Media Advisory: Former Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt to talk about Wild Places
Former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt will discuss “Land Use, Prosperity, and the Future of Wild Places” at Wake Forest University on Feb. 7.
The lecture, sponsored by Wake Forest’s Center for Energy, Environment, and Sustainability (CEES), will begin at 7 p.m. in the Kulynych Auditorium at the Byrum Welcome Center. The event is free and open to the public.
He will also speak to environmental science and law classes while visiting campus.
Nominated by President Clinton, Babbitt served for eight years (1993 to 2001) as the Secretary of the Interior. While in this position, he focused not only on environmental protection, but also on restoration. He helped to shape policies for old growth forests in the Pacific Northwest, preserved desert landscapes in California, sought to protect headwaters and their surrounding forests, and began the work of restoring the Everglades in Florida. Babbitt also revitalized the Endangered Species Act and personally brought the first wolf back into Yellowstone National Park to begin reintroduction of the species.
He is the author of the 2005 book, “Cities in the Wilderness: A New Vision of Land Use in America.” Babbitt earned a bachelor of arts in geology from Notre Dame, a master’s degree in geophysics from the University of Newcastle, England, and an L.L.B. from Harvard Law School. His political career began in Arizona, where he served as the state’s attorney general for four years before becoming governor. During his eight-year tenure as governor, the Arizona State Park system grew from one of the smallest to one of the most impressive in the country, boasting one of the highest percentages of public land.
Interviews: Mr. Babbitt is available for pre- and post-talk interviews. Contact the news office to make arrangements.
About Wake Forest University: Wake Forest University combines the best traditions of a small liberal arts college with the resources of a large research university. Founded in 1834, the school is located in Winston-Salem, N.C. The University’s graduate school of arts and sciences, divinity school, and nationally ranked schools of law, medicine and business enrich our intellectual environment. Learn more about Wake Forest University at www.wfu.edu.
