Opening Ceremony

Monday, 27 April 2009

The 7th International Science Conference on the Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change will begin with the Opening Ceremony on 27 April 2009. Starting at 9 am in the main plenary hall, the ceremony will be chaired by IHDP’s Executive Director, Dr Andreas Rechkemmer. The participants at the conference will welcomed by Prof Meyer-Krahmer (State Secretary for Education and Research, Germany), Prof Young (Chair, IHDP Scientific Committee) and Dr Hackmann (on behalf of the IHDP sponsors, ICSU and ISSC). These welcoming addresses will be followed by an introductory address by Prof Vessuri (Chair, UNU Council). The second part of the welcoming ceremony will be comprised of keynote addresses by Prof Liu (Vice Minister for Science and Technology, China) and Prof Schellnhuber (PIK Director), addressing the overarching theme of the conference, the Social Challenges of Global Change.

Session Chair

Andreas Rechkemmer
Executive Director, International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change

Watch Andreas Rechkemmer's Introduction

Keynote Speakers

Frieder Meyer-Krahmer
State Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Germany

Watch Frieder Meyer-Krahmer's Speech

Oran Young
Chair, Scientific Committee, International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change and Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California, USA

Watch Oran Young's Speech

Heide Hackmann
Secretary-General, International Social Science Council (ISSC) – on behalf of International Council for Science (ICSU) and ISSC, France

Watch Oran Young's Speech

Hebe Vessuri
Chair, United Nations University (UNU) Council, Venezuela

Watch Oran Young's Speech

Yanhua Liu
Vice-Minister, Ministry of Science and Technology, China

Watch Oran Young's Speech

Hans Joachim Schellnhuber
Director, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Germany

Watch Oran Young's Speech