FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jennifer Myers
The Aspen Institute
(202) 736-2906
jennifer.myers@aspeninstitute.org
Beth Foster
National Geographic magazine
(202) 857-7543
befoster@ngs.org
THE ASPEN ENVIRONMENT FORUM RELEASES SINGLE EVENT TICKETS
Public Invited to Attend Unique Evening Exchanges
Washington, DC, May 13, 2011 –– The Aspen Institute and National Geographic announce the release of individual tickets for select events at the 2011 Aspen Environment Forum, which runs from May 30 – June 2 in Aspen, CO. Individual tickets go on sale May 16 through the Aspen Show Tickets at the Wheeler at www.aspenshowtix.com or by calling (970) 920-5570.
Individual tickets are available for the following sessions:
Monday, May 30
• Coping With Calamity: The Art of Looking Ahead
Featuring Thomas Lovejoy, Bill McKibben, Stewart Brand, and Terry Garcia in conversation with Joel Achenbach
Headlines from the past two years tell an unsettling story: we live in an increasingly disaster-prone world. An Icelandic volcano shuts down air travel over the North Atlantic; an exploding drill rig coats the Gulf of Mexico with oil; epic floods (Nashville, Pakistan, Australia) and massive earthquakes (Haiti, Chile, New Zealand, Japan) kill hundreds of thousands of people and cost hundreds of billions of dollars. Some of these disasters were natural, some caused by humans, and some perhaps a mix of the two. Is it possible to build more resilience into our crowded and complex world? To what extent is preparedness merely a matter of investing resources and to what extent does it require changing mindsets?
Paepcke Auditorium at 5:30 PM
Tickets ($20) on sale at www.aspenshowtickets.com or (970) 920-5770
Tuesday, May 31
• Screening of Life in a Day: Followed by a conversation between director Kevin Macdonald and Elvis Mitchell
Last summer, YouTube put out a global call for home movies depicting life on July 24, 2010. The submissions—80,000 movies, which comprised 4,500 hours of footage from 192 countries—were edited into a compelling feature film, Life in a Day, produced by Ridley Scott and directed by Kevin Macdonald. On January 28, 2011, the film premiered at Sundance.
Wheeler Opera House at 8:00 PM
Tickets ($20) on sale at www.aspenshowtickets.com or (970) 920-5770
Wednesday, June 1
• John Francis in conversation with Boyd Matson
Pioneering activist and National Geographic Fellow John “Planetwalker” Francis took a vow of silence that lasted 17 years, during which he walked across America with a message of environmental stewardship that inspired thousands. His new National Geographic book, The Ragged Edge of Silence: Finding Peace in a Noisy World, offers lessons on the need for reflection in one’s life. In 2010, Francis became the first National Geographic Education Fellow.
Wheeler Opera House at 8:00 PM
Tickets ($20) on sale at www.aspenshowtickets.com or (970) 920-5770
Thursday, June 2
• The Genographic Project with Spencer Wells, Ph.D.
Scientist, author, and documentary filmmaker Spencer Wells set an extraordinary goal for his global team—capture an invaluable genetic snapshot of humanity before modern-day influences erase it forever. This research has culminated in the Genographic Project, the largest study of genetic anthropology ever undertaken. Dr. Wells takes us on a tour that spans the globe and 60,000 years, tracing the migrations of our ancient ancestors using genetic signposts carried in the DNA of people living today. This research reveals how the incredible tapestry of human diversity has been created through these epic journeys.
Wheeler Opera House at 8:00 PM
Tickets ($20) on sale at www.aspenshowtickets.com or (970) 920-5770
Along with these individual ticket sales, forum passes and single day passes are also on sale and available at www.aspenenvironment.org. Forum passes and single day passes include admission to all panels each day, as well as meals.
Daily video highlights from the Environment Forum will be posted at www.aspenenvironment.org, and event updates will be featured on Twitter at #AEF2011 and www.facebook.com/AspenInstitute.
For more information on the Aspen Energy and Environment Program, please visit http://www.aspeninstitute.org/policy-work/energy-environment.
EDITORS’ NOTE: A limited number of press passes are available. For more information and to apply, please visit https://aspeninstitute.wufoo.com/forms/aspen-environment-forum-press-registration/.
The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 400 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; live events; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 9,600 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com.
The Aspen Institute mission is twofold: to foster values-based leadership, encouraging individuals to reflect on the ideals and ideas that define a good society, and to provide a neutral and balanced venue for discussing and acting on critical issues. The Aspen Institute does this primarily in four ways: seminars, young-leader fellowships around the globe, policy programs, and public conferences and events. The Institute is based in Washington, DC; Aspen, Colorado; and on the Wye River on Maryland's Eastern Shore. It also has an international network of partners.
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