Former NOAA Administrator to speak at UO environmental law conference

Jane Lubchenco, former administrator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is scheduled to speak at the 2014 Public Interest Environmental Law Conference, "Running Into Running Out." 

Lubchenco is the Wayne and Gladys Valley Professor of marine biology and distinguished professor of zoology at Oregon State University. She was the first female undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere where she also served as administrator for NOAA from 2009 to 2013.

Under her leadership, NOAA focused on fisheries' sustainability and profitability, restoring oceans to a healthy state, forecasting the increasingly extreme weather, addressing climate change, and strengthening science and ensuring scientific integrity.

Prior her time with NOAA, Lubchenco co-founded three organizations: The Leopold Leadership Program, the Communication Partnership for Science and the Sea and Climate Central. The organizations were created to communicate scientific knowledge to the public, policy makers, media and industry. She also co-founded a research consortium, Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans, that studies the near-shore ocean along the coasts of Oregon and California.

The 2014 PIELC will take place February 27 through March 2 at the University of Oregon. "Running Into Running Out" conveys a sense of urgency that we must take greater action to prevent ourselves from running out of the resources necessary for survival. PIELC is an opportunity for lawyers, students, scientists, activists and citizens to gather and discuss issues critical to our planet.

- from the UO School of Law