The fourth annual Peace Studies Conference gets under way at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, March 29, with a "hunger banquet" and presentation by Lander University assistant professor of economics Alan Green, who will share his thoughts on the subject of "World Poverty and Inequality."
Green's presentation, in Lander's dining hall, will be followed by three hours of discussions concerning a wide variety of peace-related topics, which will take place in Lander's science building.
This year's conference, sponsored by Lander University and the Greenwood chapter of People to People International (PTPI), will feature 13 presenters from off-campus, seven Lander faculty members and ten Lander students, who will address numerous obstacles and keys to world peace.
All presentations are open to the public.
Guest speakers include William Andress, chair of Trinity Sudan Ministry and Jerman Disasa, director of special programs at Presbyterian College, who will discuss the "Forces Preventing Peace in Sudan" starting at 1:20 p.m. UNC-Asheville instructor of mathematics Dot Sulock believes that "Renewable Energy is the Key to Nuclear Weapons Nonproliferation," and she will make her case beginning at the same time. "The Future Lies in History: The State of Affairs in a Chaotic Middle East" will be the topic of an address by Mariam Abuhaideri, a Rotary Peace Fellow at Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy, whose presentation will begin at 2:50 p.m.
Among Lander faculty members taking the podium will be associate professor of education Lee Vartanian, who will discuss "What Teaching in Guatemala Taught Me: Deepening Cultural Understandings and Personal Empathy Through Ecotourism." Lander students Emily Knott and Brittany Faulkner will participate with associate professor of English Lillian Craton in a presentation titled "Witnessing War, Promoting Peace," which will include comments by Greenwood PTPI president Connie Edwards.
Associate professor of environmental geology Daniel Pardieck, who is the coordinator for the event, expects a "wonderful conference." He said he "couldn't be happier with the variety and depth of presentations we have this year."
Pardieck said that the conference, which "is getting a wider reputation," helps to promote "an awareness of and empathy for other people's suffering and struggles," which is necessary, if humans are to achieve peace.
Living in peace, he added, is no longer an option -- "it's essential for our survival as a civilization."
For more information, contact Dr. Daniel Pardieck at dpardieck@lander.edu or Connie Edwards (con5644@aol.com) at 864-992-0643.