The 2024 Baker Institute International Symposium
Toward Environmental Justice: Transition to a Sustainable Future
October 9 and 10, 2024, 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM ET
Alumni Hall (A100), Brumbaugh Academic Center, Juniata College
https://www.youtube.com/live/6TnQDp2-p98?si=xGIwES6bKFDBRVTm
The Baker Institute International Symposium aims to engage scholars and practitioners of peace and conflict resolution through dialogue on pressing issues facing the world in the 21st century. Expert panelists share their perspectives and scholarship with the Juniata and Huntingdon community members and abroad via Zoom. Symposium moderators facilitate the sharing of knowledge and reflections among panelists and participants. Baker Institute faculty and students record and summarize the key learnings during the symposium and produce Symposium Papers, compiled in a publication to be made available widely by the end of each year.
The world stands today at a critical juncture where the urgency to address environmental degradation, climate change, national and human security, and just transition to a resilient and sustainable future has never been greater. The effects go beyond the environmental sphere and impact our economies, productivity, human health, and well-being. How can we reassess policies, practices, scientific and technological transitional progress and reaffirm our commitment to addressing these climate-induced crisis?
The Baker Institute symposium aims to explore these complex questions. We invite speakers from various disciplines and backgrounds to share their insights, expertise, and experiences on these issues. The symposium will provide a platform for dialogue, challenge our students, faculty members, and staff, and improve our shared understanding of the changing nature of global affairs.
Past Symposiums
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- 2022 - The War in Ukraine: Global Perspectives
- 6 speakers and 150 participants
- 2023 - The New Cold War?: Strategic Competition and the Future World Order
- 7 speakers and 350 participants
- 2022 - The War in Ukraine: Global Perspectives
Schedule:
October 9, 2024 - Symposium Session #1 A100, Brumbaugh Academic Center, Juniata College
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- 6:00 PM - Welcome Remarks
- Zia Haque, Director, The Baker Institute
- Lauren Bowen, Provost, Juniata College
- Amr Abdalla, Fellow, The Baker Institute
- Joseph Bock, Scholar in Residence, The Baker Institute
- 6:15 PM - Panelist Presentations
- Speaker 1 - Julia Marton-Lefèvre
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- Systems thinking leading to effective global leadership for the environment
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- Speaker 2 - Saleem Ali
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- Environment diplomacy and social justice
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- Speaker 3 - David Begay
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- Ecological justice: An Indigenous perspective as understood by the Dine' renowned elders and cultural expert
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- Speaker 1 - Julia Marton-Lefèvre
- 7:20 PM - Break / Refreshments
- 7:30 - Moderator Takeaways (Joseph Bock) and Q & A Session
- 8:20 - Closing Remarks
- Amr Abdalla, Fellow, The Baker Institute
- Zia Haque, Director, The Baker Institute
- Kaitlyn Granger, Program Coordinator, The Baker Institute
- 6:00 PM - Welcome Remarks
October 10, 2024 - Symposium Session #2 A100, Brumbaugh Academic Center, Juniata College
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- 6:00 PM - Welcome Remarks
- Zia Haque, Director, The Baker Institute
- Jim Troha, President, Juniata College
- Amr Abdalla, Fellow, The Baker Institute
- Celina Seftas, Director of Sustainability, Juniata College
- 6:15 PM - Panelist Presentations
- Speaker 1 - Youba Sokona
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- Sustainability development, climate change, and energy transition in Africa: Understanding the issues and what needs to be done
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- Speaker 2 - Gabriela Cuadrado-Quesada
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- Liquid justice: Stories from Bolivia and Costa Rica
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- Speaker 3 - Fernando Treviño
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- Proactive community engagement as foundation for environmental justice
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- Speaker 1 - Youba Sokona
- 7:20 PM - Break / Refreshments
- 7:30 - Moderator Takeaways (Celina Seftas) and Q & A Session
- 8:20 - Closing Remarks
- Amr Abdalla, Fellow, The Baker Institute
- Zia Haque, Director, The Baker Institute
- Kaitlyn Granger, Program Coordinator, The Baker Institute
- 6:00 PM - Welcome Remarks
Panelists:
Saleem Ali, Ph.D. Biography →
Pakistan, USA, Australia
- Professor of Energy and the Environment, University of Delaware
Saleem H. Ali, the Blue and Gold Distinguished Professor of Energy and the Environment at the University of Delaware, also serves as a Senior Fellow at Columbia University’s Centre on Sustainable Investment. His research specializes in resolving ecological conflicts and fostering peace among corporations, governments, and communities. Ali previously advised DeepGreen, a deep-sea mining company backed by Nauru, Kiribati, and Tonga. Prior to his current positions, he held academic roles at the University of Queensland and the University of Vermont and authored several notable books. In addition to his academic pursuits, Ali is actively involved in various environmental organizations, lending his expertise to their boards. His extensive experience spans both corporate and government sectors, with roles at the UK House of Commons, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, National Geographic, and General Electric. Furthermore, Ali contributes to global initiatives as a member of the United Nations International Resource Panel and The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Commission on Protected Areas.
