N.Y. Times Environmental Writer, 'Putting the Planet on a Low-Carb Diet'

Utah State University students, faculty and community members are invited to a campus lecture by Matthew Wald, correspondent for the Washington bureau of “The New York Times.” Wald will discuss the importance of a solution to the greenhouse gas emissions crisis that includes coal mines and wind power.

Wald’s lecture is Tuesday, Oct. 7, at 3 p.m. in the Evan N. Stevenson Ballroom located in the Taggart Student Center on the USU campus. The lecture is a part of College of Natural Resources Week activities and is hosted by the USU Sustainability Council and the Office of the Provost.

 

The lecture is free and open to the public.

 

“Mr. Wald has written some excellent columns in The New York Times recently about the nation’s energy issues, including articles on both coal and nuclear options,” said Nat Frazer, dean of the College of Natural Resources. “We are fortunate to have him speaking at USU this fall given the importance of the extractive energy industry to Utah and President Albrecht’s commitment to lowering the university’s carbon footprint.”

 

Wald will discuss the complexity of getting on the right track to achieve big cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.

 

“For every major energy supplier that is willing to make changes, there is an obstacle,” Wald said. “There are ways around the problem, but everyone has to work together and want the change to make it possible.”

 

“We are excited to be working with The New York Times and the USU Sustainability Council to bring this nationally-recognized correspondent to campus,” said Executive Vice President and Provost Raymond T. Coward. “While many of us have read his work, we are delighted to have this opportunity to interact with Mr. Wald in person. Mr. Wald will provide unique insights on the challenges that we face in the sustainability of our world.”

 

This lecture is also part of the New York Times and USU’s Readership Program partnership. Through this partnership, USU purchases more than 400 New York Times newspapers every day for the campus community, and the New York Times makes available its correspondents for public lectures. This year, in collaboration with the New York Times, USU selected Wald to speak on sustainability and energy issues.

 

 “I am excited for Mr. Wald to come to campus and the overall push for awareness of sustainability on campus, because it relates to everyone,” said Shannon Moore, Associated Students of Utah State University College of Natural Resources vice president.  “I am also excited to hear Mr. Wald discuss solutions for sustainability. We want to know how we can be active in creating positive solutions to sustainability, rather than continually focusing on all the problems, so we can all work toward sustainable futures.”

 

Before joining the Washington bureau in September 1996, Wald covered transportation for the metropolitan desk for three years, energy and environment for Business Day and worked as a news clerk in the newspaper’s Washington bureau as a member of the metropolitan staff. Wald has also worked as a reporter for The Washington Post during the summer of 1976, following his graduation from Brown University with a bachelor’s degree in urban studies. At Brown, where he attended as a National Merit Scholar, he served as senior editor of The Brown Daily Herald, the campus newspaper, and as campus correspondent for The Times.