Can agriculture save the planet – before it destroys it?

In a hot, flat, hyper-connected world, public perception of risk may determine if agriculture will save the planet by 2050 or destroy it. Science and technology may hold the key to addressing global challenges like hunger and climate change, but if experience with media narratives and public perception around genetically modified foods is any indication, the world may be in for a bumpy ride. In this public lecture Jack Bobo will examine the role of science, science communication and trust in addressing global challenges in food and agricultural production.

This Dean's Lecture is jointly presented by the Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Melbourne and the Gardiner Foundation.

Jack Bobo is the Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer for Intrexon, a synthetic biology company developing revolutionary solutions to the world's most pressing problems – in food, energy and health. In June 2015, he was named one of the 100 most influential people in biotechnology today by Scientific American. He joins Intrexon from the US Department of State where he worked for the past thirteen years. Prior to his distinguished career at the US Department of State, he was an attorney at Crowell & Moring LLP. He received a JD in law and an MS in Environmental Science from Indiana University.