News Story
September 27, 2023
La Roche Global Problems, Global Solutions Conference to Address Climate Change and Environmental Justice
PITTSBURGH, Sept. 27, 2023 – On Friday, Oct. 27, La Roche University will host its annual Global Problems, Global Solutions conference.
Organized to focus on critical global concerns, the all-day conference will examine the effects of climate change and this year’s theme: Pathways to Environmental Justice.
Event registration will open at 9:30 a.m. in the Zappala Campus Center at La Roche’s campus in McCandless Township, followed by a welcome address, a keynote speaker, and several panel discussions with industry experts and community activists. The event is free and open to the public. Visit laroche.edu/global for details and registration.
“Since 2004 Global Problems, Global Solutions has served as a prime example of La Roche’s emphasis on global education and cultural understanding beyond our campus,” said Interim President Howard Ishiyama, Ph.D. “After a short hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are proud to continue this campus tradition, and we invite the community, especially all Pittsburgh-area students, to join us in taking action against the serious problems facing our world.”
Patricia M. DeMarco, Ph.D., former executive director of the Rachel Carson Homestead Association, will present the keynote address, “Coping Effectively with Climate Change: Grieving What is Lost, Preserving What Can Be Saved.” A native of Pittsburgh Dr. DeMarco obtained a doctorate in biology from the University of Pittsburgh. She has spent a 30-year career in energy and environmental policy in both private and public sector positions. Her first book, “Pathways to Our Sustainable Future – A Global Perspective from Pittsburgh,” explores positive pathways toward sustainability, based on 28 case studies in Pittsburgh.
The event will conclude with a screening and discussion of “Reclaiming Our Island,” a film directed by La Roche Professor and Film Program Director Crystal Fortwangler, Ph.D.
Global Problems, Global Solutions is a free, annual conference open to the public. Hosted by The Quainton Center for Global Engagement at La Roche, the conference uses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as a framework to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all.
###
About La Roche University: A private liberal arts university in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, La Roche University offers 66 undergraduate programs of study, six master’s degrees and one doctoral degree, with particular strengths in education, business, criminal justice, psychology, nursing, and health and medical sciences as well as interior architecture & design and graphic design. This residential university provides a vibrant campus community for nearly 1,200 men and women enjoying 30-plus student organizations and an exciting NCAA Div. III athletics program. Founded by the Sisters of Divine Providence in 1963, La Roche University embraces its Catholic heritage while welcoming people of all faiths and backgrounds. With a legacy of social justice and a commitment to international exchange, La Roche University educates students to be lifelong learners and achievers in an increasingly diverse and global society.