Former State DNR Chief Examines Public-Private Relationships in Lawrence University Lecture Series

APPLETON, WIS. -- Former Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Secretary George Meyer will discuss new relationships between government and the corporate community that are designed to enhance environmental protection without harming business competitiveness in the second installment of the Lawrence University lecture series "Debating Globalization: Politics, Economics and Culture."

Meyer presents "Government-Business Environmental Cooperation for the Advancement of Business Competitiveness in a Globalizing Age" Thursday, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. in Science Hall, Room 102 on the Lawrence campus. The event is free and open to the public.

Meyer, who joined the Wisconsin DNR in 1972 and served as the agency's secretary from 1993-2001, will focus on new public-private initiatives he's helped develop in Wisconsin, the Netherlands and Germany's Free State of Bavaria that are based on environmental management systems. These cooperative systems aim to increase environmental performance by businesses while also reducing those government regulations that are least likely to positively impact environmental protection.

Since leaving his secretary post, Meyer has served as a special assistant to current DNR Secretary Darrell Bazzell. Meyer will join the Lawrence faculty this fall as the Stephen Edward Scarff Memorial Visiting Professor of Environmental Studies for the 2002-2003 academic year.