2012-10-5

Commemorative Lectures by Winners of the Blue Planet Prize 2012

Commemorative Lectures by Winners of the Blue Planet Prize 2012

The National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) is pleased to host the commemorative lectures to be given by winners of the 2012 Blue Planet Prize on November 2 (Friday), 2012. This prize recognizes scientific contributions to environmental issues. Winners are invited to NIES every year to address researchers at the institute as well as other members of the Tsukuba community.

This year the recipients of the prize, Dr. Thomas E. Lovejoy (USA) and Professor William E. Rees (Canada), with Dr. Mathias Wackernagel (Switzerland) will present a lecture at NIES, as follows:

  • Date: November 2 (Friday), 2012
  • Time: 13:00-15:10 (Reception from 12:30)
  • Place: OHYAMA Memorial Hall (Main Research Building I, 2F) at the National Institute for Environmental Studies (16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba)
  • Language: English. There will be no simultaneous interpretation.
  • Cost: This event is free but requires pre-registration.

Please complete the following online application form by October 25 (Thursday) if you would like to attend:
# Application period has ended.

Access

The National Institute of Environmental Studies is located on Nishi Odori, just north of the intersection of Nishi Odori and Route 354. (The intersection is named "Inarimae".) From Tsukuba Center, drive south on Nishi Odori, past Minami Odori and Doho Park (which will be on your left). Continue south past the west campus of the National Institute for Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST West) on your right and the Meteorological Research Institute on your left. At the following intersection, turn right (you will see a Coco's restaurant on your left). If you reach Route 354, you have gone too far

The OHYAMA Memorial Hall is located on the NIES Campus. After entering the main gate of NIES, please head straight along the main entrance road until you reach the Main Research Building I and then turn right. The route to the OHYAMA Memorial Hall will be signposted from here.

Blue Planet Prize

This year marks the 21st in which the Blue Planet Prize has been awarded. The prize is sponsored by the Asahi Glass Foundation, chaired by Tetsuji TANAKA and is aimed at the international environment field. Each year, two Blue Planet Prizes are awarded to individuals or organizations responsible for outstanding achievements in scientific research and its application - by means of which they have contributed to the solving of global environmental problems. The Board of Directors and Councilors has selected the following recipients for this year.

2012 Recipients of the Blue Planet Prize:

Professor William E. Rees (Canada, left),Dr. Mathis Wackernagel (Switzerland, right)

Professor William E. Rees (Canada, left)
Professor, University of British Columbia, FRSC (Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada)
Dr. Mathis Wackernagel(Switzerland, right)
President, Global Footprint Network

Collaboratively developing and advancing “Ecological Footprint”, a comprehensive accounting system used to evaluate human demand on ecosystems in comparison to those ecosystems' capacity for self-renewal. This approach measures human carrying capacity and facilitates the assessment of the risks posed by overconsumption for planetary stability.

Dr. Thomas E. Lovejoy (USA)

Dr. Thomas E. Lovejoy (USA)
Professor, Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University

Becoming the first person to clarify habitat fragmentation damaging to biodiversity as caused by human activity and giving rise to environmental crisis. Since this time, he has been a leading influence in the world for the cause of environmental conservation.