Bjorn Lomborg to speak at UAF

Submitted by Jenn Wagaman
Phone: 907-474-5082
04/11/08

Author and activist Bjorn Lomborg will give a free public lecture and book signing Thursday, April 17, 2008 at 7 p.m. at the Charles W. Davis Concert Hall on the UAF campus.

The lecture is part of the University of Alaska International Polar Year visiting author series. Lomborg will discuss his most recent book, "Cool It," which questions current attention by media and policymakers on environmental issues and argues that attention should instead be focused on problems like the AIDS epidemic, fighting malaria and providing a safe supply of drinking water to the world’s people. Both "Cool It" and Lomborg’s earlier book,"The Skeptical Environmentalist," have drawn criticism from scientists and policymakers and have spurred the development of websites and scientific papers dedicated solely to debunking Lomborg’s arguments.

In 2004, Lomborg organized the Copenhagen Consensus, a conference that brings together some of the world’s top economists to prioritize solutions to the world’s biggest challenges, asking them, "With limited resources, how can we do the most good possible?" Lomborg’s 2006 conference hosted top United Nations ambassadors, bringing together leaders from China, India and the United States.

According to Salon.com, Lomborg is the person U.S. Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma calls on when he needs someone to debate Al Gore. In 2008, Lomborg and Gore were named by the "UK Guardian" as two of 50 people who could save the planet.

Lomborg’s commentaries have appeared regularly in such publications as the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Globe & Mail, The Guardian, The Daily and Sunday Telegraph, The Times, The Australian and the The Economist. He has appeared on TV shows such as "Politically Incorrect" and ABC’s "60 Minutes," along with shows on CNN, BBC, CNBC and PBS. In November 2001, Lomborg was named a Global Leader for Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum.

Lomborg will also be presenting at the University of Alaska Anchorage on Friday, April 18. His visit is made possible by the International Polar Year Office as well as the University of Alaska Shared Voices program, which is funded with support from BP and ConocoPhillips.

About IPY
The polar regions have profound significance for the Earth’s climate and environments, ecosystems and human society. IPY is an interdisciplinary and internationally coordinated research campaign, ushering in a new era of polar science. For more information on IPY, visit www.alaska.edu/ipy/.

CONTACT: Jenn Wagaman, UAF Center for Research Services outreach coordinator, at 907-474-5082 or jenn@alaska.edu. Cherie Solie, IPY statewide outreach manager, at 907-474-6264 or c.solie@uaf.edu .

Note to editors: Lomborg will be available for phone interviews prior to his lecture dates. For high-resolution photos of Lomborg, visit www.lomborg.com/about/pictures/.