WASHINGTON, DC - March 08, 2010
-- NASA today announced its founding partnership of Launch, an
initiative to identify, showcase and support innovative approaches to
sustainability challenges through a series of forums. The first forum,
"Launch: Water," will take place at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in
Florida from March 16-18.
"NASA is perfectly positioned to
host a conversation with experts about potential solutions to the
world's most perplexing sustainability problems," said NASA's Deputy
Administrator Lori Garver, the host of the forum. "NASA offers a
culture of problem-solving, deep technical expertise on sustainable
systems such as the International Space Station, and a unique capacity
to capture and analyze data about our home planet."
Other
founding partners are the U.S. Agency for International Development,
the U.S. State Department and Nike. The event will bring together 10
entrepreneurs from around the world who have proposed solutions to
water shortages and 40 council members who represent business, policy,
engineering, science, communications and sustainability sectors.
During the two-and-a-half day forum, the invited innovators and the
Launch Council will participate in sessions designed to identify
challenges and discuss future opportunities for their innovations.
Media
are invited to attend this first Launch forum. U.S. journalists must
contact Katherine Trinidad at 202-358-1100 by March 15 to arrange
credentials. Credentialed journalists may request interviews with the
participants.
For those unable to attend the event, it will be
broadcast live at: http://kscwmserv1.ksc.nasa.gov/LAUNCHLaunch
is a global initiative to identify and support innovative work that
will contribute to a sustainable future. Organizers have begun a global
search for visionaries, whose innovative world-class ideas,
technologies or programs show great promise in making tangible impacts
on society. Through a series of forums focused on key challenge areas
including water, air, food, energy, mobility and sustainable cities,
Launch will give thought leaders a forum to present innovative ideas
among peers and join in collaborative, solution-driven discussions.
To
learn about the 10 innovators and their proposed solutions, and for a
list of the 40 council members, visit: http://www.launchorg.co