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Program

Monday, November 4 | UC Davis Conference Center | 8:00am - 4:30pm, Reception to Follow

Conference Program

Dialogues is a one-day conference that will feature dynamic talks from leading scientists, communicators, and policy makers, centered around a dialogue-style format including fireside chats and interactive Q+A sessions with the audience.

Click here to download the Dialogues agenda.

Welcome and Keynote Session

8:00 - 8:30 AM: Registration + Breakfast

8:30 - 8:50 AM: Opening Remarks

  • Welcome from Gary May, Chancellor, UC Davis
  • Video Message from Janet Napolitano, President, University of California

8:50 - 10:00 AM: Keynote Addresses and Opening Dialogue

  • Ram Ramanathan, Edward A. Frieman Endowed Presidential Chair in Climate Sustainability, UC San Diego
  • Karen Ross, Secretary, California Department of Food and Agriculture
  • Moderator: Prasant Mohapatra, Vice Chancellor of Research, UC Davis

10:00 - 10:15 AM: Break

Session 1: Genetic Engineering

10:15 - 10:35 AM: Introduction

  • Welcome from Helene Dillard, Dean, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, UC Davis
  • Session Introduction and Overview from Pamela Ronald, Distinguished Professor, Plant Pathology, UC Davis

10:35 AM - 12:00 PM: Perspectives, Dialogue and Audience Q+A

  • Sarah Davidson Evanega, International Professor of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Cornell University 
  • Robin Schoen, Director, Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources, National Academy of Sciences 
  • Moderator: Pamela Ronald, Distinguished Professor, Plant Pathology, UC Davis

12:00 - 1:00 PM: Lunch

Session 2: Climate Change Policy

1:00 - 1:20 PM: Introduction

  • Welcome from Benjamin Houlton, Professor and Chancellor's Fellow, Director of the John Muir Institute of the Environment, UC Davis
  • Session Introduction and Overview from Ken Alex, Director, Project Climate, UC Berkeley

1:20 - 2:45 PM: Perspectives, Dialogue and Audience Q+A

  • Lisa Dilling, Associate Professor, Environmental Studies, University of Colorado, Boulder
  • Javier Kinney, Executive Director, Yurok Tribe
  • Moderator: Ken Alex, Director, Project Climate, UC Berkeley

2:45 - 3:00 PM: Break

Session 3: Bridging the Innovation Gap

3:00 - 3:15 PM: Introduction

  • Welcome from Kent Bradford, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Plant Sciences, UC Davis
  • Session Introduction and Overview from Pamela Wu, Director of News and Media Relations, UC Davis and Substitute Host, Insight, Capital Public Radio

3:15 - 4:15 PM: Dialogue and Audience Q+A

  • Nathanael Johnson, Senior Writer, Grist and Author of All Natural: A Skeptic’s Quest to Discover if the Natural Approach to Diet, Childbirth, Healing, and the Environment Really Keeps Us Healthier and Happier
  • Czerne Reid, Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida College of Medicine and Co-Chair of the Education Committee of the National Association of Science Writers
  • Jackie Cole, Principal, VG Consulting
  • Moderator: Pamela Wu, Director of News and Media Relations, UC Davis and Substitute Host, Insight, Capital Public Radio

Closing

4:15 - 4:30 PM: Closing Remarks

4:30 - 6:00 PM: Networking Reception