09/15/2009

Oceanographer, Filmmaker Cousteau Presenting York Lecture Sept. 22

Fabien Cousteau, grandson of the late undersea explorer and filmmaker Jacques-Yves Cousteau and an internationally known environmentalist and filmmaker in his own right, will present the fall 2009 York Distinguished Lecture—One Water One People—at 7 p.m. on Sept. 22 at The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center in Auburn. His presentation will focus on water-related environmental issues.

Cousteau grew up exploring the sea and the world with his grandfather and father, Jean-Michel. After earning a degree in environmental economics from Boston University, Cousteau meshed his family legacy of championing environmental protection with his business acumen by successfully spearheading the development of new environmentally sustainable products and business models.

He also co-launched Natural Entertainment, which works on exploration and environmental awareness projects for television and other media. In addition, Fabien joined forces with his father and his sister, Celine, to produce a three-year multi-hour series, Ocean Adventures, for the Public Broadcasting Service. The series addresses topics such as grey whale migrations, ghost ships of the Great Lakes and exotic, environmentally vital locales from Latin America to the Antarctic. In addition, Cousteau is involved in initiatives to restore undersea environments and protect natural areas for future generations. Currently, he is building an Oceans Educational Institute, which he designed, and is writing a children’s book trilogy and penning articles for international publications.

The Cousteau lecture is sponsored by the E.T. York Distinguished Lecturer Series, which was established in the Auburn University College of Agriculture in 1981 through an endowment from E.T. and Vam Cardwell York, both native Alabamians and AU graduates. York, who served as head of the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service from 1959 until 1962, went on to be head of the Federal Extension Service in Washington, D.C., provost and vice president for agriculture at the University of Florida and then chancellor of the State University System of Florida until his retirement in 1980.

The E.T. York Distinguished Lecturer Series features internationally known scientists speaking on a wide range of topics at public and technical lectures and seminars on the Auburn campus.

For more information on the upcoming York lecture, visit www.ag.auburn.edu/yorklecture or contact Katie Jackson at 334-844-5887 or smithcl@auburn.edu

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