Speaker Series

Upcoming Speakers

Genetically Modified: Food Security, Health & the Environment
March 10, 2014
5:00–7:00 p.m.
EDU 1111

CLEANR convenes a panel of distinguished experts to explore some of the major issues raised by genetically modified food.  Panelists will initially present from their particular discipline on the health, security, environmental and intellectual property, and political issues of GM food.  Subsequently, the panelists will engage in a dialogue on the issues raised by their initial remarks, followed by an opportunity for questions from and discussions with the broader interdisciplinary audience of students, faculty, administrators, lawyers, government officials, and other members of the public. More about this event »

Past Speakers

In 2012-13, the primary focus was on environmental disaster response, liability and compensation, with a particular focus on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Speakers in the Disaster Law Series included:

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  Daniel A. Farber

  Sho Sato Professor of Law, University of California, Berkeley, on “Beyond Imagination: Government Blind Spots Regarding Catastrophic Risks” (Sept. 27, 2012). Professor Farber specializes in constitutional and environmental law in the United States, and has written numerous books and articles on disaster law. Farber is also the Co-Director of the Center for Law, Energy, and the Environment.

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  Kenneth Feinberg

  Feinberg Rozen, LLP and Fund Administrator, BP Deepwater Horizon Disaster Victim Compensation Fund, on “Unconventional Responses to Unique Catastrophes: Tailoring the Law to Meet the Challenges” (Mar. 21, 2013). Mr. Feinberg has been key to resolving many of our nation’s most challenging disputes. He is best known for serving as the Special Master of the Federal September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001. In addition, Mr. Feinberg administered victim compensation for the BP Deepwater Horizon, Virginia Tech, Aurora Theater, and Penn State-Sandusky tragedies, as well as TARP Executive Compensation.

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  Richard J. Lazarus

  Howard J. and Katherine W. Aibel Professor of Law, Harvard University, and former Executive Director, President’s Commission on “The 2010 Gulf Oil Spill: Investigating its Root Causes at the Request of the President” (Feb. 7, 2012). In this inaugural lecture, Professor Lazarus reflected on his experience as Executive Director of the President’s Commission to investigate the Gulf Oil Spill, focusing on the political challenges of running the Commission, the Commission’s findings, and subsequent events and lessons related to the disaster.

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  Lisa Grow Sun

  Associate Professor of Law, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University, on “Disaster Wars: War Metaphors and Disaster Response” (Mar. 28, 2013). Professor Sun has become a leader in the emerging field of Disaster Law, and her current work focuses on disaster mythology – misconceptions we have about the ways that people typically react in the aftermath of disasters.

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  Kent Syverud

  Dean, Washington University School of Law and Individual Trustee, BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Trust, on “Lessons from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Trust” (Nov. 9, 2012). Dean Syverud is a leader in American and legal education who has written and taught extensively about complex litigation, insurance law, civil procedure, negotiation, and legal education.