Contact: Jeff Bliss
(805) 756-1511
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cal Poly Forums Honor Warren, Carly Baker; Experts To
Discuss Future of
Polytechnic, Science and Tech Universities
"The Future of Polytechnic & Science and Technology Universities" is the title of the inaugural Baker Forum, April 5-6 at Cal Poly.
Warren and Carly Baker
Established by the Cal Poly President's Cabinet to commemorate the more
than two decades of service to Cal Poly by university President Warren
J. Baker and his wife, Carly, the biennial Baker Forum will bring
together leaders from higher education, high-tech industries, and
national and state governments.
The forum's discussions will have three areas of focus: preparing
better-educated and diverse students for careers in science, math,
engineering and technology; increasing partnerships among universities,
industry and government in research and education; and addressing
ethical challenges involved with science and technology's role in
society.
Award-winning author and researcher Stephen Jay Gould will serve as the 2002 forum's keynote speaker in a public program in the Christopher
Cohan Center on April 5 from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
Gould teaches biology, geology and the history of science at Harvard University, where he has
been on the faculty since 1967. Well known for his scientific writings, in particular his monthly column in Natural History magazine, he is the
author of more than 20 books.
Walter E. Massey, president of Atlanta's Morehouse College, will be
recognized during the forum as the first Wiley Lifetime Achievement
Award recipient. He is the former director of the National Science
Foundation -- the government's lead agency for support of research and
education in mathematics, science and engineering -- and the Argonne
National Laboratory. He currently serves as a member of the
Presidential Committee on Science and Technology.
Massey is a former chairman and president of the American Association
for the Advancement of Science. John Wiley and Sons Inc. funds the
Wiley Lifetime Achievement Award, which will be given to Massey during
the public event April 5.
"The Baker Forum will provide a vital exchange of ideas on critical
issues affecting higher education - especially those pertaining to polytechnic
programs,
institutes and universities that have a strong concentration in the
areas of science and technology," said university Provost Paul Zingg.
Envisioned as a biennial event, the Baker Forum will focus on the role
of higher education in addressing public policy issues and pay tribute
to individuals who have made significant contributions to higher
education. The event was created and funded by the Cal Poly President's
Cabinet, a group of more than 40 industry, government and community
leaders who provide advice and counsel to the university.
"The forum is designed to honor the Bakers' leadership, vision and
contributions to the university and to American higher education,"
according to President's Cabinet Chair Jaime Oaxaca. "It not only will
be a fitting tribute to a wonderful team, but it also will provide
prominent educators, industry leaders and public policy makers with
ideas on how we can better plan for the future and educate students for
the many opportunities ahead, as well as the numerous challenges our
society faces."
The event is expected to attract national and international business
and industry leaders, university presidents, provosts and other
representatives of major polytechnic, scientific and technological
institutions from the United States, Latin America, Europe and Asia.
Additional information will be released when details are finalized. For
more information, see the Baker Forum Web site
http://www.bakerforum.calpoly.edu/
or contact Zingg, at (805) 756-2186.
His e-mail address is: pzingg@calpoly.edu.
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