John A. McLachlan

Renowned biologist Dr. John A. McLachlan has dedicated his energy and efforts towards a better understanding of the environment, the impact people can have on it, and also the impact it can have on people. Currently he serves as the Director of the Center for Bioenvironmental Research at both Tulane and Xavier Universities. Previous to serving as Director of the center, he worked for two decades at the National Institute of Environmental Sciences and ultimately was named as Scientific Director. His scientific findings have been published in over 150 journal articles, 50 book chapters, and 5 edited books. His most recent work as the co-founder of RiverSphere, a program at Tulane University which pairs artists, scientists, and technology to educate and improve river communities on the New Orleans Mississippi front, has brought attention to the water crises that will affect the world at large if action is not taken.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

The Kennedy family is a well-known American legacy. Textbooks all across the country are filled with their many achievements in American government and politics. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. continues to live up to the Kennedy name through his contributions to the environment and society itself. His educational background includes graduating from Harvard University, studying at the London School of Economics, and receiving his law degree from the University of Virginia Law School. Following graduation he was awarded a Masters Degree in Environmental Law from Pace University School of Law. As president of the Waterkeeper Alliance and Chief Prosecuting Attorney for the Hudson Riverkeeper, he consistently takes on big corporations, refusing to accept the allowance of the huge amounts of pollution these businesses release into the atmosphere. He is renowned for his efforts to restore the Hudson River as well as protecting New York City’s water supply by creating the New York City watershed agreement, which is considered to be an international model. Mr. Kennedy’s environmental work across the Americas helps pave the way for environmental reform.

Waterways Lead (rough draft)

Water- the human body can only survive without it for three days. It is important to say the least, but imagine a place where drinking water is hard to come by. The idea is not as far-fetched as we may have once hoped. Many river basins, such as the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) basin are in dire need of global attention in order to avert what could become a huge crisis. Waterways 2007 is a biennial conference held at the University of North Texas March 13^th through March 15^th in which philosophers, scientists, politicians, managers, and specialists come together to discuss our world’s water problems. One of the featured speakers, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. of the Waterkeeper Alliance, will discuss issues such as water scarcity during the conference. Other speakers include Ramaswamy R. Iyer, Former Secretary of Water, Govt. of India and John A. McLachlan, Director, RiverSphere and the Katrina Environmental Research & Restoration Network. Waterways sessions are free and open to the public and for more information visit the official website www.water.unt.edu.