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Samuel A. Graham Dean's Lecture and Installation of Dr. Jonathan T. Overpeck
U-M Provost Martin Philbert opened the Oct. 26 event by welcoming the audience to the “installation of a new dean at a freshly envisioned and newly named school,” adding that “we’re at an important beginning, a moment for both serious thought and joyous celebration.” Philbert went on to welcome Don Graham, U-M alum and founder of the U-M Graham Sustainability Institute, to the podium to share his remarks.
In his lecture, the newly installed Samuel A. Graham Dean, Jonathan Overpeck, himself a renowned climate change scientist, described the ongoing climate crisis as “the mother of all challenges for humankind in this century.” Overpeck then addressed the need for universities to regain public trust in the face of populist attacks on science and intellectual elites. “We have to be a more functioning partner in society,” he said, “ and I think we can do this around environment and sustainability.” Having identified these challenges, the new dean expressed his appreciation for the model of SEAS as one based upon campus-wide collaboration, as well as partnerships throughout the region and around the globe.
“We're going to be 21st century scholars,” he said, “We're going to achieve more real-world environment and sustainability impact than any other university has. This is what's in our hearts. We have to do more than ever before to ensure a sustainable and just world for future generations.”
Watch highlights from Peck's lecture below.
Watch Peck's complete lecture below.