Celebrating 50 Years of Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology
The 2011-2012 academic year marks the 50th year that the Department of Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology (REES) has been operating at the University of Alberta. Although it has been known by various names throughout its history*, one thing has remained consistent -- it has always been at the forefront in the discovery, application and dissemination of knowledge of economic, sociological and business dimensions of agriculture, food, forestry and the environment.
We intend to celebrate this year with a retrospective of our department's history and highlights. Our biggest event will take place May 25-26, 2012 for a celebration of scholarship exploring past developments and future directions in agriculture and natural resource development. It will take place in Lister Centre at the University of Alberta campus.
The schedule of events (including registration details, accomodation information, as well as options available for our 50th Anniversary Endowment Fund) is listed below:
Friday, May 25, 2012
4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Telus Centre, University of Alberta
Jeffrey Simpson, National Affairs Columnist, The Globe and Mail
Keynote address: "Contemporary Opportunities and Challenges in the Development of Natural Resources"
Award-winning journalist and current events expert Jeffrey Simpson has his finger on the pulse of Canada and the world. Simpson has been recognized with Canada's top literary awards: the Governor-General's award for non-fiction writing, the National Magazine Award for political writing, and the National Newspaper Award for his newspaper columns.
More background on Jeffrey Simpson available here.
A reception in the Telus Centre will follow this keynote address.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Internationally recognized keynote speakers and panelists will lead a discussion on 50 years of history and future developments in agricultural economics, environmental sociology, and environmental economics.
Session One: Agricultural Economics
Keynote: Colin Carter (MSc, 1976), University of California, Davis
Winner of the AAEA award for Outstanding Essay for the 21st Century
Panelists: Merle Faminow (MSc, 1977), International Development Research Centre
Brenda Brindle (MSc, 1981), Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development
Session Two: Environmental Sociology
Keynote: Thomas Dietz, Michigan State University
Vice-chair, U.S. National Academies Panel on Advancing the Science of Climate Change
Panelists: Tom Beckley, University of New Brunswick
Norah MacKendrick (MSc, 2003), Rutgers University
Session Three: Resource and Environmental Economics
Keynote: Catherine Kling, Iowa State University
President, Association of Environmental and Resource Economics
Panelists: Janaki Alavalapati (MSc, 1990, PhD, 1995), Virginia Tech University
Ken Nicol (MSc, 1969), Retired Academic
Campus Guided Tour
4:30 PM to 5:30 PM
Lister Centre, University of Alberta
Join a guided tour and walk down a memory lane of past and present department facilities. This will include our current department location as well as previous locations such as Ring House, adjacent to the Faculty Club.
Gala Banquet and Dance
6:00 PM to 1:00 AM
Old Timers Cabin, 9430 - 99th Street (Scona Road), Edmonton
Excellent Food, Entertainment, Live Music, Award Presentations
Musical performances by Blind Dog Electric Blues Band
Who should I contact?
For program details and contact information, send an e-mail to REcelebration@ualberta.ca or call Brett Lambert, Communications Coordinator, at (780) 492-0815.
How do I register?
An online registration and payment system has been set up. You can also complete the registration form found on the back page of the brochure and mail it to:
Department of Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology (attn: 50th anniversary)
515 General Services Building
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta
CANADA T6G 2H1
Along with your registration for this event, please consider contributing to the 50th Anniversary Endowment Fund, which has been established to support graduate student scholarships, the department's seminar series, and facility improvements such as the E.R. Berg Memorial Library. Our goal is to raise $50,000. Help build a legacy and contribute to this endowment fund.
Accomodation
For those who need overnight accomodation on Friday, May 25, 2012 and Saturday, May 26, 2012, we have reserved a block of rooms at the Lister Centre. Please contact the Front Desk at (780) 492-6056 and quote Rural Economy 50th Anniversary for a group discount.
* In 1961, the Department was known as Agricultural Economics and Farm Management. Subsequent name changes include Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology (1969), Rural Economy (1975), and finally to Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology (2011).