FIU Geopolitical Summit to explore oil spill, health care reform, and poverty

MIAMI – The politics of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the impact of health care reform, and the global challenges of poverty will be on the table at Florida International University’s second Geopolitical Summit on Oct 18-19.

Guest speakers will include former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbit, who will discuss “The Politics of the Spill: The Role of Science, Policy and Ethics in Shaping Environmental Policy Decisions”; Paul Collier, professor of economics and director of the Center for the Study of African Economies at Oxford University, who will discuss “The Bottom Billion: the Challenges of Poverty in the World”; and Len Nichols, professor of health policy and director of the Center for Health Policy Research and Ethics at George Mason University, who will discuss “Challenges to Health Care Reform in the U.S. and Beyond.”

FIU professors will serve as panelists at each session.

“FIU is proud to host this exciting gathering of some of the world’s leading thinkers in international relations, political science, health and environmental issues to discuss our most pressing global challenges,” said FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg. “There is no better location for this exchange than Miami – one of the world’s most exciting international cities and most dynamic hemispheric hubs.”

The summit will be held Monday, Oct. 18 at the FIU Graham Center Ballrooms on the  Modesto A. Maidique Campus, 11200 SW 8^th St., Miami and Tuesday, Oct. 19 at FIU’s Wolfe University Center Ballrooms on the Biscayne Bay Campus, 3000 NE 151^st St., North Miami. For a full schedule of events, biographies of the guest speakers and information on obtaining tickets, please visit http://summit.fiu.edu.

This year’s summit will spotlight three FIU colleges and schools: the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), which includes many of FIU’s internationally oriented disciplines; the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine; and the newly formed School of Environment, Arts and Society (SEAS), which brings together faculty and students in the natural and social sciences with those in the humanities to understand the world’s pressing environmental challenges, identify solutions, educate current and future leaders, and inform the public. SIPA and SEAS are located in the College of Arts & Sciences.

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is the summit’s presenting sponsor and its media sponsor is The Miami Herald.

Media Contact: Madeline Baró at 305-348-2234.