Roberts will lead a group discussion at 1 p.m. in the conference room in Building 1503. The seminar is being hosted by Bill Doll and Geri Moline of ESD.
"Sustainable development" has been defined by the World Commission on the Environment and Development to mean: "Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." The key concept of sustainability is that the development, processing, transportation and consumption of resources must be made as much as possible to flow continuously as a closed loop or cycle, rather than as a once-through system, which is the pattern of most human development until now.
Our future survival will depend on our ability to live in balance with our environment and to improve our working relationships and communications with each other, explained Roberts. Since the next 25 years are critical to the earth's history in order to meet future human needs, it is a timely opportunity to consider the potential applications and implications of sustainable development for Oak Ridge.
Roberts is from Englewood, Colo., and has 45 years of experience as a civil and an environmental engineer. He began his career with Dames & Moore in 1951 and left as a senior partner in 1987 to become vice president at CH2M Hill, where he served as director of strategic planning and corporate director of marketing until his retirement. Since 1994, Roberts has been an independent consulting engineer and has been active in professional societies.
No advance clearance is required for U.S. citizens to attend events in the Building 1505 auditorium. Turn off Bethel Valley Road to the "west entrance" of ORNL. If driving west on Bethel Valley Road, you will pass the swan pond, the east or "main" entrance and the Graphite Reactor area to reach the west portal. Drive straight, past the west portal gate, and turn right at the first intersection. You will then see Building 1505, which is the only 3-story brick building in the vicinity, ahead on the right. Go in the front entrance and sign in at the desk in the lobby.
Roberts will also be making a public presentation on "Sustainable Development - What Is It All About? How Could It Impact Oak Ridge?" at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19, at the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge.
Robb Turner will host Roberts at NCEDR at the University of Tennessee on Friday, Feb. 20.
ORNL, one of DOE's multiprogram national research and development facilities, is managed by Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation.