The next speaker in the University of Denver’s Bridges to the Future lecture series will be Elizabeth Economy, the C.V. Starr senior fellow and director for Asia studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.
Economy will speak at 7 p.m. Feb. 9 at the Newman Center for the Performing Arts. Economy has published widely on both Chinese domestic and foreign policy.
“I’m hoping to give them a sense of what’s going on in terms of China and its environment,” Economy says. “I think what’s transpiring in China is clearly affecting global economy. From public health to the environment, there is no issue on which decisions China makes is not going to be felt worldwide.”
Economy is a frequent guest on nationally broadcast radio and television programs, has testified before Congress on numerous occasions, and regularly consults for U.S. government agencies and companies on Chinese environmental issues.
Economy’s book, The Environmental Challenge to China’s Future, won the 2005 International Convention on Asia Scholars Award for the best social sciences book published on Asia. She is currently working on a new book focusing on the implications of China’s global quest for natural resources.
Economy started studying the environment in China nearly 20 years ago as a PhD student at the University of Michigan. She says the topic is always evolving and keeps her intrigued.
“The more that I delved into the issues, the more that I discovered how it touches upon so many different aspects of the country,” she says.
The Bridges to the Future lecture series theme for 2009-10 is China. The series was created in 2002 to build a framework of programs that stimulate civic dialog and discussion among Colorado communities. All Bridges to the Future events are free and open to the public, but RSVPs are required. RSVP by calling 303-871-2357, or RSVP online.