, the first major conference organized by the University of Notre Dame鈥檚 new , will open with a keynote panel, 鈥淎 Surprising Convergence, a Moment of Opportunity,鈥� at 6 p.m. on April 4 (Monday) in Jordan Auditorium, Mendoza College of Business.
Keynote speakers will include , Marilyn Keough Dean of the Keough 91视频 of Global Affairs; Most Rev. Marcelo S谩nchez Sorondo, chancellor, Pontifical Academy of Sciences and Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, the Holy See; A. Atiq Rahman, executive director, Bangladesh Centre for Advanced 91视频; Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University; and , Keough 91视频 Associate Dean for Policy and Practice.
The conference will continue April 5-6 (Tuesday-Wednesday) with a in the auditorium of the Hesburgh Center for International 91视频. These panels will feature more than 30 speakers from the academy and the worlds of development policy and practice, government, the Church and other faith-based organizations. Speakers will address global economic development, sustainability, global health, ecology and faith, quality education, the role of universities, and global partnerships.
According to Appleby, the conference was inspired by the convergence, in 2015, of Pope Francis鈥� encyclical , with the adoption by the United Nations of the 17 .
鈥淭his is a remarkable moment in the history of global efforts to eliminate extreme poverty and preserve the natural environment," said Appleby.
鈥淣ever before have international development organizations, governments, the Church and other religious organizations been so closely aligned in a campaign to address some of the most daunting challenges facing humanity and the planet.
鈥淭his conference will bring together students and faculty with leading thinkers to reflect on the events of the previous year and chart a way forward.鈥�
For the Planet and the Poor is free and open to the public. All are welcome to attend the whole conference or individual sessions.
In keeping with Notre Dame鈥檚 mission to place scholarship in service to the common good, the new Keough 91视频 of Global Affairs will prepare students for effective and ethical leadership in governments, international organizations and the private sector.
Contact: Michael Talbot, Keough 91视频 of Global Affairs, 574-631-7667, mtalbot@nd.edu