Environmental and Natural Resource Symposium

The main goal for this symposium is to engage OWU students, faculty and staff, and Central Ohio residents on how the environment and climate relate to economics. 

2026 Environmental and Natural Resource Symposium

"Environmental Vigilance: Exploring recent federal policy changes and executive orders that could impact the environment."

Monday, April 27th, 2026 | 12-1 PM

Merrick Hall, Room 301 

Lunch provided. No RSVP required.

Join us as Ohio Wesleyan faculty member Will Georgic, Ph.D., assistant professor of economics, moderates a panel discussion consisting of Laurel Anderson, Ph.D., the Morris Family Professor of Natural Sciences, and Franchesca Nestor, Ph.D., associate professor of Politics and Government. Their discussion will highlight the developments they consider among the most concerning in federal environmental policy over the past 15 months, and include time for audience questions and conversation.

2025 Environmental and Natural Resource Symposium

"Efficient Conservation: A Conversation with Two GLCA Graduates About Using Data To Maximize Environmental Impact"

Watch the Livestream Here

02/27/2025 Will Georgic
Assistant Professor, Department of Economics and Business, Ohio Wesleyan University 
  Nicole Burns
Landscape Conservation Biologist for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
  Elizabeth Schuster
Agricultural and Environmental Economist; Founder and CEO of a boutique environmental economics consulting firm

2024 Environmental and Natural Resource Symposium

"Improving Water Quality in Ohio: Efficient Policies and Local Programs"

2/29/2024

Watch the Livestream Here


Moderator: Will Georgic
Assistant Professor in Economics & Business
Panelist: Lisa Roberts
Watershed and Sustainability Coordinator, City of Delaware
Panelist: Brent Sohngen
Professor of Environmental & Resource Economics, The Ohio State University

2023 Environmental and Natural Resource Symposium

"Climate Change and the Economy: Projecting the Impacts of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022"

Watch the Livestream Here

02/22/2023 Will Georgic
Assistant Professor, Department of Economics and Business, Ohio Wesleyan University 
  Andrew Busch
Economic Futurist; Former CMIO, U.S. Government; Author
  Rob Moore
Principal, Scioto Analysis

"Current Issues and Recent Innovations in Conventional and Alternative Sources of Energy"

02/27/2012 Gordon Aubrecht, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Physics, Ohio State University, Marion Campus
  Sean Kinghorn
Energy Conservation and Sustainability Coordinator, Ohio Wesleyan University
  Paul A. Centolella
Commissioner, Public Utilities Commission of Ohio

"Water: Science, Economics, and Policy"

02/19/2013 George Elmaraghy, P.E.
Chief, Division of Surface Water, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
  Nicholas Flores, Ph.D.
Professor of Economics and Department Chair
Faculty Research Associate, Institute of Behavioral Economics
University of Colorado Boulder
  Douglas Southgate, Ph.D.
Professor, Associate Director of the Subsurface Energy Resource Center (SERC)
Ohio State University

"Environmental Issues of the Developing World"

02/24/2014 Laurie Anderson. Ph.D.
Professor of Botany/Microbiology
Ohio Wesleyan University
  Douglas Southgate, Ph.D.
Professor, Associate Director of the Subsurface Energy Resource Center (SERC)
Ohio State University

"A Tax on Carbon: Would it Work for Business, Consumers, and the Environment?"

2/18/2015 Laurie Anderson. Ph.D.
Professor of Botany/Microbiology
Ohio Wesleyan University
  Scott Nystrom, M.A.
Senior Econoimic Associate
Regional Economic Models, Inc.
  Ian Sheldon, Ph.D.
Andersons Professor of International Trade, Graduate Studies Leader, Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics
The Ohio State University