, Aesthetics, and the Politics of Transformation,” exploring the connection between arts and culture, which can both educate and inspire action around environmental challenges.

Alejandra Castrodad-Rodríguez, former resilience officer for San Juan, Puerto Rico, will join a panel discussion about the use of social media to improve disaster management and response.

Additionally, attendees will hear from U.S. mayors about the ways they are tackling environmental challenges head-on. Robbins will moderate a panel that includes Madison, Wisconsin Mayor, Paul Soglin; Flint, Michigan Mayor, Karen Weaver; Carmel, Indiana Mayor, Jim Brainerd; and former Houston, Texas Mayor, Annise Parker, who co-founded the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda.

The conference will take place at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, 1 John Nolen Dr., Madison, Wisconsin. Pre-registration for the conference is required and closes Thursday, April 19. For the complete conference program, visit http://nelson.wisc.edu/earthday