David Begay, Ph.D. Biography →
Dine - Navajo Nation (Indian Nation and North American)
- Associate Research Professor, University of New Mexico's College of Pharmacy
David Begay, Ph.D., is an Associate Research Professor at the University of New Mexico's College of Pharmacy, specializing in Environmental Health Disparities. He has served as adjunct faculty at Northern Arizona University and as a professor and academic dean at Dine’ College. Currently, he is the Vice President of the Indigenous Education Institute in Washington. Dr. Begay has over 20 years of experience working on NSF, NASA, and other federal projects, contributing to Heliophysics educational outreach. A respected tribal elder, he provides cultural consultancy to organizations worldwide. Raised in the traditions of the Dine’ (Navajo) people, he is a member of the Dine’ Hatallii Association and serves on the Navajo Nation Human Research Review Board. Dr. Begay is also a disabled Vietnam combat veteran, embodying a deep commitment to both his cultural heritage and professional pursuits.
Gabriela Cuadrado-Quesada, J.d., Ph.D. Biography →
Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Spain (Latin America)
- Senior Lecturer and Researcher of Water Rights and Justice at IHE Delft
Gabriela Cuadrado Quesada is a Senior Lecturer and Researcher of Water Rights and Justice at IHE Delft, where she has been since 2017. Her research and teaching focus on the legal and institutional dimensions of water governance at local and national levels, emphasizing the role of community organizations in using legal tools to promote environmental justice and sustainable water use. Gabriela’s work explores the connections between community water practices, legal frameworks, environmental degradation, food production, and water pollution. She also examines the intersections of international human rights law, humanitarian law, and refugee law. Prior to joining IHE Delft, Gabriela was a PhD fellow at the University of New South Wales, Australia, where she researched groundwater governance. She holds a MSc in Water and Coastal Management, a MA in Human Rights and Education for Peace, and a Law Degree, with experience working for NGOs and as an environmental litigator in Costa Rica.
Julia Marton-Lefèvre Biography →
Hungry, France, USA (European)
- The Chair of the Board of the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT
Julia Marton-Lefèvre is Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT. She previously served as Director General of The International Union for Conservation of Nature, Rector of the University for Peace, Executive Director of LEAD International, and Executive Director of the International Science Council. She has authored numerous publications and is completing a book on leadership and sustainability. Currently, she advises organizations and chairs several international groups. She has held academic roles at Yale and serves on multiple advisory boards. She currently chairs the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement, the Donor Council of the Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund, the Villars Institute Foundation, and the Strategic Advisory Council of IDDRI, among others. She has received numerous awards, including the AAAS Award for International Cooperation in Science, top honors from the French, Monegasque, and Hungarian Government, and The Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Council for Science and the Environment.
Youba Sokona, Ph.D. Biography →
Mali (Africa)
- Vice-Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Dr. Youba Sokona is an honorary Professor of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Public Policy with University College London, with over 35 years of experience in energy, environment, and sustainable development in Africa. He was the former Vice-Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for many years, starting in 2015. Previously, Sokona co-chaired IPCC Working Group III on climate change mitigation for the Fifth Assessment Report and served as a lead author since 1990. Sokona has demonstrated exceptional leadership, having led the conception and development of the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative, served as the first Coordinator of the African Climate Policy Centre, and been Executive Secretary of the Sahara and Sahel Observatory. His expertise is widely sought, leading to affiliations with numerous boards and organizations, including as a member of the Science Advisory Committee of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis and a Special Advisor to the African Energy Leaders Group. Sokona is renowned for his technical knowledge, policy experience, and commitment to African-led development.
Fernando Treviño, J.D. Biography →
Mexico, USA (North America)
- Special Deputy Secretary for Environmental Justice, P.a. Department of Environmental Protection
Fernando Treviño holds the role in the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) as the Special Deputy Secretary for Environmental Justice, focusing on ensuring equitable treatment and engagement of all individuals in the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws. He works to identify environmental issues affecting marginalized communities. Treviño has dedicated himself to working with vulnerable and underrepresented groups, advocating for immigrant rights, and empowering communities of color in the political and governmental spheres. Before joining DEP, Treviño gained experience with the Mexican State Department at the Mexican Consulate in San Antonio, Texas, and Philadelphia, PA. He served as Pennsylvania State Director for NDRC and Pennsylvania Director of Constituency Outreach and Partnerships at For Our Future. Additionally, he was Deputy Executive Director of Philadelphia’s Mayor’s Office of Immigrant and Multicultural Affairs, overseeing the City’s Language Access Program and liaising diverse coalitions such as the Commission on African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs and the Commission on Asian-American Affairs.
Symposium Committee
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Zia Haque
Director of The Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies; Assistant Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies
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Kaitlyn Granger
Event Manager; Program Coordinator, The Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies
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Amr Abdalla
Master of Ceremonies; Scholar in Residence, The Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies
Explore our Annual Reports and Events:
- Baker Institute YouTube Channel
- 2022-2023 Baker Institute Annual Report
- 2021-2022 Baker Institute Annual Report
- 2020-2021 Baker Institute Annual Report
- 2019-2020 Baker Institute Annual Report