Just outside the entrance of its world-class water quality research facilities, Trent University announced on March 27 that internationally-renowned environmentalist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will be delivering the keynote address for the 2008 International Association for Great Lakes Research (IAGLR) Conference at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 22.

Made possible as part of The David Sheperd Family Lecture Series, the event has been opened up to the public by Trent University to allow Canadians access to this extraordinary international speaker. Mr. Kennedy’s presentation will take place at the Peterborough Memorial Centre and is open to all. Tickets for the event start at $20 and can be purchased by calling (705) 743-3561 or ordering online by visiting the David Sheperd Family Lecture Series website.

“Mr. Kennedy’s impressive track record instigating positive environmental change across North America makes him the ideal speaker for this important international conference,” said Dr. Chris Metcalfe, chair of the 2008 IAGLR conference at Trent and director of the University’s Institute for Watershed Science. “We hope that by bringing his powerful message to this audience, it will bring more attention to the issues of the environment, particularly the quality of the water that each one of us needs to survive, and inspire individuals to act constructively at a time when our water resources are under threat.”

Mr. Kennedy’s reputation as a resolute defender of the environment stems from his extensive record of successful legal actions. Mr. Kennedy helped the organization Riverkeeper lead the fight to restore the Hudson River. The group's achievement helped spawn more than 160 Waterkeeper organizations across the globe. Mr. Kennedy serves as senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council in the United States, chief prosecuting attorney for the Hudson Riverkeeper and president of Waterkeeper Alliance. He is also a clinical professor and supervising attorney at Pace University School of Law's Environmental Litigation Clinic.

The annual IAGLR Conference represents one of the greatest meetings of the minds for scientists involved in studying the Great Lakes and other large lakes around the world. Alternating each year between the United States and Canada, in 2008 this prestigious event will be held at Trent University from May 19 to 23.

In addition to the many opportunities for scientific collaboration, Dr. Metcalfe noted that this conference will produce several benefits to the Peterborough community. Approximately 500 delegates are expected to attend over the five day period, generating more than $432,400 in new revenues in the local area. This figure takes into account the economic impact of both on campus and off-campus accommodation, visitor spending, and ticket revenues. The conference will also attract dozens of national and international media to Peterborough to cover the conference and Mr. Kennedy’s presentation.

Dr. Metcalfe thanked the David Sheperd Family for their generous support as the lead sponsor of Mr. Kennedy’s presentation. The purpose of the David Sheperd Family Lecture Series is to introduce Trent students to leading speakers on environmental global issues and significantly build on the University’s globally recognized expertise in environmental research and teaching. Dr. Metcalfe also expressed his thanks to Corus Entertainment as the lead media sponsor of this event, who have generously committed to promoting this event across the province and locally on CHEX TV, 101.5 The Wolf and 980 KRUZ radio.

Supporting a total population of more than 35 million people and myriad other plant and wildlife species, the Great Lakes Basin represents one of the most significant environmental regions of North America. The International Association for Great Lakes Research is one of the leading organizations dedicated to dedicated to sharing knowledge about this vast ecosystem and is responsible for generating hundreds of studies every year that examine everything from environmental chemistry to public policy.